{"id":5700,"date":"2023-04-06T17:27:26","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T21:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/?p=5700"},"modified":"2026-03-26T09:26:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T13:26:47","slug":"cam-is-in-our-dna-article","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/cam-is-in-our-dna-article\/","title":{"rendered":"CAM is in our DNA [article]\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The famous quote by Charles Darwin, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” is a perfect reflection of the significance of embracing change in all industries, including manufacturing.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s manufacturing world, technology is rapidly advancing, and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is no exception. The latest automated techniques, like feature-based machining, have revolutionized the NC programming process. You can recognize standard features such as pockets, slots, and compound holes (sometimes hundreds of them) and generate the necessary toolpaths to machine  them in a matter of seconds. This has made CAM programming faster and easier, enabling re-use of best practices.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though automation can increase efficiency and accuracy, there are certain aspects where manufacturers\u2019 expertise and decision-making skills are critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CAM is in our DNA. The CAM tools in NX are targeted at the professional users \u2014programmers and manufacturing engineers<\/p>\nVynce Paradise, head of Siemens NX CAM<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Siemens NX CAM software<\/a> is a prime example that illustrates how NC programmers and machine operators can work alongside to create the most efficient machining process. The software enables seamless integration of their expertise in machining.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evolution of NX CAM <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, NX software is a solution that provides a comprehensive suite of CAD\/CAM\/CAE applications but what many people may not know is that the software\u2019s origin was CAM.   <\/p>\n\n\n

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NX CAM offers a wide range of advanced toolpaths, including high-speed machining strategies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Our remarkable journey started with a CAM program called UNIAPT in the seventies that was instrumental for aerospace giants like McDonnell Douglas to streamline their machining process and create complex parts and components with great precision and accuracy. Since then, design and simulation features were added, evolving into Unigraphics, then the present-day NX<\/a> in the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCAM is in our DNA,\u201d says Vynce Paradise, head of\u202fSiemens NX CAM. \u201cThe CAM tools in NX are targeted at the professional users\u2014programmers and manufacturing engineers.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to popular belief, NX CAM is not exclusively designed for advanced users, it caters to a wide range of users. \u201cIn every machine shop, you see a mix of simple and advanced programming.\u201d he adds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re continuously trying to find out if there are things to improve in the software, like reducing excessive tool wear, and then fixing them before we release the software,\u201d says Vynce whose team of application engineers collaborate with industry partners to improve the software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Machinists and automation: a dynamic duo <\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In CAM programming, the synergy between human machinists and automation is very essential to define the optimal machining process. Machinists bring to the table, their wealthy knowledge and experience of operating complex machines, and automation on the other hand brings speed, precision, and consistency to the manufacturing process.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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Machine operators and CAM automation: A perfect partnership<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re always making the same part, then you can automate the process<\/a>, but when it comes to parts with high variability, you still need someone who understands the process. If you\u2019re going to make a complex part<\/a>, like a turbine blisk, you\u2019ll still need weeks to program it,\u201d Vynce says. That is why the human machinist\u2019s role remains indispensable and must work in tandem with automation to achieve better results. The machinists\u2019 expertise is so invaluable that they are skilled at even making in-situ decisions such as adjusting the spindle speed based on just an observation <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn experienced machinist can tell just by listening to the machine\u2019s sound,\u201d says Vynce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more on how to combine the machinist\u2019s wisdom and automation in CAM by reading the full article on Digital Engineering 24\/7<\/a>, the industry\u2019s primary resource for the latest technologies, industry news, and trends.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The secret to successful CAM programming is blending machinists\u2019 wisdom and automation. Read the full article by Digital Engineering 24\/7, the primary resource source for industry news, trends, and the latest technologies to learn how Siemens NX CAM synergizes machinists and automation to boost productivity. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86890,"featured_media":5712,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[169,218,899,174,44,200,38,202],"industry":[],"product":[],"coauthors":[10647],"class_list":["post-5700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-computer-aided-manufacturing-cam","tag-digital-machine-shop","tag-digital-manufacturing","tag-digitalization","tag-milling","tag-mold-die","tag-nc-programming","tag-part-manufacturing"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2023\/04\/DE247.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/86890"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5700"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5824,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5700\/revisions\/5824"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5712"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5700"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=5700"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=5700"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/nx-manufacturing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=5700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}