CAD/CAM Essentials

1. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the CAD/CAM Essentials course 👋

Whether you are just starting out or looking to formalise what you already know on the shop floor, this course is designed to build your skills from the ground up — at your own pace.

What is CAD?

• CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design

• It is the process of creating precise 2D drawings or 3D models of a part on a computer

• Instead of drawing by hand, every dimension, shape, and feature of a component is defined digitally with accuracy

• These digital models become the foundation for everything that follows in manufacturing

What is CAM?

• CAM stands for Computer-Aided Manufacturing

• It is the process of using software to translate a CAD model into machine instructions

• It tells a CNC machine exactly how to move, at what speed, and with which tool to cut a part

• CAM software generates the toolpaths and produces the code that drives the machine

CAD and CAM together

• CAD and CAM work as a connected workflow

• The part is designed in CAD, and that design is then programmed in CAM

• Together, they allow manufacturers to move from an idea to a finished, precision-machined component — consistently, accurately, and economically

• In this course, you will learn how to use both — one step at a time