CIRPP CAD/CAM

CAD/CAM is commonly written with a slash between CAD and CAM . It means that this link asymptotically raises the level in the integration of processes of product and technology design or another design activity which exists as inserted between these two. The goal is to consider the process with the slash.

The relation between CAD and CAM refers to automation of Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP). Thus, the function of technological process design closes the interaction between product design and technology design.

CAD/CAPP/CAM integration aims at improving processes of product and technology design thus considerably reducing the production price, i.e. at providing conditions for easier and more economical technology of processing and mounting. As the assembly costs represent a significant part (25–65%) of the production price, Design for Assembly (DFA), together with the Computer Aided Assembly Process Planning (CAAPP), closes the interaction in processes referring to the design of products, processing technologies and assembly.

CAD/CAM systems, such as Solid Edge and EdgeCAM generate the information on the CAM/CNC/NC tool path from the geometric model of the part given in the CAD database. The elements of technology, cutting tools and necessary processing modes are defined interactively. The system uses the information about the part geometry together with the defined database of tools, in the sense of how to technologically make the part demanded. The software is used for obtaining the tool path and generating the corresponding NC code.

Both software packages use the same platform, the geometric modeler Parasolid.