Sandvik announced today the acquisition of Canadian company, Postability, which will be part of Mastercam, the world’s #1 CAM Software. Postability is a bespoke software development firm developing NC post processors for Mastercam.

“The addition of Postability’s post processing technology makes industry-preferred solutions more accessible to Mastercam users around the world,” says Mastercam President and CEO, Meghan West. “This acquisition enables Mastercam to further support our customers by integrating best-in-class post-processing technology along with improved responsiveness and technical support.”

The acquisition of Postability adds talent, technology, and diversity to Mastercam’s ecosystem of solutions. Postability’s solutions and support are recognized as best-in-class and will now be accessible globally through Mastercam’s robust Reseller channel. With the addition of Postability, Mastercam users will have the opportunity to acquire a broader range of post processing technology with excellent support and responsiveness.

Jodi Spall, owner of Postability, states, “We are very excited to sign this agreement of acquisition with Mastercam and Sandvik. Joining the Mastercam team will enable us to bring our technology to more Mastercam users around the world.”

Mastercam has no plans to change relationships with any external vendors, customers, or support solutions as a result of this acquisition.

Mastercam continues to Shape the Future of Manufacturing. Mastercam is committed to expanding the tools available in the Mastercam ecosystem through organic growth and acquisitions.

CNC Software, LLC, developers of Mastercam, the world’s leading CAD/CAM software, has collaborated with Kennametal, a global technology leader and provider of metal cutting tools and solutions, to provide customers with the ability to access tooling data for Kennametal brand drills and solid carbide end mills directly in the Mastercam tool library on their Tech Exchange.

Mastercam developers worked closely with Kennametal to enable users to import data on their most versatile and high-performance cutting tools, including GOdrill and Kenna Universal solid carbide drills and a selection of HARVI and KOR end mills directly into Mastercam. The integration allows Mastercam customers to save significant time searching for desired tools and building tool assemblies.

Kennametal tool libraries on Mastercam’s Tech Exchange website
“We are excited to offer these high-performance drills and endmills from Kennametal in a native Mastercam tool library format and make it available to our user base of over 300,000,” said Stas Mylek, Partnership Program Manager, CNC Software, LLC. “The collaborative effort between both companies provides Mastercam users easy and integrated access to the latest cutting tools from Kennametal,” Mylek continued.

Mastercam’s Maintained users can download the cutting tool libraries from the Mastercam Tech Exchange portal on their website. The native Mastercam tool database is fully compatible with Mastercam 2022 and the latest Mastercam 2023 release.

“The integration of our tooling data within Mastercam’s library digitizes Kennametal innovation and productivity, making it easier for customers to identify tooling requirements, build machining strategies, and ultimately purchase our tools,” said Eddie McBarnet, Vice President Marketing, Kennametal. “Our digital tooling data, in combination with the powerful Mastercam software, will enable hundreds of thousands of customers to quickly find solutions to their toughest machining challenges and be more productive and efficient using Kennametal tooling.”

NC Software, LLC, developers of Mastercam, the world’s leading CAD/CAM software, has partnered with CAMWERK to provide customers with the unique and easy to use fully-integrated machine solution called NC2Check.

Mastercam developers worked closely with CAMWERK to build a solution for G-code simulation within Mastercam. The integration gives Mastercam customers a solution for avoiding machine damage, downtimes, failures, and makes their production and programming even more efficient and error-free.

N2Check precisely simulates the CNC machine and the entire process of machining. By verifying the NC code through NC2Check, users have an NC code-based virtual machine simulation of all movements. NC2Check helps users detect errors that lead to machine downtime, damage to the workpiece, or even expensive collisions on CNC machines before the real machining even begins.

“We are excited to partner with CAMWERK on a complete mapping of the entire machine tool and simulation of NC programs based on G-code and make it available to over 300,000 users,” said Stas Mylek, Partnership Program Manager, CNC Software, LLC. “The collaborative effort between both companies provides Mastercam users complete machine simulation for detecting issues such as travel limits or potential workpiece collisions before machining takes place,” Mylek continued.

