Computer Aided Manufacturing Software

Computer Aided Manufacturing Software is defined as the use of software to control Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines and automate manufacturing and assembly processes. CAM software helps manufacturers in high-volume production and transform raw material into desired discrete products with precise dimension and material consistency. Generally, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE), and CAM software are used simultaneously by manufacturers. CAD software helps in the designing and documentation of products, while CAE software provides the analysis of products and components and the outputs of CAD and CAE software are provided to CNC machines with the help of CAM software for making uniform products at a low maintenance cost.

Top 10 Computer Aided Manufacturing Software 2020

1. HEXAGON AB
2. AUTODESK INC
3. DASSAULT SYSTEMES
4. SIEMENS AG
5. 3D SYSTEMS CORPORATION
6. ZWSOFT
7. HCL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
8. PTC INC
9. SOLIDCAM
10. OPEN MIND

Market Overview

The Computer aided manufacturing software market is estimated to be USD 2.31 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 3.35 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period.

Rising industrial automation is prompting manufacturers to adopt advanced solutions and speed up the production of designed product along with eliminating the need for manual machine inputs. CAM solution enables manufacturers and other stakeholders to convert designed drawings into machine-friendly codes known as G-codes. With the help of these codes, instructions are given to CNC machines and robots to manufacture uniform products according to the design specifications. Apart from aiding in the manufacturing process, CAM solution also helps manufacturers in the automation of workflows and reduce the material wastage thereby improving machine efficiency.

The manufacturing industry is a giant industry comprising various multinational companies and small manufacturers. Several driving forces of digital transformation in the manufacturing industry, such as Industry 4.0 are expected to drive the computer aided manufacturing market. Moreover, emerging new application areas, such as fashion and lifestyle, prosthodontics, prosthetics, and orthotics are expected to provide opportunities for vendors operating in the CAM market. However, cost in implementing CAM solutions might restrain the growth of CAM market.

Some of the major vendors offering computer aided manufacturing solutions across the globe include Autodesk, Inc.; Dassault Systèmes; Hexagon AB; Siemens AG (Siemens); 3D Systems, Inc.; PTC, Inc.; HCL Technologies Limited; CNC Software, Inc.; OPEN MIND Technologies AG; DP Technology Corp.; MecSoft Corporation; SolidCAM GmbH; NTT DATA ENGINEERING SYSTEMS Corporation; BobCAD-CAM, Inc.; ZWSOFT CO., LTD.; and SmartCAMcnc.

Computer Aided Manufacturing Software vendors who fall into this category receive high scores for most of the evaluation criteria. They have a strong and established product portfolio, and a very strong market presence. They provide mature and reputable solutions. They also have strong business strategies.

They are established vendors in Computer Aided Manufacturing Software category with very strong business strategies. However, they are low in their product portfolios. They focus on specific type of technology related to the product.

Innovators in the Computer Aided Manufacturing Software category are vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. They have a much-focused product portfolio. However, they do not have a very strong growth strategy for their overall business.

They are vendors with niche product offerings in Computer Aided Manufacturing Software category and are starting to gain their position in the market. They do not have much strong business strategies, as compared to other established vendors. They might be new entrants in the market and require some more time before getting significant traction in the market.

Rapid advancement in technology has transformed the way organizations design and manufacture their products. Manual processes can lead to variation in speed and accuracy, and errors in the manufacturing process, as operators can suffer from fatigue and monotony. CAM solution empowers organizations to improve speed and precision, and shorten their lead times. Vendors offer various services, including, training and education, and support and maintenance, to enable enterprises to speed up and smoothen their manufacturing process. This section includes an overview of CAM solutions and services available in the market. Furthermore, it discusses the current and forecasts trends of various CAM solution and services     

SOLUTION

CAM solution facilitates organizations to design and manufacture their products with the help of CNC machines. This solution enables organizations to minimize errors in designing and manufacturing processes. Moreover, it can be easily integrated with the designing tool, thereby providing enhanced ability to adopt changes and increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes. CAM solution enables organizations to manage design changes in an easy and fast manner. The solution empowers various stakeholders in an organization, including machinists, designers, and engineers, to carry out their tasks effectively, thereby reducing the overall time taken in the manufacturing of a product.

SERVICES

Services play a crucial role in efficiently carrying out various tasks performed in the entire manufacturing process of an organization. The CAM market has been categorized into 2 types of support and maintenance, and training and education. These services enable enterprises to make most of the CAM solution required to enhance their manufacturing processes. It enables enterprises to ensure the successful implementation of CAM solutions as per the unique requirements of organizations.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

Training and education services are aimed at offering comprehensive training with respect to CAM solutions. These services help organizations build necessary expertise in its team pertaining to deployment and usage of CAM solutions. Moreover, they have been widely adopted by organizations, owing to the growing need for certified CAM professionals in the global market. Training services and education programs enable organizations to remove knowledge gaps by providing updated information to employees about the ongoing technological advancements and product updates. CAM solution providers offer learning materials, such as whitepapers, video tutorials, and blogs, along with online training, to educate professionals enabling them to make maximum utilization of CAM solutions.

SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE

Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Robotic technologies going mainstream
• Enhancing visibility into business operations

Restraints

• High setup and operating cost

Opportunities

• Emerging new application areas

Challenges

• Lack of skilled professionals

Applications by vertical

Automotive

In today’s highly competitive automotive industry, companies are looking forward to adopting smart manufacturing technologies for reducing the manufacturing cycle time. Technological innovations, latest machines, equipment, and use of computer aided manufacturing solution in automobiles manufacturing processes have helped automakers and fabricators to reduce the production time significantly and enhance the overall efficiency of manufacturing. Furthermore, the increased adoption of smart technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) powered solutions, such as connected cars, connected logistics, predictive maintenance, and connected fleet, has created several opportunities in the global market.

Aerospace And Defense

Computer aided manufacturing solution enables organizations to achieve high efficiency and precision required to manufacture products for aerospace and defense. Machining of parts for aerospace and defense is costly. CAM solution enables clients to produce reliable and efficient toolpaths for providing full simulation, which can be analyzed prior to machining of the parts. Furthermore, CAM solution empowers clients with the benefits of reduced machine cycle time and enhanced workflow efficiency, crucial for organizations in the aerospace and defense industry vertical to increase their production and reduce waste.

Industrial Equipment

Various end users of Computer aided manufacturing solution in the industrial equipment industry vertical are maintenance shops, contractors, and suppliers. The growing infrastructure developments across the globe have led to the increased requirement of heavy industrial equipment for completing projects within time and budget. Heavy industrial equipment manufacturers need to ensure that these equipment are highly reliable and capable of working in difficult conditions.

High-Tech

High-tech goods include control and telecommunication systems, and consumer goods. In today’s highly competitive global market, organizations working in the high-tech industry vertical are not only offering mere products to consumers, but also are driven by a greater vision to transform the way people live and utilize these products. This industry vertical is fast-paced, innovative, complex, and highly competitive. Computer aided manufacturing software enables organizations to tackle various business challenges of this industry vertical by facilitating the implementation of innovative and improved manufacturing processes.

Medical Devices and Components

IT systems are used in the medical device industry for developing policies and procedures for medical equipment management plan. CAM solution facilitates clients in improving the manufacturing process, thereby reducing product recalls and wastes, and increasing the profitability of companies that manufacture medical devices and components. The medical devices and components industry vertical also has a huge demand for collaborative robots for functions such as design and installation, packaging and palletizing, assembly, machine tending, and lab analysis. Robots are usually deployed in this industry vertical to maintain proper hygiene and infection-free environment.

Energy and Utilities

The energy and utilities industry vertical comprises enterprises working in various sectors, such as power and utilities, oil and gas, and chemical and process. Organizations working in the energy and utilities industry vertical emphasizes on creating flexibility and precision, and innovation in manufacturing processes. Computer aided manufacturing software empowers enterprises with the powerful set of design tools and is focused on toolpaths. Additionally, CAM solution enables clients to solve complex machining problems effectively and efficiently.

Benefits

• Computer Aided Manufacturing makes it easier for professionals with Engineering Training to measure a plant’s output and production as a whole as well as to optimize the assembly process.
• CAM systems can maximize utilization of a full range of production equipment, such as high speed, 5-axis turning machine, and electrical discharge machines, and can help to implement advanced productivity tools like simulation and optimization to leverage specific professional skills.
• By using a Computer aided manufacturing system, manufacturers can improve their machining capabilities. The CAM system automates the process, and makes it easier for manufacturers to complete the project in time.
• The CAM software allows manufacturers to receive CAD files from their customers which helps them calculate the machining cycle times. The software allows manufacturers to minimize errors, execute projects easily, and deliver products to the market within a shorter turnaround time.
• Most computer aided manufacturing systems provide high–speed machine tool paths, which help manufacturers minimize their cycle times, reduce tool and machine wear. This type of high- speed machining helps improve the productivity of the CNC machine by more than 50%.
• As CAM software provides simulation features, it helps a manufacturer to visually inspect the process of machining. This feature contributes to the overall productivity of a manufacturing set up.

Recent Developments

In March 2019, Autodesk signed an agreement with Rochester Institute of Technology. This agreement would help RIT to expand its multidisciplinary educational initiatives across the university.

In February 2019, Dassault Systèmes signed an agreement to acquire elecworks product line from Trace Software International. Elecworks product line comprises electrical and automation design software, which would empower Dassault Systèmes to strengthen its foothold in various industries including industrial equipment, high-tech, and energy.

In January 2019, OPEN MIND Technologies released newer version of CAD/CAM suite, hyperMILL 2019.1 to offer end users with enhanced features including process optimization and new functions to reduce calculation time.

In December 2018, Autodesk acquired PlanGrid to develop complementary construction software. Autodesk’s BIM 360 construction management platform connects people, data, and workflows on construction projects.

In December 2018, Siemens acquired COMSA Computer and Software GmbH, a Munich-based company. COMSA is a software provider for electrical systems design and wire harness engineering. The acquisition would take the electrical system to a new level for meeting the development of electric and autonomous vehicle.

In June 2018, Hexagon acquired SPRING Technologies to strengthen the company’s Autonomous Connected Ecosystems strategy, thereby facilitating delivery of smart factory solutions. SPRING Technologies would operate as a part of Computer aided dispatch/computer aided manufacturing and production software business of Hexagon.