AE:2.4 COMPUTER AIDED MANUFACTURING (CAM)

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CAM is the use of computers for any part of manufacturing.

AE:2.4.1 Overview

The competitive world of manufacturing is requiring that computers now be used in a production environment to make things faster and more precise.

Some basic roles of computers in manufacturing are,

- Prepare product designs for shop floor production

- Schedule jobs into machines in the factory

- Track inventory, work in process, etc.

- Control workcells

- Control of processes

When these functions happen automatically, and don't require human intervention, we tend to say they are part of a CIM system.

AE:2.4.2 Devices

Basically any device that can be controlled or interfaced to a computer, and be used in automated manufacturing.

These devices include,

- robots

- NC machines

- PLCs

- material handling