Integration Into Manufacturing

The evolution of manufacturing tools hs been away from free hand guess work, towards a more consistant output and a better finished product. This calls for an algorithm. Computers are based, at the time, entirely on algorithms that can be repeated as many times a necessary. Today, despite advances in control technology, programming a modern Computer Numeric Control, (CNC), machine is a slow, potentially inacurate process. Especially where the finshed product or componet contains complex geometry. Technology has advanced, and we are able to use a Computer Aided Manufacturing, (CAM), packages to program CNC machine tools. CAM programs cover a broad range of manufacturing needs to create and retain manufacturing data for reference and control. This allows the manufacturer to consistantly improve tolerance capabilities and quality from both a consumer's and a statistician's perspective.

Applications for CAM machining ranges from creating molds for plastic injection molding to creating replacement teeth "chairside". Many programs have built in analysis for structural integrity and mold practicality. In otherwords, the program can verify the strengths of the proposed material and check for any impossible mold features. This is referred to Computer Aided Testing, (CAT)
You can check out more information at: EdgeCam.com

Introduction

Greetings all!!! My name is Joel Dees. I am a Mechanical Engineering Technology student at New Mexico State University. My passion is hot rods, and though I could live without Mustangs, this one is awesome.

A popular Hollywood view on computers is one that protrays so called "evil" or emotional machinery that could eventually integrate themselves into nature. In casting such a prediction, some fear technological advancement.

This is to be expected though, being that computers are continiously evolving. However, such views should be left behind. Computers are the tools that have, and will continue to excell our economy and standard of living. The more we can do with the "If - Then" computer language, the more time we have available to analytically solve and engineer the problems we are presented with.