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An overview of Computer Aided Manufacturing
(CAM)
Following the design process, the CAD data
can be transferred to Computer Aided Manufacturing process. The CAD data
helps in the following stages of CAM: Tool and fixture design for
manufacturing, Numerical Control part programming, Computer aided
process planning, Assembly list for production, computer aided
inspection, robotics planning , and scheduling.
Tool and Fixture Design is a stage
that creates all the neccesary hardware to produce a particular product.
The tool and the fixture design depend of the amount of parts being
produced. Usually it pays off to invest more money in designing a tool
or fixture when dealing with mass, batch, and continous -flow
production, while it is avoided in a job shop production.
NC Part Programming is planning the
process for the portions of the job to be accomplished by the NC.
Usually the part programmer is responsible for planning the machine
steps to be performed by NC. There are two common ways to program for
NC, manually and computer assisted. The available CNC machines can be
programmed either interactively by the human operator or could be
computer generated.
CNC production requires the ordering of
the raw work parts, specifying and preparing the tooling and any special fixturing that may be required and setting up the machine for the job.
The CNC machine then takes it over and machines the part accordingly.
Computer-Aided Process Planning is
concerned with the preparation of a route sheet for the engineering
drawing of the work part which must be interpreted in terms of
manufacturing process to be used. The route sheet is a listing of the
sequence of operations. Closely related to process planning are the
functions of determining appropriate cutting conditions for the
machining operations and setting the time standards for the operations
which are aided by computers.
Manufacturing Planning and Control
includes the preparation of schedules, requirement/shortage lists,
inventory lists, and similar documents. The principal functions involved
in discrete manufacturing are: demand forecasting, capacity requirements
planning, aggregate production planning, material requirements planning,
material procurement, finite capacity scheduling and production line
balancing, statistical process and quality control, and inventory
management Simulation, mentioned next, can be particularly useful in
evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of any one of the
production planning functions as well as looking at a unified production
planning and control scenario
ENGINEERS
CADD CENTRE PRIVATE LIMITED
F10, 11, 12
– Eureka Court, Beside BATA
Near
Chermas, Ameerpet
Hyderabad,
AP 500 073
INDIA
D. ANAND K.
REDDY, Managing Director, ECC |
