Growing Need for More Sophisticated CAM

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According to the CIMdata 2023 Market Analysis Report Series, the worldwide CAM software and related services marketplace is analyzed in the CAM Market Analysis Report. The report includes extensive information on the market size, trends, and segmentation, authoritative rankings of CAM solution providers, and results of targeted market surveys. The growing need for more sophisticated CAM is boldly highlighted in this report.?

CAM Market Analysis Report?

Customers and operators view the lifecycle from planning and finance, program and project management, commissioning and operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul, to retirement and disposal.??

In the CAM world, data is created and used throughout the above-mentioned lifecycles in which plants act as the manufacturer, customer, and operator. In this case, complexity and interrelationships are driving PLM to have a complete view of the data accessible from many viewpoints. PLM Providers are extending their domains to encompass more of the digital thread as well as integrating into EAM provider’s solutions. IoT is also driving a lot of innovation in the EAM space. Over the last years, IBM has bet its future on its Watson IoT strategy, of which its leading EAM offering, Maximo, is a critical component.?

The togetherness of these four areas – the IoT, Industry 4.0, Predictive Analysis, and Enterprise Asset Management – are the synergistic technologies redefining the way manufacturing will be accomplished in the near term.?

The Growing Need for More Sophisticated CAM?

The anticipated growth of the CAM market over the next few years will continue to be driven by the manufacturers striving to produce higher-quality goods that can command higher prices and yield better margins.?

Higher margin performance derived from producing higher quality goods and lower labor and life cycle costs remains the strongest business driver spurring the adoption of sophisticated CAM Software. On the technology side, the continued increase in the use of multi-task machine tools, the growing demand for physics-based cutter path strategies, and the creative use of additive manufacturing are driving the need for more sophisticated CAM Software.??

These highly finished goods generally require sophisticated engineering and machining that, in turn, requires sophisticated CAM software for design and manufacturing.?

The scarcity of experienced engineering and machining personnel in most developed economies is driving the need to capture knowledge and automate as much of the machining process as possible using CAM software.?

More sophisticate CAM Software is needed in both product design and manufacturing to respond to the trend towards more aesthetic designs, to ease the onshoring of manufacturing, and to improve the process capability by applying six-sigma concepts.??

Machine tool complexity and capabilities continue to increase, driving the need for sophisticated CAD/CAM software to create the NC programs required to synchronize their complex capabilities and to optimize their usage. Performing multiple operations such as milling and turning on a single tool, and often in a single setup, typically results in increased productivity, faster turnaround, reduced scrap, and improved part quality by avoiding errors in transferring components from one machine to another.?

Specialized software is required to effectively use these multi-task machines. The software defines the tool movement, simulates the operations, and post-processes the output. Simulating movement is extremely important for an operator to visualize the machining sequences, avoid collisions, and optimize the operations. CAM software must provide individual control of each turret, turret synchronization, and produce accurate cycle time calculations. To program the multi-spindle, multi-tool capabilities of a multi-task machine it is common for the cutter paths to be programmed in the CAM system independently. They are then synchronized automatically by the CAM system, manually by the programmer, or a combination of both.??

When executed on the shop floor, the machining begins with the sync codes orchestrating the program flow of each execution channel. NC programmers can verify the NC programs and their sync codes before using them on the shop floor. The growing use of multi-task machines will continue to drive demand in CAM functionality to support their ever-growing levels of flexibility and complexity.?

The improvement in Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques is having a growing impact on the CAM market. 3D printing offers an increase in the complexity of product designs, which increases demand for more sophisticated subtractive CAM.?

Through generative design techniques one can create shapes that could not be made using conventional subtractive machining or are too costly to make.?

3D printing and subtractive CAM are often used in a complementary fashion, with 3D printed components forming a base that requires subsequent CAM operations that can be used to create threads, remove support material, break moveable parts, or create a required surface finish.?

The demand will increase for CAM systems that can program hybrid machines that combine additive and subtractive in the same machine.?

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