Introduction to ComputerAided Manufacturing
What is computer aided manufacturing?
Most machines need control systems to operate. There are many
kinds of control systems, for example, manual control, automatic
control, computer control or remote control. For the convenience
of mass production, machines need to repeat precise, speedy and
automatic actions continuously. These machines may use
mechanical, pneumatic and electrical systems to control. However,
some fixed procedures, changing procedures or tools may need a
lot of time to restore the whole system (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Industrial mass production facility Fig. 2 CNC machine
As technology advances, electronic and computer technologies
have been applied to a lot of production machines to reduce the
production time and increase both the quality and efficiency. So,
modern factories usually use numerical control machines, simply
called NC machines. And an NC machine that comes along with a
computer is called a computer control numerical machine, simply
CNC machine (Fig. 2). A CNC machine uses digital information to
control the movements of tools and parts, for example, the
spinning speed, the cutting speed, the moving direction of tools
etc. So, we can change quickly the production procedures simply
by modifying the information or program in the computer.
So CAM is the effective utilization of computers in manufacturing.
It can either be applied directly like device monitoring nad control
NC machines PLC and manufacturing cell or in directly for
support system in manufacturing like planning MRP process
planning, scheduling, inventory etc.
HISTORY
The earliest CAM software was simple computer attached to a
milling machine buttons were punched on the computers front
panel which acted as programming the software for the machine.
After 1980s CAD/CAM has become dependent on each other as
some CAM software operates within the CAD software
programmes.
The mechanism of CAM was developed from the Computer
Numerical Machines (CNC) in 1950s. The systems were run by a
set of coded instructions in a punched paper tape. [Link]
proposed to the concept of numerical controlled operations during
the year 1948.
IBMs Automatic Tool Changer in 1995, GL produced the skin
miller 1957 and the machining centre which was developed by KT
have all been considered to be major developments for promoting
the technology with numerous benefits.
In 1972 major development was seen in CAD/CAM. 3-d
CAM/CAD systems were introduced in 1976. In 1989 expertise in
CAD/CAM were developed like Solid modeling Factory
networking MAP/TOP.
A new area like Computer Integrated Manufacturing and
concurrent Engineering has been developed which saw a great
revolution in the field of manufacturing.
In 1990 intelligent manufacturing was a major break through in the
field of design and manufacturing.
Fig. 3 (a) Computer aided design (b) Computer aided manufacturing
The production method that requires a computer to control the
machines is called a computer aided manufacturing, simply called
CAM. CAM is closely related to the computer-aided design (CAD)
because the output information about the products from the CAD
can assist the composing of production program. Tests and
productions can start immediately. This simplifies the procedures
from the designing to manufacturing of the product (Fig. 3).
(a) The merits of computer numerical
controlled (CNC) machine
There are many advantages of a CNC machine:
.
(i) The computer can design the best tool path, spinning and
cutting speeds of tools according to the information of the product.
This can help decrease the cost and time.
(ii) CNC machines usually have automatic changing tools
function.
(iii) CNC machines can control precisely the tools movement in
any axis, so it can cut some complicated workpiece efficiently.
(iv) With the use of various input devices and the memories of
computer, a CNC machine can download and modify program
efficiently, so the production procedures can be made quickly.
(v) In operating the CNC machine, manual adjustment is not
needed. Therefore, the CNC machine can run at a high speed, and
it requires less skillful workers to reduce the labour cost.
(vi) CNC machine uses various designs to produce feedback, and
so it can keep its high reliability and quality, this can help decrease
the number of disqualified product and the cost of inspection.
(b) The restrictions of CNC machine
But, there are some restrictions of CNC machine:
.
(i) The cost of the machine is so high that some small factories
may not be able to afford.
.
(ii) Operators need to be trained to compose computer control
program.
(iii) The control system is complicated and sophisticated, therefore
the maintenance cost is high.
