Do you know that nowadays almost all mechanical design work is done on computers? You can build a digital mock-up on a computer.
The introduction of computers in mechanical design has brought a revolution. That’s why the term CAD CAM CAE became so popular. So let us learn in this article more about what is CAD CAM CAE and what the difference is between CAD CAM CAE.
The following abbreviations will be used throughout this article. So it makes sense to mention those at the beginning of this article.
- CAD: Computer-Aided Design
- CAM: Computer-Aided Manufacturing
- CAE: Computer-Aided Engineering
What is CAD ( Computer Aided Design)
CAD means computer-aided design, Design with the help of a computer. CAD is a generic term used to specify a design that was done on computers.
There are many software packages in the market for CAD. This software helps engineers to create three-dimensional objects and parametric two-dimensional drawings. No manual interface. Each and everything is done on computers.
If you change any 3D models built using CAD software, the associated drawing also gets updated. Can you ever think of this in manual drafting? CAD has replaced all manual drafting practices and automated the design work.
Do you know that you can also create a 3D CAD assembly of components in CAD? It is a kind of virtual mock-up of an actual product.
You can visually see how your actual product will look like even before you physically manufacture it. Doesn’t it sound great?
You can also check parts for interference and fix those on the fly. You can add mechanism constraints and animate parts to see how parts behave in motion.
These are just a very few capabilities of CAD, I can say it’s just about 10%. It takes more than a year to learn any CAD software. So you can imagine how vast CAD capabilities are.
Types Of CAD
There are two types of CAD ( Computer aided design) packages available in the market
- Two dimensional CAD
- Three dimensional CAD
Two dimensional CAD
In two-dimensional CAD, you can only see the X and Y axis of an object. Separate views are required to observe the Z-axis. Two-dimensional CAD is almost obsolete nowadays except for fields like civil engineering and architectural engineering
Three dimensional CAD
In three-dimensional CAD, you will be able to see all X, Y, and Z axes in a single view. Three-dimensional CAD gives the most realistic look of the actual object. 99% of mechanical designs have now adopted three-dimensional CAD practice.
Popular CAD Software Modules
There are hundreds of modules in a CAD software package. But below are a few modules that are widely used in industries
- Part modeling
- Surface modelling
- Sheet metal modeling
- Assembly
- Drafting
- Mechanism
- Simulation
- Animation
- Welding
- Harness routing
Popular CAD software list
Why Computer Aided Design ( CAD) is required?
Before 1980, engineers used to do manual drafting. Those used to take a lot of time and correcting errors was a big challenge. On top of that, if there was a design change, all drafting needs to be done again.
Since manual drafting was a time-consuming task, the overall design cycle time was too long. That is why computer-aided design came into practice.
CAD made designers’ lives very simple. Drafting got much faster and making changes got very quick. Even if there was a big design change, the drafting change became very quick with CAD software.
Due to CAD, the overall design cycle time was also reduced. This helped industries to launch products quickly and outcomes their competitor.
Advantages of CAD Software
- Reduce design cycle time
- Reduce design iteration time
- Reduce error correction time
- A realistic 3D model can be created
- A virtual mock-up can be created
- Real-time interface detection is possible
- Parametric 2D drawings can be created
- Drafting is very easy and quick
Disadvantages of CAD software
- Dynamic analysis is not possible
- Product flexibility is not available
- Real-time simulation is not possible ( Special Module is required)
What Is CAM ( Computer Aided Manufacturing)
CAD helps to visualize a design and shows how it may function. CAM helps to decide how to make that CAD part physically. So basically, CAM software minimizes the gap between CAD and manufacturing. It acts as a bridge between CAD and manufacturing.
CAM software creates all required codes to run an NC or CNC machine. It helps to select tools, decide a tool guide path, and other miscellaneous functions. You can feed those codes into a machine to make it perform
We all know that there are numerous types of machines. Not all CAM software can create codes for all machines. That is why there are different CAM software for different types of manufacturing operations.
