Computer-aided design (CAD), also known as computer-aided design and drafting (CADD), is the use of computer technology for

the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer. CADD software, or environments, provide the user with input-tools for the purpose of streamlining design processes; drafting, documentation, and manufacturing processes. CADD output is often in the form of electronic files for print or machining operations. The development of CADD-based software is in direct correlation with the processes it seeks to economize; industry-based software (construction, manufacturing, etc.) typically uses vector-based (linear) environments whereas graphic-based software utilizes raster-based (pixelated) environments. CADD environments often involve more than just shapes. As in the manual drafting of technical and engineering drawings, the output of CAD must convey information, such as materials, processes, dimensions, and tolerances, according to application-specific conventions. CAD may be used to design curves and figures in two-dimensional (2D) space; or curves, surfaces, and solids in three-dimensional (3D) objects.[1] CAD is an important industrial art extensively used in many applications, including automotive, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries, industrial and architectural design, prosthetics, and many more. CAD is also widely used to produce computer animation for special effects in movies, advertising and technical manuals. The modern ubiquity and power of computers means that even perfume bottles and shampoo dispensers are designed using techniques unheard of by engineers of the 1960s. Because of its enormous economic importance, CAD has been a major driving force for research in computational geometry, computer graphics (both hardware and software), and discrete differential geometry

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Computer-aided engineering (CAE) is the broad usage of computer software to aid inengineering tasks.[1] [2][3] It includes computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided analysis(CAA), computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), material requirements planning (MRP), and computer-aided planning

CAE fields and phases

CAE areas covered include:

Stress analysis on components and assemblies using FEA (Finite Element Analysis); Thermal and fluid flow analysis Computational fluid dynamics (CFD); Kinematics; Mechanical event simulation (MES).

Analysis tools for process simulation for operations such as casting, molding, and die press

forming.

Optimization of the product or process.

In general, there are three phases in any computer-aided engineering task:

Pre-processing defining the model and environmental factors to be applied to it. (typically a

finite element model, but facet, voxel and thin sheet methods are also used)

Analysis solver (usually performed on high powered computers) Post-processing of results (using visualization tools)

This cycle is iterated, often many times, either manually or with the use of commercial optimization software.

CAE in the automotive industry

CAE tools are very widely used in the automotive industry. In fact, their use has enabled the automakers to reduce product development cost and time while improving the safety, comfort, and durability of the vehicles they produce. The predictive capability of CAE tools has progressed to the point where much of the design verification is now done using computer simulations rather than physical prototype testing. CAE dependability is based upon all proper assumptions as inputs and must identify critical inputs (BJ). Even though there have been many advances in CAE and it is widely used in the engineering field. Physical testing is still used as a final confirmation for subsystems due to the fact that CAE cannot predict all variables in complex assemblies (i.e. metal stretch, thinning).

Overview
Software tools that have been developed to support these activities are considered CAE tools. CAE tools are being used, for example, to analyze the robustness and performance of components and assemblies. The term encompasses simulation, validation, and optimization of products and manufacturing tools. In the future, CAE systems will be major providers of information to help support design teams in decision making. In regard to information networks, CAE systems are individually considered a single node on a total information network and each node may interact with other nodes on the network. CAE systems can provide support to businesses. This is achieved by the use of reference architectures and their ability to place information views on the business process. Reference architecture is the basis from which information model, especially product and manufacturing models.

The term CAE has also been used by some in the past to describe the use of computer technology within engineering in a broader sense than just engineering analysis. It was in this context that the term was coined by Dr. Jason Lemon, founder of SDRC in the late 70's. This definition is however better known today by the terms CAx and PLM

Computer-aided engineering (CAE) embraces the application of computers from preliminary design (CAD) through production (CAM). Computer-aided design (CAD), which is usually associated with computerized drafting applications, also includes such diverse application programs such as those for calculating the dimensional stack-ups due to tolerances, ergonomic studies with virtual people, and design optimization. Computer-aided analysis (CAA) includes finite element and finite difference methods for solving the partial differential equations governing solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer, but it also includes diverse programs for specialized analyses such as rigid body dynamics and control system modeling. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) includes programs for generating the instructions for computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining to production and process scheduling and inventory control. Recently, manufacturers have been asked to design their products for eventual recycling, and this aspect of engineering will undoubtedly fall under the umbrella of CAE, but as of yet, it doesn't have its own acronym. Software used worldwide by many of the largest OEM's for CAE Analysis in the automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and other industries is LS-DYNA, a general purpose transient dynamic finite element program capable of simulating complex real world problems. Applications include:

Aerospace Automotive Crashworthiness & Occupant Safety Metal forming Sheet Metal Forming Drop testing Can and shipping container design Electronic component design Glass forming Plastics, mold, and blow forming Biomedical Metal cutting Earthquake engineering Failure analysis Sports equipment (golf clubs, golf balls, baseball bats, helmets) Civil engineering (offshore platforms, pavement design)

