What is CAM Software?

CAM software is an abbreviation for Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software. It is a software used to control machine tools and related things in the manufacturing of workpieces. CAM also extends its functions to computer assistance in all operations of a manufacturing plant. 

This includes planning, transportation, and storage. CAD & CAM software is primarily deployed to improvise production processes and components and tooling with extreme precision on dimensional aspects and material consistency. 

CAM design software is considered as a numerically controlled programming tool, wherein two dimensional (2D) or three dimensional (3D) models of every component is generated in computer-aided design software. 

CAM software drives machine tools by generating toolpaths and turning designs into physical parts. It’s used in programmer manufacturing processes and product manufacturing to manufacture prototypes. CAM design software also helps in designing finished products and production run. 

CAM designing software is utilized for manufacturing workflows of a product or a specific program. CNC CAM Software produces cutting edge toolpaths that give you the desired geometry on the surface that you are working. Solid CAM design software is an essential tool for designing and manufacturing of machine prototypes, finished parts, production run (such as extrusion machines), et cetera. 

Features of CAM Computer-Aided Manufacturing Software

CNC CAM Software provides cutting-edge tools to drive your manufacturing operations to new heights. It is an essential tool for the growth of the manufacturing industry. Here are a few features listed:

1. Freeform Modeling: CAD and CAM systems allow engineers to model organic or freeform shapes. Engineers can now comfortably involve in concept modelling and certain types of design projects that require freeform designing. Solid CAM design software incorporates a broad range of augmented tools that make freeform modelling simpler. It allows engineers of all groups to create organic shapes and surfaces using a natural workflow quickly.  
2. Engineering Analysis: CAD & CAM software subjects the models to engineering analysis. After the design’s development, it is tested for various factors, based on the design’s demands. These tests include stress-strain calculations, heat transfer analysis, dynamic simulations, tolerance analysis, finite element analysis, discrete-event simulation, among many others. Physical modelling evaluation analysis is complex and high-priced. CAD-CAM CAE software saves a lot of time and effort by offering this feature. The feature helps check the accuracy and consistency of dimensions and tolerances to assess whether the proper design documentation format has been followed.
3. Automated Drafting: CAD & CAM software is also used as a presentation application. The CAD & CAM system produces highly accurate engineering designs with speed and convenience. The software has a provision for mandatory documentation attachment. It is assumed that the CAM Software system increases productivity in the drafting function by about five times over manual preparation of drawings.
4. Uninterrupted Simulation: Engineers regard simulating models as “functioning models.” This feature offers a moving simulation of the models designed. It considers all the factors that are needed for the analysis of the design (see point no. 2) and gives a glimpse of design in real life. Engineering teams that use CAM design software adopts an analysis-led design workflow. These engineering team takes advantage of the simulation feature continually throughout the process to ensure high-quality designs.
5. Concurrent Engineering: Concurrent engineering defines a system whereby the whole life cycle of a product is considered concurrently. CNC CAM software is an application widely used in concurrent engineering. Within this setting, advances such as 3D CAD and CAM software help avoid problems from re-occurring. It prevents the lack of quality design and communication between design and manufacturing personnel. 

Advantages of CAM Software

CAM companies provide a lot of benefit to engineers who work in manufacturing industries. It has boosted the output of manufacturing and designing companies. Here are a few benefits listed below: 

1. Saves time: CAM Designing software saves a lot of time for the designing engineers. It also allows them to make better and more efficient designs in shorter time duration.
2. Easy to edit: CAM Software gives you the ease of making alterations during the process of designing in real-time. It is comparatively easier to insert any necessary changes to modify the designs and fix the errors in computer-aided manufacturing software than physical modelling. It's also easier to develop and edit 2D and 3D images and view them from different angles. It is easy to experiment with different finishes.
3. A Decrease in error percentage: CAD software delivers with state-of-the-art tools for architecture designing and 3D modelling. It helps you to minimize the rate of the error caused by manual designing. CAM software gives high-quality designs and a more solid finish to those designs - there is no place for human error. 
4. Decrease design effort: Top CAM software allows users to design a large number of models in a relatively short amount of time. The software solution has reduced the workload significantly because the software automates most of the tasks and helps reduce expenditure on labour. 
5. Code Reuse: CAM software digitalizes the entire process of designing an engineering model. It gets away with the hassle of repetitive work. The software copies different aspects of design and code, that can be reused for future work repeatedly.
6. Easy to share: The CAM software tools make it easier to save the files. It stores your work files in a way that you can use it multiple times and send it without any unwanted hassles too.
7. Improved accuracy: Computer-aided manufacturing software gives highly accurate models. It provides higher precision compared to manual modelling. You have tools to measure the precision, skill, and efficiency level of the designs.

Here Are The List of Most Popular CAM Software

1. OnShape
2. Ptc Creo
3. Siemens PLM Nx
4. Siemens Velocity