Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

9-30-1985

Degree Name

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Industrial and Management Engineering

First Advisor

Stan S. Thomas

Abstract

As the computer revolution is nearing its end, CAD/CAM concepts are being widely accepted and evolving rapidly. This thesis begins with a disscussion of the significance and advantages of CAD/CAM and their relationship with automation. Hardware and software components involved are then introduced. Product design under CAD is done by computers. Computers perform engineering analysis, necessary calculations, and dynamic simulation to complete the complex design. The geometric elements and operational primitives are provided by a data base system. The major components of CAM are then introduced. The term CAM is used in a broader sense to include CAPP, MRP, NC, Robots and CAQC. Within CAPP, Group Technology serves as the foundation. An example generative CAPP system, XPS-1, is then used to show how a decision model is employed to generate a process plan. After introducing the elements of computerized MRP, a comparison is made between the MRP system, the order point system and the Toyota management system.

After years of independent development, it has become apparent that an interface between CAD and CAM is both valuable and indispensable. A survey of various CAD/CAM standard interfaces are then given. These include GKS, PHIGS, VDI, VDM, NAPLPS, and IEGS.

It is well known that the manufacturing environment today has to meet the requirements of both product complexity and shortened product life cycles. From this study it is apparent that CAD/CAM provides a key partial solution to these problems.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.