NC2Check is an add-on to Mastercam that installs as a single button on the ribbon bar interface. The single button allows users to launch NC2Check to provide full simulation and G-code verification from within the Mastercam session.

Bircan Öztürk, Director for CAMWERK says, “With NC2Check, you can see collisions and errors directly on your PC and run on your machines completely virtually. We do not offer G-code simulation in the classic definition, we offer our customers the freedom to create ideas and creatively use ideas elsewhere in the company instead of looking for errors in the NC program, and to run in every single part on the CNC machine. It is a small tool, but its effect in production makes it a real-time miracle for everyone.”

September 19, 2022 (Tolland, Conn.) – More shops and schools invest in Mastercam than any other CAD/CAM software package in the world. According to CIMdata, Inc., an independent research firm specializing in the NC industry, Mastercam is the number one CAM software used worldwide for 28 years in a row, with more than 300,000 seats installed. In the latest report, Mastercam retained the top spot for CAM software in three categories: industry, education, and support network.

Mastercam topped the list in both the educational and industrial categories, with nearly twice as many installed seats as the nearest competitor*.

“Mastercam having such widespread global use offers a lot of benefits for shops,” says Meghan West, President and CEO of CNC Software, LLC. “The community of users is exceptionally strong, the support network has unmatched experience and expertise, and industrial shops are reducing the skills gap because more students are graduating with Mastercam experience.”

If you run a shop, using the most widely used CAD/CAM software is important. You want reliable code to run your machines at maximum performance for precision and efficiency, and you want access to training and support to keep your shop optimized and business growing.

If you work in education, you want to prepare students with skills they can transfer to further education and gainful employment. You appreciate access to extensive training, curriculum, and projects from Mastercam and authorized partner providers

If you are an individual, using the top CAD/CAM software is important because there is a high demand for skilled workers in manufacturing companies. You can find training and education opportunities to learn Mastercam since it is also the most widely taught, and you can find a job easier with Mastercam skills.

West continues, “Mastercam provides incomparable access and support for shops and programmers. With the largest local Reseller support network of any CAM developer, there is always an expert available to help you get the most benefit from our software.”

Multiaxis machining can dramatically increase a shop’s competitiveness. Mastercam Multiaxis is an add-on for Mastercam Mill 3D, Router 3D, Mill-Turn, and Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS®. It improves productivity with simultaneous 4- and 5-axis machining capability for Mastercam. Mastercam Multiaxis offers a wide range of multiaxis machining strategies, both basic and advanced. These toolpaths are also useful for advanced control of 3-axis machines.

The new Multiaxis Unified toolpath allows you to select multiple pieces of input geometry to generate the toolpath pattern. Using those geometry choices, the toolpath picks the best algorithm to calculate the path. This single toolpath gives you access to all the surface-based toolpaths, as well as the geodesic toolpath options, in a single interface.

New Deburr toolpath enhancements include a new option, Number of cuts along edges, which allows users to add multiple cuts to the Deburr toolpath, rounding or flattening edges, to create a quality edge on deburred parts. Additionally, the new Tilt Range options allow you to limit tilt when machining type is set to 5-axis (simultaneous) or 3+2 axis.

Maintaining climb and conventional machining is critical for surface finish and tool life. Controlling Climb and Conventional Cutting now provides control of climb or conventional cutting while working with surfaces that may require using both sides of a tool. It was previously impossible to maintain this while cutting a curved shape that would require the use of both sides of the tool.

Swarf Milling toolpath enhancements include the Drop tool to floor option which controls whether Mastercam will drop the toolpath down to a floor or retract to the bottom of swarf surfaces. The new Sorting Spiral Multi Cuts option allows multiple slices to be output as a spiral instead of single slices, providing a better finish across the part.

Rotary Advanced toolpath enhancements include the Axis offset option which allows you to shift the tool off-center to maintain a better contact point, which extends tool life and improves the machining quality. The new Smoothing options round sharp corners using a perfect of the stepover.

