Computer aided manufacture
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CAM stands for computer aided manufacture. A computer programme informs the machine of what to do and the machine will perform the process with precision and in most cases much quicker than if done by hand. Some examples of CAM machines are laser cutters, milling machines such as Roto CAM MDX 40, rapid prototyping machines such as 3D printers, Lathes such as the BOXFORD, and CNC lathe, also DIE sublimation.
Advantages of CAM machines:
CAM stands for computer aided manufacture. A computer programme informs the machine of what to do and the machine will perform the process with precision and in most cases much quicker than if done by hand. Some examples of CAM machines are laser cutters, milling machines such as Roto CAM MDX 40, rapid prototyping machines such as 3D printers, Lathes such as the BOXFORD, and CNC lathe, also DIE sublimation.
Advantages of CAM machines:
- Allows repetition of the same product/part
- Accurate measurements
- Can work continually
- Skills needed to perform similar tasks by hand are not needed
- Can reduced the design process
- Work is produced faster
- Hand skills are being lost
- CAM machines parts can be expensive and if something breaks the work will stop until the problem is fixed
- CAM machines are expensive, yes they do cost a lot of money initially but in the manufacturing process they reduced time and cost of employing people, therefore are often a much more effective and reliable way of producing than producing manually
- Printers are also CAM machines, they are controlled by the computer.