Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the use of computer software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacturing

of workpieces.[1][2][3][4][5] his is not the only definition for !"#$ %ut it is the most common& [1] !"# may also refer to the use of a computer to assist in all operations of a manufacturing plant$ including planning$ management$ transportation and storage.['][(] )ts primary purpose is to create a faster production process and components and tooling with more precise dimensions and material consistency$ which in some cases$ uses only the re*uired amount of raw material (thus minimi+ing waste)$ while simultaneously reducing energy consumption.[citation needed] !"# is a su%se*uent computer,aided process after computer,aided design (!"-) and sometimes computer,aided engineering (!".)$ as the model generated in !"- and /erified in !". can %e input into !"# software$ which then controls the machine tool.[3] hey could not optimi+e tool paths to the e0tent re*uired of mass production. 1sers would select the type of tool$ machining process and paths to %e used. 2hile an engineer may ha/e a working knowledge of 3,code programming$ small optimi+ation and wear issues compound o/er time. #ass,produced items that re*uire machining are often initially created through casting or some other non,machine method. his ena%les hand,written$ short$ and highly optimi+ed 3,code that could not %e produced in a !"# package. "s !"# software and machines %ecome more complicated$ the skills re*uired of a machinist or machine operator ad/ance to approach that of a computer programmer and engineer rather than eliminating the !4! machinist from the workforce.

Typical areas of concern:

5igh 6peed #achining$ including streamlining of tool paths #ulti,function #achining 5 "0is #achining 7eature recognition and machining "utomation of #achining processes .ase of 1se

Overcoming historical shortcomings

8/er time$ the historical shortcomings of !"# are %eing attenuated$ %oth %y pro/iders of niche solutions and %y pro/iders of high,end solutions. his is occurring primarily in three arenas9 1. .ase of use 2. #anufacturing comple0ity 3. )ntegration with :;# and the e0tended enterprise

Ease in use 7or the user who is <ust getting started as a !"# user$ out,of,the,%o0 capa%ilities pro/iding :rocess 2i+ards$ templates$ li%raries$ machine tool kits$ automated feature %ased machining and <o% function specific tailor a%le user interfaces %uild user confidence and speed the learning cur/e. 1ser confidence is further %uilt on 3- /isuali+ation through a closer integration with the 3- !"- en/ironment$ including error,a/oiding simulations and optimi+ations. Manufacturing complexity he manufacturing en/ironment is increasingly comple0. he need for !"# and :;# tools %y the manufacturing engineer$ 4! programmer or machinist is similar to the need for computer assistance %y the pilot of modern aircraft systems. he modern machinery cannot %e properly used without this assistance.

Machining process
#ost machining progresses through many stages$[=] each of which is implemented %y a /ariety of %asic and sophisticated strategies$ depending on the material and the software a/aila%le. he stages are9 Roughing his process %egins with raw stock$ known as %illet$ and cuts it /ery roughly to shape of the final model. )n milling$ the result often gi/es the appearance of terraces$ %ecause the strategy has taken ad/antage of the a%ility to cut the model hori+ontally. !ommon strategies are +ig,+ag clearing$ offset clearing$ plunge roughing$ rest,roughing. Semi-finishing his process %egins with a roughed part that une/enly appro0imates the model and cuts to within a fi0ed offset distance from the model. he semi,finishing pass must lea/e a small amount of material so the tool can cut accurately while finishing$ %ut not so little that the tool and material deflect instead of shearing. !ommon strategies are raster passes$ waterline passes$ constant step,o/er passes$ pencil milling. inishing 7inishing in/ol/es a slow pass across the material in /ery fine steps to produce the finished part. )n finishing$ the step %etween one pass and another is minimal. 7eed rates are low and spindle speeds are raised to produce an accurate surface. Contour milling )n milling applications on hardware with fi/e or more a0es$ a separate finishing process called contouring can %e performed. )nstead of stepping down in fine, grained increments to appro0imate a surface$ the workpiece is rotated to make the cutting surfaces of the tool tangent to the ideal part features. his produces an e0cellent surface finish with high dimensional accuracy.