Computer Integrated Manufacture (CIM) and CADCAM Principles

This set of flashcards covers the fundamentals of Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), including CAD/CAM definitions, geometric modeling techniques, and feature recognition technologies.

Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM)

A manufacturing approach that uses computers to monitor and control most aspects of manufacturing, linking design and production with functions such as purchasing, inventory, and accounting.

CAD (Computer-Aided Design)

Technology concerned with using computer systems to assist in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design.

CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing)

Technology involving computer systems that plan, manage, and control manufacturing operations through a computer interface with the plant’s production resources like CNC, robots, and CMM.

CAE

Computer-aided engineering software.

CAPP

Computer-aided process planning.

CAQA

Computer-aided quality assurance.

PPC

Production planning and control.

ERP

Enterprise resource planning.

Wire-frame model

A geometric model where the geometry is defined as a series of lines and curves representing the edges of an object.

Surface model

A model where the geometry is represented by specifying surfaces, such as flat planes or surfaces fitted to an array of data points called control points.

Solid model: Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG)

A modeling method where objects are constructed using combinations of simple solid primitives combined via union, intersection, subtract, and difference operators.

Solid model: Boundary representation (B-rep)

A model composed of topology (faces, edges, vertices) and geometry (surfaces, curves, points), where a face is a bounded portion of a surface.

Manufacturing feature

A geometrical entity associated with a group of particular machining processes used to reason about a suitable machining method.

Design by features

An approach where the designer specifies a model using a set of design features in a feature-based system to capture manufacturing information during the design stage.

Subtractive for machining features

A design approach that begins with a model of raw stock and creates the part model by subtracting features corresponding to material removed by machining.

Synthesis by design features

A design approach where models are built by both adding and subtracting features without the necessity of starting with a base stock model.

Feature recognition

The process of using geometric models to generate application-specific feature models using recognition rule sets.

Rule-based approach

A feature recognition technique using artificial intelligence to develop feature rules, such as identifying a hole IF an inner loop and concave cylinder are found.

Graph-based feature recognition

A technique that organizes the B-rep of an object into a graph structure with faces, edges, or vertices as nodes and arcs.

Volume decomposition method

A method that divides the $3D$ space surrounding an object into cells using all the geometric surfaces of the object.

Post Processor

Software that converts CAD data into specific machine tool commands.

Operation (in CAM)

A single machining step defined by tool parameters and strategies.

$2.5D$ parts

The current limited capability of most commercial CAM systems for manufacturing feature recognition, despite some stating $3D$ capabilities.