Page 283 - Aeronautical Engineer Data Book

Basic mechanical design 229
12.7 Computer aided engineering
Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) is the
generic name given to a collection of computer
aided techniques used in aeronautical and
other types of mechanical engineering.
Computer Aided Engineering (CAE)
comprises:
• CAD: Computer Aided Design (or Drafting)
– Computer aided design is the application
of computers to the conceptual/design
part of the engineering process. It
includes analysis and simulation.
– Computer aided drafting is the application
of computer technology to the production
of engineering drawings and images.
• CAM: Computer Aided Manufacture
relates to the manufacture of a product
using computer-controlled machine tools of
some sort.
• MRP: Materials Requirements Planning/
Manufacturing Resource Planning: defines
when a product is made, and how this fits in
with the other manufacturing schedules in
the factory.
• CIM: Computer Integrated Manufacture is
the integration of all the computer-based
techniques used in the design and manufac­
ture of engineering products.
Figure 12.11 shows a general representation of
how these techniques fit together.

12.7.1 CAD software
CAD software exists at several levels within an
overall CAE system. It has different sources,
architecture and problems. A typical structure is:
• Level A: Operating systems: Some are
manufacturer-specific and tailored for use
on their own systems.
• Level B: Graphics software: This governs
the type and complexity of the graphics that
both the CAD and CAM elements of a
CAE system can display.