CAM

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By CNC Information

Welcome to the CAM Lens!

CAM

What is CAM?

It goes by a few different names. I think everyone has a different idea.

Computer Aided Machining

Computer Aided Manufacturing

Computing Aided Maneuvers

With all that said, you can think of it as motion control. Controlling motion of a machine with a computer, which is running a program. This program is the G-Code you have heard about. It tells the machine when and where to move.

Generally, CAM is a type of stand-alone software that you will have to buy. When you are using CAM, you will need to know the type of CNC machine you will be using, the tooling you will be using, and the feeds and speeds of the machining process you will utilize. You will input these variables into your CAM software and it will create a program. You will then use this program to control your machine's motion.

The output of CAM software is G-Code. G-Codes are simple text commands used to instruct your CNC machine. Usually you'll need to know some basics about G-Code, but generally you don't have to be an expert at it. If you really like CNC, you will naturally start picking up how to read G-Code. If you get good, you can even hardcode some of your G-Code.

This Computer Aided methodology is applied in different manufacturing areas in different ways. In CNC, manufacturing with a CAM system is used to simplify the machining process. In most cases, the CAM system will work with a CAD design made in a 3D environment. The CNC programmer will just specify the machining operations and the CAM system will create the CNC program.

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CAM from Google Blogs

CAM from Google News

  • Superior Roughing Strategies from ZW3D QuickMill - MCADCafe (press release)

    Superior Roughing Strategies from ZW3D QuickMill MCADCafe (press release) 23 May, 2012 - ZW3D is a well-known CAD/CAM solution for mold and die industry, and in the field of CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) ZW3D supplies a powerful processing module, QuickMill. QuickMill provides several ways to apply its roughing ... and more » - 2 days ago

  • MCADCafe e-Magazine: ASCON Releases Geometric Kernel As CAD Component - MCADCafe (press release) (blog)

    MCADCafe e-Magazine: ASCON Releases Geometric Kernel As CAD Component MCADCafe (press release) (blog) The kernel is also well suited for designing computer-aided engineering (CAE) software, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programs for CNC machines, and modeling of engineering processes for product lifecycle management (PLM). - 3 days ago

  • Route 128 at center of manufacturing - Boston Globe

    Boston Globe Route 128 at center of manufacturing Boston Globe The growth of CAD was accelerated by a confluence of developments over the next two decades, including computer networking and computer-aided manufacturing, or CAM, which allows digital designs to control machines that make components. Manufacturing Requires Special Software, and Boston Makes ItBostInno all 2 news articles » - 12 days ago

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