It is needless to mention that we need a

software to get this done. There are

some High end and Low End softwares
for the purpose. Following are a few of
them:
UniGraphics

CATIA

Pro-ENGINEER

IDEAS*

DELCAM

Mastercam

The Product design package needs to

have many applications, Solid & Surface
Modeling, Manufacturing, FEA, Routing,
Sheet Metal, Mechanisms are a few to
mention.
A software that is capable of handling
all of this are High end ones.
The one which is expertise in just a few
of them falls under Low end ones.

As mentioned in the definition of CAM,

one needs to have a CAD model
prepared in any of the softwares,
whether a low end or a high end. So, a
CAD model is the basic source for CAM
process.
The model may be of a component
itself, a pattern, a punch & die set
depending upon the actual
manufacturing method, i.e. Casting,
Presswork or Forging.

Every CAM package is capable of

reading a CAD model prepared in its
own software if it supports CAD also.
But, if it doesnt then what we need is a
Data Translator which reads a CAD
model from a given software and
converts it into a Universal File Format,
which then can be read by any CAM
package, though it is a non-CAD
package.

Here they are:

IGES:

Initial Graphics Exchange

Specification
(For CAM and CAE work)
STEP:
Standard for The Exchange of Product
(For CAE work)
STL:
STereo-Lithographic file
(For Rapid Prototyping)
ParaSolid: (For CAM)
Model:
(For backward compatibilty)

1. To call the CAD model and the relevant

STOCK model into CAM environment.
2. Arrange them so that the STOCK gets
superimposed on the CAD model.
3. Establish the WCS- the Work Co-ordinate
System on the STOCK model. This gives
what is called Job zero.
4. Enlist the sequence of operations.
5. Define the Cutting parameters for ROUGH
cutting, which includes Tool, DOC, Feeds
& Speeds and Finishing allowances.

6. After Roughing, define the parameters

and tools for Finishing or Semi-finishing
operations as the case may be.
7. Now that all the unwanted metal from
STOCK model has been removed, what is
left is the component required.

As all this is Virtual, then where is the

real story? How does a part gets
machined actually?
Well, to know this, lets go behind the
screen.
What CAM does is, it records the
addresses, i. e. Co-Ordinates of all the
points through which the given tool
has travelled to cut the required
amount of metal with given cutting
parameters for the given type of
operation.

For the Co-ordinates, it takes Job Zero into

consideration. That is, the point on the
STOCK model where WCS origin is set. It
is read as (0,0,0).
It also records the type of motion to travel
from one point to the other. Accordingly, it
prefixes the corresponding co-ordinates
with Code. It also records some noncutting activities like Tool change, Spindle
speed change, spindle stop, etc and adds
a relevant Code before it.

Thus, a long list of co-ordinates with some

codes prefixed to them is prepared by
CAM. This is nothing but a Program. This
is what we want to get from any CAM
package.

But thats not all. This program is yet to

be made readable by the machine you are
using, because it is in APT. Since,
machines understand NC/CNC Language,
this APT Program needs to be translated
to NC language. Here comes the necessity
of Post-Processor.
It converts entire APT Program into NC
Program. The Post-processor to be used
depends upon the Machine tool, rather its
Controller, being used.

Now, this program can be fed directly into

the Machine Tools memory through CD or
the like device as the provisions may be.
This is done after Verifying the program
using the Built-in or a Standalone verifier
software.

Machine is now loaded with the required

Program. Only thing required is the actual
piece of metal to machine and the tools.
Machine tool should be told about the
location of Job Zero on the stock. Actual
metal piece, actually taken tools and the
location of Job zero on that metal piece
should match with their virtual
counterparts. Now, program can be run to
start the metal cutting, REALLY. Thats all..