Mastercam continues to expand the critical machine simulation needed for optimal multiaxis programming with Mastercam Simulator which includes the new Smart Measure feature that allows you to measure distances quickly and accurately in the graphics window during simulation. Simulator now processes standard 3-axis and 5-axis operations faster when backplotting, verifying, or simulating, and now lists all collisions, proximity alerts, and axis overruns in the new Report pane.

Additional enhancements to Mastercam Multiaxis include:

• Maintaining a single tool axis orientation with Accelerated Finishing tools, providing optimal tool axis control to minimize or eliminate extra multiaxis movement.
• The new Point tool to rotary axis option allows you to rotate a toolpath around an offset point instead of the toolpath being fixed to the axis itself, which leads to a better tool contact point.
• The new Automatic arc lead-in type creates automatic arcs in locations where it can be difficult to determine the correct arc to fit and makes it easier to add arcs to linking moves.
• New Apply filtering for conversion generates a more efficient toolpath by filtering incoming toolpaths to reduce size and noise.

More shops and schools invest in Mastercam than any other CAD/CAM software package in the world. According to CIMdata, Inc., an independent research firm specializing in the NC industry, Mastercam is the number one CAM software used worldwide for 27 years in a row. In the latest report, Mastercam retained the top spot for CAM software in three categories: industry, education, and support network.

Mastercam topped the list in both the educational and industrial categories, with nearly twice as many installed seats as the nearest competitor*.

“Mastercam having such widespread global use offers a lot of benefits for shops,” says Meghan West, President and CEO of CNC Software, LLC. “The community of users is exceptionally strong, the support network has unmatched experience and expertise, and industrial shops are reducing the skills gap because more students are graduating with Mastercam experience.”

If you run a shop, using the most widely used CAD/CAM software is important. You want reliable code to run your machines at maximum performance for precision and efficiency, and you want access to training and support to keep your shop optimized and business growing.

If you work in education, you want to prepare students with skills they can transfer to further education and gainful employment. You appreciate access to extensive training, curriculum, and projects from Mastercam and authorized partner providers.

If you are an individual, using the top CAD/CAM software is important because there is a high demand for skilled workers in manufacturing companies. You can find training and education opportunities to learn Mastercam since it is also the most widely taught, and you can find a job easier with Mastercam skills.

West continues, “Mastercam provides incomparable access and support for shops and programmers. With the largest local Reseller support network of any CAM developer, there is always an expert available to help you get the most benefit from our software.”

WESTEC, the leading California manufacturing trade show, will be held November 16-18 in Long Beach, California. Attendees at the WESTEC show will have access to the latest in the line of powerful Mastercam machining software. Stop by booth # 1303 at the Long Beach Convention Center where a DMG MORI NLX 2500 will be on display showcasing Mastercam 2022, with features and enhancements that streamline your entire process, from job setup to job completion.

Mastercam is known for precision NC programming, but it also delivers a suite of shop-tested design tools aimed at getting parts on and off the machine as quickly as possible. Powerful modeling tools include not only 3D surfacing and solids, but hole-filling, direct editing without a solids history, geometry repair, and more.

Mastercam Design streamlines and simplifies modeling and editing geometry. It also supports advanced geometry creation, including solid and surface modeling, hybrid machining, NURBS curves and surfaces, 2D and 3D associative dimensioning, surface extension, blending, trimming, splitting, variable filleting, and hybrid modeling to complete your jobs quicker and more efficiently.

Solid EnhancementsMastercam Design has the power to recognize hole geometry—including intersecting and non-conventional holes—in solid bodies with no history. Once Mastercam discovers these holes, you can use expanded options to save your custom holes to a template for future use. Users can use Mastercam’s Add History function to detect complex holes in solid bodies. Simply select Hole operations to find all holes within the range of minimum and maximum radius values that are entered. Mastercam creates an operation for each unique detected hole style.

Wireframe EnhancementsModifying geometry by dragging your mouse is now available for Trim to Entities, Fillet Entities, and Chamfer Entities functions. As you drag the mouse, Mastercam performs the function on the wireframe entities your mouse encounters. Mastercam now also has the ability to incorporate DrillPt functionality into small arcs.

