Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is a college level course that is appropriate for 11th or 12th grade students who are interested in design, engineering, and manufacturing. The major focus of the CIM course is to expose students to the fundamentals of computerized manufacturing technology. The course is built around several key concepts:

Computer Modeling – using a three dimensional, solid modeling software package with mass property analysis.

CNC Equipment – understanding the machine tools and its operating and programming aspects.

CAM Software – converting computer generated geometry into a program to drive CNC machine tools.

Robotics – using a robot for materials handling and assembly operations.

Flexible Manufacturing Systems – students working in teams to design manufacturing workcells and table top factory simulations.

Students should be familiar with the concepts learned in IED and POE. If a student has not taken these courses, additional effort and learning will be necessary to keep up with the content of the course. The course will be taught using demonstration and discussion combined with individual and team-centered project based learning.

CIM is one of the specialization courses in the Project Lead The Way® high school pre-engineering program. The course applies and concurrently develops secondary level knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, and technology.  This course can be used to gain Rochester Institute of Technology credit.