Frequently Asked Questions

The best way to learn CAD/CAM software, as is true with other software systems, is through a judicious combination of on-line tutorials, practice exercises, and real-world projects.  There are also many on-line courses and certification programs available.  Unfortunately, a simple on-line search could yield a multitude of links and advertisements that can be overwhelming for the uninitiated.  If this is the case, it is a good idea to start with the website of a trusted source or leader in the CAD/CAM software industry and see if they offer any structured courses or downloadable demos to begin exploration.   SOLIDWORKS, Fusion 360 and Rhino are design products worth looking at for CAD software.  MasterCAM and RhinoCAM are CAM products that are worth looking at for CAM software.

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software is used to create digital models of products or components.  CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software is used to control the computer driven machinery and/or equipment that are used in the manufacture of such designed products.  In short, CAD software is used in the design process, while CAM software is used to assist with the production process.  Both of these software components can be fully integrated into one package such as in Fusion360, RhinoCAM or VisualCAD/CAM or can be independent software modules such as MasterCAM.

CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software is used to create digital models of products or components.  CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software is used to control the computer driven machinery and/or equipment that are used in the manufacture of such designed products.  Both of these software modules can be fully integrated into one CAD/CAM software package or exist independently as two separate software packages.  In the case of fully integrated CAD/CAM packages, the same design model generated by the CAD system is utlized in the CAM system with no need for translation between the CAD and the CAM packages.  In independent CAD and CAM systems, digital models created in the CAD system needs to be transferred to the CAM system via translation tools.  Both of these type of systems have their advantages and disadvantages.  Examples of fully integrated CAD/CAM systems are Fusion360, RhinoCAM or VisualCAD/CAM.  An example of independent CAD and CAM package would be the use of SOLIDWORKS for CAD and MasterCAM for CAM.