While this may seem obvious to some, many companies become so impressed by the gadgets and features that software developers throw at them that they sometimes forget what they need. In order for design engineers to fully use CAD/CAM to make molds or parts, four key elements need to be in place:

1. The hardware and software tools should be kept up-to-date through a software maintenance contract and regular hardware updates, thereby assuring compatibility of all of the equipment involved.

2. The designers must be provided with comprehensive and ongoing training on the software products they use in order to maximize the benefits that the company will receive from its equipment and people.

3. The design engineer must develop a clear understanding and compassion for the methods, process and needs of the manufacturing engineers.

4. The CAD/CAM system that a company chooses must perform the job it is advertised to perform. This should include a demonstration on your own parts because the most powerful systems with the best features are useless if they won’t run your machine properly. Most buyers, unless they have experienced problems with previous systems, tend to overlook this very important point. This can be costly and time-consuming a moldmaker – so let the buyer beware.