How does CAM software work?
All CAM software needs 3D CAD models as input. Usually, all CAM software supports native CAD format files. If not, 3D models need to be exported to various neutral formats like Step or Iges before importing to any CAM software.
Once the CAD file is imported, the CAM software validates the data for manufacturability. Often the raw CAD data is not suitable for CAM. The CAM software fixes all those manufacturability issues and prepares it for manufacturing
The CAM software then decides the tools that need to be used, chooses the tool path, decides when the coolant should be injected, and all other functions that the machine is going to perform.
Once all functions are defined, the CAM software creates the program for the CNC machine using G code M code, and other standards coding. The program is then fed into the machine.
Machines can read CAM programs very easily. The machine is then prepared based on the program and runs all the functions as specified in the program.
What CAM software do?
All CAM software typically does the following functions
- Error Checking
- Tool path generation
- Machine Configuration
- Machine optimization
Error Checking
As I said earlier, all CAM software checks manufacturability errors in CAD files. If any errors are found, CAM software fixes all those based on the available machines synchronized with that CAM software.
Tool path generation
Tool path generation is one of the key functions that CAM software does. Based on the available tool in the machine, the software creates the tool movement path using G codes, M codes, and other coding standards
Machine Configuration
Not only toolpath generation, but CAM software also decides which tool to use, how much to cut, at what angle the tool should hit, and numerous other functions. So basically the CAM software gives all configurable instructions to machines.
Machine optimization
CAD software helps to choose the best setting for a machine to perform at its best. If we had operated the machine manually, it would have been very tough. Since all CAM software is synchronized with machines, it can decide the best available resource in a machine
Popular CAM software list
Advantages of CAM software
- Prepare CAD models for manufacturing
- Creates tool path
- Acts as an interface of a machine
- Control all functions of machines
- Optimize the machine to give the best output.
What is CAE ( Computer Aided engineering)
CAD software can not check how a 3D model will behave when forces or loads are applied. To check how those models behave under different loading conditions, you need to use CAE software.
CAE validates a design based on real-life constraints. It tells engineers about the robustness of a design and under what conditions it may fail. All CAE software checks if the design will perform or not if you decide to manufacture that part.
CAE software can also check how the part will perform in different thermal conditions. You can also check fluid flow using CAE software.
Computer Aided Engineering fields
Below are a few important fields under computer-aided Engineering
- FEA: Finite element analysis ( To check Stress)
- CFD: Computational fluid dynamics ( to check thermal and fluid flow)
- Multibody dynamics ( MBD) or kinematics
The workflow of CAE software
- Pre-processing
- Analysis
- Post-processing
Polular CAE software list
Advantages of CAE software
- Real-time analysis can be done.
- Failure can be investigated
- Thermal analysis is possible
- Fluid flow analysis can be done
Difference between CAD CAM CAE
CAD | CAM | CAE |
---|---|---|
Mainly used for analyzing parts | Mainly used for creating NC and CNC code | CAM uses CAD files as input |
Used for product design | Used for product manufacturing | Used for Product analysis |
CAD is independent of CAD and CAE | CAE uses CAD files for analysis | Virtual mock-up design is possible |
No way to build a virtual mock up | A fair amount of manufacturing knowledge is required | No option |
Easiest to learn and implement | Fair amount of manufacturing knowledge is required | Steep learning curve |
Conclusion
CAD CAM CAE brought a revolution to the engineering industry and this is the future. Hardly any industries don’t use CAD CAM CAE which automates the full product life cycle.
I hope you all got a brief idea about CAD CAD and CAE. This field is vast. Typically an engineer takes more than a year to learn CAD CAM or CAE software. So you can understand the versatility of this software.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CAD
CAD is a group of software used in 3D modeling and 2D drafting
What is CAM
CAM is a group of software used to create codes and assist in manufacturing
What is CAE
CAE is a group of software used for analyzing designs created using CAD software