Traditional manufacturing methods rely on engineers to set up the various machines used in the manufacturing process – often creating ‘jigs’ or patterns for machines to follow. In the past, machines had to be set up and often operated manually, but CAM means these processes can happen automatically, as directed by the computers at the heart of the machines.
CAM itself stands for computer-aided manufacturing and usually works in tandem with CAD (computer-aided design) to allow machines to create objects directly from computer designs and software rather than engineers having to set up machines and processes manually. From dentures to nuclear submarines, more than ever, our modern world is built by the graceful interactions of software, hardware and, thankfully, talented engineers.īut what exactly is computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and how does it work? In this guide, we’ll explore the processes, technology and real-world examples to help you understand one of the most important hidden advancements of our age.Ĭomputer-aided manufacturing is the use of software and computer-controlled machinery (CNC) to automate the manufacturing process. In the 21st Century, CAM is an indispensable part of your daily life, whether you know it or not.