There is a high demand for skilled workers in manufacturing right now.
If you’re thinking of a career change or deciding what your career should be, Computer Aided Manufacturing could be a great choice.
In this article, we explain what CAM is and what you can do with it.
What Is Computer Aided Manufacturing?
Computer Aided Manufacturing or CAM is an automated production process using machines and computers. A skilled worker uses software to tell a computer what to do and the computer tells the machine to do it.
It’s widely used as a means to cut costs and increase standards, accuracy, and efficiency in the mass production of products.
CAD, CAM, and CNC
You might hear any of the abbreviations above and think they are the same thing. Whilst they are all linked, they are different.
CAD is Computer Aided Design. This is the process of figuring out how something will look and how it will work. It’s designing a product using specific parameters on programs such as AutoCAD or Solidworks.
It produces a 3D model on the screen which represents the final item and can be easily edited by changing the parameters of the existing design.
CAM is the process of physically making that design a reality. There are various machines, tools, and processes it applies to.
CNC is Computer Numeric Control. It’s one of the ways you can guide and control the machinery and tools in CAM. CNC will specify the paths for tools and set the speeds the tools work at.
How Can I Learn About CAM?
A CAM course will teach you the different applications for Computer Aided Manufacturing. It will also introduce you to different software and how to use them to program the machinery.
Courses are available all over the country from different colleges or adult learning providers. For example, consider this Florida CAM course.
Computer Aided Manufacturing Jobs
There are many careers in Computer Aided Manufacturing or similar fields. These include:
- Mechanical Engineer
- CNC Operator
- CNC Programmer
- Design Engineer
- Machinist
Industries using CAM include aerospace, automotive, chemical and medical technology, military, or engineering.
CAM jobs can pay around $34,000 to $60,000 a year on average. You will usually require a qualification or technical certification. Some positions may be available at entry-level without experience but some knowledge would be advantageous.
Different jobs will be varied. You could be manufacturing nuts, bolts, and screws. Or you could be creating tools and dies for another manufacturing process. CAM could even lead to work with jewelry and precious stones or metals.
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