ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Computer-aided manufacturing

Computer-aided manufacturing, also known as CAM, is when computers help us make things. It is a process where we use computers to design, create, and control machines that manufacture products. The computer takes the design of a product and creates a set of instructions for machines to follow so they can create the object.

Imagine you want to bake a cake. You need to mix flour, sugar, eggs, and other things in the right proportions. You also need to bake it at the right temperature for the right amount of time. You can do it all by yourself or use a recipe. A recipe helps you follow exact steps to create the cake. CAM works the same way.

A computer takes a design of a product and creates a set of instructions for machines to follow. The machines use tools like drills, cutters, saws, and lasers to cut, shape, and form materials into a finished product. The computer tells the machine what to do and how to do it, down to the smallest detail. Old machines needed humans to control them, but now, a computer does all of the work.

CAM is very important to manufacturing because it makes it easier and more efficient to create products. Precise instructions given to machines by the computer ensure accuracy, and they can do it faster than humans. This saves time, money, and effort. CAM is crucial to creating complex products such as cars, aeroplanes, and spaceships. Without it, the process of creating anything would be much more difficult and take much longer.