Papers     Signup     Site Map     Support     Directory  

Search Doing My Homework Papers


Papers > Technology > CAD CAM Software Comparison


Featured Papers from Direct Essays

1. Computer software Piracy

2. Software Piracy

3. Software Piracy 2

4. Software Piracy

5. Software


This is a preview of a paper to view the full text you need to signup and login.

CAD CAM Software Comparison

LIST OF CONTENTS

CAD/CAM BACKGROUND ……………………………………. ... Page 4

CAD SOFTWARE PACKAGES …………………………………. ... Page 7

OVERVIEW OF CAD/CAM PACKAGES ………. ... ………… Page 15

SOFTWARE COMPARISON CHART ………………………………. Page 16

STAND ALONE CAM PACKAGES …………………………………… Page 17

CAD FILE TRANSFER & DATA EXCHANGE ………………. ... Page 19

THE FUTURE OF CAD/CAM ……………………………………. ... … Page 22

BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………… Page 23



CAD/CAM Background
CAD/CAM systems are a product of the computer era. CAD systems originated from computer graphic systems and in the beginning were little more than graphic editors with some built in design features. ... This enabled CAD Systems to be used for more complex curves and surface design. The development of thee dimensional systems and solid modellers gave CAD systems the ability to perform NC cutter path programming. The link between CAD and NC developed and so turn key CAD/CAM systems became popular in the 1970s and 1980s.
The invention of 3-D modelling systems came about in the 1970’s and saw a new era for CAM. ... PC based packages such as AutoCAD has made CAD available to small companies and even individuals. Many popular CAD systems are able to run on a number of different platforms so there is little difference between mainframe, workstation, or PC-based CAD systems. In fact “many software developers have begun producing good software products that take advantage of the superior graphic environments offered by Microsoft Windows”. ... Stability within an operating system is important as software packages running within an unstable system can “lock up” which will require a system reboot to find on many occasions that recent data changes have been lost. ...
Historically many of the higher performance CAD/CAM packages were designed to run on Unix packages and were unavailable on a Windows environment. Windows NT however was the first windows package designed to run on a network and the subsequent release of Windows XP has seriously challenged UNIX as a CAD/CAM environment. Familiarity with the Windows environment, along with the fact that Windows XP is much more stable has encouraged companies and software developers alike to convert to a Microsoft platform. Today’s PC has a significant amount of processor capability that enables a CAD/CAD package to run smoothly. ...








CAD Software Packages
CAD software is what gives a CAD system its functionality. CAD software can be categorised into one of several groups based on the technology used. ... CAD drafting systems take the physical effort, and some of the skill, out of the job of producing a drawing. ... [Lee 1999:103]

3D Solid Modelling
Solid modelling CAD Systems hold the complete geometric description of the object being designed. The software knows which parts of the model contain solid material and which parts are empty. The availability of this additional data enables the software to carry out engineering analysis on the design. ... At its simplest form this can calculate volume and mass of a component allowing the software to determine the centre of gravity etc. ... The design however can be constrained by the limited number of primitive shapes held by the software. ...




Overview of CAD/CAM Packages

Pro/ENGINEER
Pro/ENGINEER is a computer graphics system for modeling various mechanical designs and for performing related design and manufacturing operations. ...


Pro/ENGINEER was the first commercial CAD system entirely based upon the feature-based design and parametric modeling philosophy. Today many software producers have recognized the advantage of this approach and started to shift their product onto this platform. The main differences between a feature based, parametric solid modeling CAD system, such as Pro/ENGINEER, and a conventional CAD system include:

Pro/ENGINEERSolid ModelParametric ModelFeature-based ModelingA Single Data Structure and FullAssociativelySubject-oriented Sub-modeling SystemsManufacturing InformationAssociated with FeaturesGeneration of an Assembly by Conventional CAD SystemsWire frame and Solid ModelFixed-dimension ModelPrimitive-based ModelingFunction-Oriented Data Structureswith Format InterpretersA Single Geometry-Based SystemTexts Attached to Geometry EntitiesGeneration of an Assembly by Positioning






Unigraphics
Unigraphics offers total product engineering, modeling and validating of products and their production processes digitally. ... Unigraphics is a versatile package and designers are not constrained by rigid CAD procedures. ... The Unigraphics software package also offers a single CAM solution capable of machining everything from holes to wire EDM to full 5-axis milling.
Unigraphics is open to work with other CAD systems, and even provides the foundation technologies used by other computer aided tools so that data can be exchanged with whoever is involved in the process. “Unigraphics offers associative interoperability enabling organizations using EDS’ CAD/CAM/CAE or third party applications to directly exchange and re-use design information. ... [Unigraphics Total Project Engineering]

CATIA
CATIA, which stands for Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application, is the most powerful and widely used CAD software of its kind. ...
While most CAD programs have a base product, with perhaps a few add-ons for special applications such as sheet metal or collaboration, CATIA takes this to the extreme, as Version 5 now has almost 100 such modules, which are called products. CATIA has all of the features expected in a CAD package some of which are listed below:

· SKETCHING
The Sketcher holds array of 2D tools, including rectangles, circles, splines and a Profile tool for drawing polylines. ...


Solid Edge
Solid Edge from EDS is powerful 3D CAD software capable of running on the Microsoft Windows XP Platform. Solid Edge helps engineers design more rapidly with parametric, feature-based tools that model mechanical parts more efficiently than other CAD systems. ...
“With Solid Edge, designers who are moving from 2D need not abandon their legacy data or CAD knowledge. An Intuitive 3D Wizard helps users quickly turn 2D geometry legacy drawings into 3D parts, and Solid Edge directly uses 2D CAD data in 3D modeling operations. ...
Solid edge allows the exchange of CAD data with other systems using a built in data translation wizard this supports 2 way exchange of common CAD formats including AutoCAD (DXF/DWG) and Pro/E, the IGES and STEP neutral formats ACIS and the parasolid format used by many CAD, CAM and CAE software programs.

To link to this page, copy the following code to your site:


Paper Information

Title: CAD CAM Software Comparison

Words: 4794
Rating: None
Pages: 19.2
submitted by: perkisc

If you think this paper shouldn't be here then

Signup & Login

If you don't currently have a login then Signup here



Username:

Password:

Pre-Written Papers
Browse through professionally written papers!

Browse through professionally written papers!

Custom Papers
Have Professional writers do your homework!

Professional writers will write custom papers for you!


Copyright 2003-2008 doingmyhomework.com. All rights reserved.