CADCAM

CAD/CAM

CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) is a specialized program or graphics software package that works in conjunction with specialized hardware to help architects and manufacturers create and design such things as computers, buildings, and office layouts. CAD/CAM helps with the designing of special-purpose machines for automation. With CAD/CAM, a designer can create, view, and change two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) drawings. The CAD software allows the designer to zoom in, select, and modify particular parts of a design.

Several years ago, CAD required specially built computer systems. Today, CAD/CAM software packages are designed to run on multipurpose/multifunctional workstations and servers. The software does, however, have minimum and recommended system requirements. They are:

Minimum system requirements:

• Intel Pentium 233 (minimum)

  • Pentium 450 or higher (recommended)

• Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5.0

• Windows 98

• Windows Me (Millennium Edition)

• Windows 2000

• Windows XP Professional Only

• 128MB RAM

• 1024x768 video card

• 125MB-225MB of free hard drive space

Recommended system requirements:

• Intel Pentium or AMD 1600MHz or greater

• Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5.0

• Windows 2000

• 512MB DDR physical RAM

• 64MB DDR AGP video card (resolution set to 1152x864 or higher, 16 bits)

To be useful and effective, CAD/CAM programs also depend on specialized input and output devices, such as high-end computer monitors, specialized printers, plotters, digitized tablets, and light pens.

For the A+ Core Hardware exam, you do not have to demonstrate that you can create automation equipment using CAD/CAM. What is important is that you understand that CAD/CAM is very graphics intensive and requires as much computer horsepower as you can get your hands on in order to use it effectively.