Solidworks is a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system which helps you make a computer model of a 3D object. It can also model assemblies and do motion studies, stress analysis, and flow simulation. By itself it cannot talk to a CNC machine, but it can save your model in STL format which is the most common input format for a 3D printer. The 3D printer's software then figures out the nozzle path.
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software is for generating the G-Code that CNC machines read (it can also be laboriously written by hand as in the old days). Mastercam is the most commonly used CAM, and also has basic CAD functionality. There are CAM add-in packages for Solidworks.
The CAM software can't just look at the part and know how to make it. You need to tell it what size and shape of stock you're starting with, how the part is oriented, what cutters to use and at what feed rate, RPM, depth of cut, step-over, etc. That's where the CNC programmer comes in. Usually someone who's done manual machining and CNC operation for a while, the CNC programmer needs to come up with an efficient strategy to hold and machine the part, and communicate that to the CAM software.
-- The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity.
- P. Hajicek
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Tuesday March 18 2014, @12:49PM
Solidworks is a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system which helps you make a computer model of a 3D object. It can also model assemblies and do motion studies, stress analysis, and flow simulation. By itself it cannot talk to a CNC machine, but it can save your model in STL format which is the most common input format for a 3D printer. The 3D printer's software then figures out the nozzle path.
Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software is for generating the G-Code that CNC machines read (it can also be laboriously written by hand as in the old days). Mastercam is the most commonly used CAM, and also has basic CAD functionality. There are CAM add-in packages for Solidworks.
The CAM software can't just look at the part and know how to make it. You need to tell it what size and shape of stock you're starting with, how the part is oriented, what cutters to use and at what feed rate, RPM, depth of cut, step-over, etc. That's where the CNC programmer comes in. Usually someone who's done manual machining and CNC operation for a while, the CNC programmer needs to come up with an efficient strategy to hold and machine the part, and communicate that to the CAM software.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek