計算機(jī)輔助設(shè)計是利用計算機(jī)系統(tǒng)對某項設(shè)計進(jìn)行創(chuàng)造、修改、分析、和優(yōu)化。本文中的計算機(jī)系統(tǒng)是指計算機(jī)的硬件和軟件的組合、計算機(jī)輔助制造是利用計算機(jī)系統(tǒng)來規(guī)劃、管理和控制制造廠的加工過程。根據(jù)產(chǎn)民設(shè)計和制造過程所必須完成的各項內(nèi)容，我們來描述CAD/CAM的作用范圍。
根據(jù)市場的需求來規(guī)劃產(chǎn)品，很可能就是對原產(chǎn)品進(jìn)行改進(jìn)，然后再具體設(shè)計產(chǎn)品，包括進(jìn)行具體必要的分析，畫出零件圖和編寫零件說明表，其次要對各個零部件的生產(chǎn)作出規(guī)劃，其中包括確定加工順序，選擇機(jī)床及估算產(chǎn)生產(chǎn)周期，確定工藝參數(shù)。當(dāng)產(chǎn)品投入生產(chǎn)后，安排生產(chǎn)時間，控制生產(chǎn)，確定加工和裝配每個零件中每個環(huán)節(jié)的先后順序和所需要的時間，使之符合總體的生產(chǎn)進(jìn)度安排，然后根據(jù)此安排進(jìn)行實際生產(chǎn)和產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量控制，最后將成品交付給用戶。
我們已經(jīng)或正在使用計算機(jī)技術(shù)來完成產(chǎn)品在生產(chǎn)過程中的各個環(huán)節(jié)的工作，我


Computer-aided design is the use of computer systems to facilitate the creation, modification, analy¬SIS, and optimization of a design. In this context the term computer system means a combination of hard¬ware and software. Computer-aided manufacturing is the use of a computer system to plan, manage, and control the opemtion of a manufacturing plant. An appreciation of the scope of CAD/CAM can be ob¬tained by considering the stages that must be completed in the design and manufacture of a product, as il¬lustmted by the product cycle shown in Fig. 5 . 8. The inner loop of this figure in~ludes the various steps in the product cycle and the outer loop shows some of the functions of CAD/CAM superimposed on the product cycle .