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the use of computer software to control machine toolsand related machinery in the manufacturing of workpieces.[1][2][3][4][5] This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most common;[1] CAM may also refer to the use of a computer to assist in all operations of a manufacturing plant, including planning, management, transportation and storage.[6][7] Its primary purpose is to create a faster production process and components and tooling with more precise dimensions and material consistency, which in some cases, uses only the required amount of raw material (thus minimizing waste), while simultaneously reducing energy consumption.[citation needed] CAM is a subsequent computer-aided process after computer-aided design (CAD) and sometimescomputer-aided engineering (CAE), as the model generated in CAD and verified in CAE can be input into CAM software, which then controls the machine tool. Traditionally, CAM has been considered as a numerical control (NC) programming tool, wherein twodimensional (2-D) or three-dimensional (3-D) models of components generated in CADsoftware are used to generate G-code to drive computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools. Simple designs such as bolt circles or basic contours do not necessitate importing a CAD file. As with other Computer-Aided technologies, CAM does not eliminate the need for skilled professionals such as manufacturing engineers, NC programmers, or machinists. CAM, in fact, leverages both the value of the most skilled manufacturing professionals through advanced productivity tools, while building the skills of new professionals through visualization, simulation and optimization tools

CAM: Computer Aided Manufacturing

Definition: Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) is the use of computer software and hardware in the translation of computer-aided design models into manufacturing instructions for numerical controlled machine tools. Applications of Computer-Aided Manufacturing The field of computer-aided design has steadily advanced over the past four decades to the stage at which conceptual designs for new products can be made entirely within the framework of CAD software. From the development of the basic design to the Bill of Materials necessary to manufacture the product there is no requirement at any stage of the process to build physical prototypes. Computer-Aided Manufacturing takes this one step further by bridging the gap between the conceptual design and the manufacturing of the finished product. Whereas in the past it would be necessary for a design developed using CAD software to be manually converted

into a drafted paper drawing detailing instructions for its manufacture, Computer-Aided Manufacturing software allows data from CAD software to be converted directly into a set of manufacturing instructions. CAM software converts 3D models generated in CAD into a set of basic operating instructions written in G-Code. Gcode is a programming language that can be understood by numerical controlled machine tools essentially industrial robots and the G-code can instruct the machine tool to manufacture a large number of items with perfect precision and faith to the CAD design. Modern numerical controlled machine tools can be linked into a cell, a collection of tools that each performs a specified task in the manufacture of a product. The product is passed along the cell in the manner of a production line, with each machine tool (i.e. welding and milling machines, drills, lathes etc.) performing a single step of the process. For the sake of convenience, a single computer controller can drive all of the tools in a single cell. G-code instructions can be fed to this controller and then left to run the cell with minimal input from human supervisors. Benefits of Computer-Aided Manufacturing While undesirable for factory workers, the ideal state of affairs for manufacturers is an entirely automated manufacturing process. In conjunction with computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing enables manufacturers to reduce the costs of producing goods by minimising the involvement of human operators. In addition to lower running costs there are several additional benefits to using CAM software. By removing the need to translate CAD models into manufacturing instructions through paper drafts it enables manufactures to make quick alterations to the product design, feeding updated instructions to the machine tools and seeing instant results. In addition, many CAM software packages have the ability to manage simple tasks such as the re-ordering of parts, further minimising human involvement. Though all numerical controlled machine tools have the ability to sense errors and automatically shut down, many can actually send a message to their human operators via mobile phones or e-mail, informing them of the problem and awaiting further instructions. All in all, CAM software represents a continuation of the trend to make manufacturing entirely automated. While CAD removed the need to retain a team of drafters to design new products, CAM removes the need for skilled and unskilled factory workers. All of these

developments result in lower operational costs, lower end product prices and increased profits for manufacturers. Problems with Computer-Aided Manufacturing Unfortunately, there are several limitations of computer-aided manufacturing. Obviously, setting up the infrastructure to begin with can be extremely expensive. Computer-aided manufacturing requires not only the numerical controlled machine tools themselves but also an extensive suite of CAD/CAM software and hardware to develop the design models and convert them into manufacturing instructions as well as trained operatives to run them. Additionally, the field of computer-aided management is fraught with inconsistency. While all numerical controlled machine tools operate using G-code, there is no universally used standard for the code itself. Since there is such a wide variety of machine tools that use the code it tends to be the case that manufacturers create their own bespoke codes to operate their machinery. While this lack of standardisation may not be a problem in itself, it can become a problem when the time comes to convert 3D CAD designs into G-code. CAD systems tend to store data in their own proprietary format (in the same way that word processor applications do), so it can often be a challenge to transfer data from CAD to CAM software and then into whatever form of G-code the manufacturer employs. Further information regarding computer-aided manufacturing can be found at theBerkeley CAM Research site, UC Irvines CAM resource site and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (PDF).
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