Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share information with other CAD design software users

Blogs are increasingly becoming the media of choice for many small business owners looking for quick and efficient means to communicate with other like-minded professionals. Find an Internet blog or website that provides trust-worthy information on computer aided design software and attracts reliable posting participants.

I recommend: Keep up with the latest trends through the articles and RSS feeds at Manufacturing and Technology eJournal. Find blogs and current articles on CAD/CAM trends at Design News.

Read up on changes in CAD CAM software

CAD/CAM software news and trends are popular topics in tech and small business publications available online. It's a good idea to stay on top of the industry as a whole so that you can know about changes that may be ahead of your current provider's abilities and offer better features as the industry streamlines the processes.

I recommend: Find links to the latest and most innovative CAD/CAM issues at CAD/CAM Insider. Cadcamnet is a comprehensive source of trends and news affecting the industry.

Receive CAD/CAM software alerts

While most business owners are trying to clear out their in-boxes to save time, you should allow at least one information provider to get into your email with alerts about changes and upgrades that others in the industry are employing. You shouldn't miss out on vital computer aided manufacturing software alerts when they are available.

I recommend: Find articles, blogs and research papers on the latest CAD/CAM software news at Fibre2Fashion. Caddit is a great source to use to keep up with emerging technologies and changes in the industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join trade groups of other engineers and designers to hear your peers' talk about CAD/CAM software news and trends.

Guide to CAD/CAM Software

It takes careful effort to pick this critical starting point of the manufacturing process.

By Chris Maxcer

1. Boost your project's efficiency by creating a virtual prototype.
2. Easily track changes to a design before it goes to the manufacturing or building stage.
3. Increase the accuracy of detail by allowing all the members of the design team to seamlessly interact.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose your application

Start with the output that you require for the type of machine tool that you want to use, and use the manufacturing tool's requirements as your first stage for eliminating solutions. Next, look at features, ease-of-use, cost, vendor support options and availability of training materials or classes.

I recommend: Check out Freebyte's Free Mechanical Engineering Software: CAD/CAM, Yahoo!'s CAD/CAM Software Directory, CNET.com's CAD/CAM Software List, About.com's CAD/CAM Software List, and thefabricator.com's CAD/CAM Software Buyer's Guide.

Get an industry-specific solution

Several software manufacturers offer software programs that have been specifically designed for certain industries. Common industries that have their own custom applications include tool and die manufacturing and mechanical engineering.

I recommend: Check out TopSolid Software's programs that have been designed for the mechanical engineering, sheet metal, mold making and tool design industries.

Get training

Buying a CAD/CAM package is just the start. Training your staff and retraining to keep up with the upgrades is a major consideration.

I recommend: iKnowledge Solutions specializes in online and desktop training. Industry pioneer AutoDesk offers a huge variety of courses for its CAD/CAM products. See a directory of training companies from Yahoo!.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In addition to selecting CAD/CAM software, you generally want to have an experienced machinist or manufacturing expert on-hand to help you put the software into production.
• •  When you choose CAD/CAM software, it's important to pay attention to the PC requirements, but even more important to select a solution that will interface with your manufacturing tool of choice.
• •  If your CAD/CAM software won't run the machine, it should be able to export data that can be utilized by your machine tool. In addition, you may want features like the ability to calculate project costs, share drawings across your organization, and convert or export drawings into a variety of formats.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Integrate CAM software applications into your systems

The user-friendly options available in CAD software programs make using computer aided design software easy and accessible for any business now. Small to medium and large-size companies can eliminate the paperwork and human factor errors in favor of CAD software that can operate your entire workflow processes.

I recommend: Find the best and most common uses of the latest technology at CAD Digest. Use CAM Works to find out all the latest innovations that are being delivered to the design community.

Go online for web-based computer aided manufacturing software

For many of the newer online programs you don't even have to download any special software to your systems if you choose to engage web-based CAD/CAM programs. These operations typically allow you a trial period, which you should take advantage of as well.

I recommend: The Jewelers CAD/CAM Association helps members find providers and technology to best serve the needs of the companies. Use the contacts you make at the Power Sources Manufacturer Association to find out about the latest ways to use the new CAD/CAM products available.

Find CAD CAM software distributors

Once you've opened up the possibilities of running your business with the assistance of cam software providers, you need to get your team onboard with the programs. Instead of calling on consultants to handle projects, your designers should be able to move easily between new programs and design techniques.

I recommend: Read the Fabricator to find out about the latest uses for new CAD design technology.You will be enlightened and informed as you use your CAD/CAM software as you keep up with all the available new software and emerging news at CAD Info.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before choosing computer aided design software, let your key employees try the free demos to see if they agree on the choice of programs. It will be easier to get buy-in from your staff if everyone participates in the final decision.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Cloud of points

A cloud of points is a set of coordinates that may be obtained from a device such as a scanner. CAD/CAM software commonly uses this data to produce a three dimensional model.

I recommend: MicroSystems Georgia has an extensive dictionary of CAD/CAM terms, including cloud of points.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

FEA is a technique that allows computers to find approximate solutions for many mathematical equations, such as partial differential equations. CAD/CAM software commonly uses FEA to perform many of its functions.

I recommend: SAE International provides an overview of the development of FEA and its role in CAD/CAM engineering.

Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD)

CAAD generally refers to any programming technique that may be used to design architecture. CAD/CAM software frequently makes use of these techniques by applying them towards building data.

I recommend: Network Dictionary contains a variety of terms that are used in CAD/CAM programming, such as CAAD.

Product lifecycle management (PLM)

PLM is the process of managing a product from its conception to its disposal. CAD/CAM software commonly provides a single solution to manage these various product lifecycle phases.

I recommend: Active Sensing provides an extensive glossary of the PLM terms that CAD/CAM software users may encounter, including an explanation of PLM itself.

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)

CAE generally refers to the use of information technology in any task that supports engineers. CAE software is commonly used to perform engineering calculations that simulate the performance of a machine or structure.

I recommend: Daratech specializes in CAD/CAM services and also provides a glossary of common CAD/CAM software terms, including CAE.

Computer numerical control (CNC)

A CNC device uses instructions from CAD/CAM software to operate a machine tool. The CAD/CAM software produces a file which contains the commands for the CNC device. These commands may then be extracted and loaded into the CNC device in order to produce a product.

I recommend: CNC Concepts provides an extensive definition and discussion of CNC, especially as it relates to CAD/CAM software.