Fiducia TogetherCAD and CAM
Designing on a computer and manufacturing from that design.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Computer-aided design produces digital models and drawings. Computer-aided manufacture uses those files to drive machines — CNC routers and mills, laser cutters, 3D printers.
Where it applies
GCSE engineering, design and technology, and iMedia.
How it works
CAD allows accurate modelling, easy modification and simulation before anything is cut. CAM gives repeatability and precision, and suits batch and mass production.
The drawbacks are cost, training and the consequence of an error being reproduced perfectly across a whole batch.
How to use it in your work
Give both advantages and limitations — questions usually ask for a balanced view.
Name the specific process for the job: laser cutting for flat sheet, 3D printing for a one-off complex prototype, CNC milling for accurate metal parts.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification — these qualifications vary more between boards than the traditional GCSEs do, and much of the grade is coursework marked against stated criteria.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Engineering Song The engineering topics, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.