Note Enhancements Mastercam makes it easier to create text for notes and labels by adding many of the capabilities of the Create Letters function into the Note function. Note’s redesigned function panel gives users improved usability, more options, and increased control.

Other Mastercam Design Improvements:

• Two new flowline functions, Edit UV and Reflow UV, can be used to analyze and modify the UV direction on surface models to more effectively utilize the flowline milling toolpaths.
• Ability to mirror geometry about both the X and Y axes in one operation.
• Draw a window to select multiple faces when you want to change the color of a set of solid faces.
• And much more.

If you are a currently maintained Mastercam customer, you can now participate in the Public Beta Program for Mastercam 2022. Manufacturers all over the world, from small job shops to Fortune 100 companies, get a chance to test-drive Mastercam 2022 before it is released and provide valuable feedback to help shape the final product. Participants in the Public Beta Program get an early look at dozens of powerful new tools for simple to complex jobs.

In 2021, Mastercam is partnering with Edge Factor to equip organizations across North America with three Experience toolkits to inspire students and job seekers to pursue career pathways. This strategic workforce development initiative will provide schools, companies, and workforce leaders with FREE access to high impact multimedia, a keynote presentation, promotional tools, and practical guidebook on how to plan, promote, host, and follow up on engaging Experiences. These online Experiences will empower students, parents, and job seekers to explore skilled trades, apprenticeships, CTE programs, careers, STEAM, and soft skills.

Edge Factor, a widely used e-learning platform, has created thousands of videos, interactive activities, and lesson plans that focus on career exploration. K-12 and postsecondary schools, companies, and organizations partner with Edge Factor to help tackle workforce development regionally and nationally. Wielding the power of storytelling, Edge Factor media has showcased countless Mastercam customers using technology to bring design ideas to life and impact people’s lives. With these stories, and much more, the Edge Factor platform helps students and job seekers explore career pathways, learn soft skills, discover STEAM on-the-job, experience virtual workplaces, and learn about local training and career opportunities.

Featuring select tools from the Edge Factor library, six free Experiences will be available during specific 2021 months for organizations to share in classrooms, homes, and at events.
“Partnership is crucial as we face a new world of opportunity. We know that times are changing, and while that may feel scary at some level, it can also be exciting when you have the right team. I am proud to have Mastercam and Edge Factor continue our long-term partnership knowing that this will allow us to lead and grow as both organizations move into the future together,” said Jeremy Bout, Founder and President of Edge Factor.

As an industry leader for more than 35 years, CNC Software Inc. proudly meets the needs of their customers by combining Mastercam’s software programming with practical shop floor experience. On the forefront of CAD/CAM technology, CNC Software responds to the needs of the manufacturing community and has provided CAD/CAM solutions to more than 265,000 installations worldwide in industries including moldmaking, automotive, aerospace, and consumer industries.

“Mastercam and Edge Factor have been corporate partners for over ten years, and we’ve found this to be a very beneficial partnership as both companies share a common goal of bridging the gap between education and industry and raising overall awareness,” says Graham Hargreaves, Corporate Marketing Manager, Mastercam. “We are excited to partner again in 2021, and once again unite for three key initiatives that represent core business drivers for Mastercam. Bridging the skills gap, showing opportunities for women in manufacturing, and expanding overall awareness of manufacturing in our communities are of utmost importance, and our partnership with Edge Factor will help to deliver those messages to a critical audience.”

To empower people to raise up the next generation, Mastercam is specifically partnering with Edge Factor on the following three 2021 Experiences:

• Future Skills (Jan – Feb 2021) – As students are choosing which programs to enroll in for the following year, Edge Factor’s Future Skills Experience will promote and celebrate technical education programs and encourage students to get involved. (This will be a great tool for U.S. organizations to celebrate CTE Month, too.)
• Women in Skilled Trades (Mar – Apr 2021) – To celebrate International Women’s Day/ Month, this toolkit will feature a special collection of tools that Edge Factor has created that feature women in skilled trades. The goal of this Experience is to encourage more women and female students to pursue career pathways in diverse skilled trades.
• Rock MFG DAY (Sept – Oct 2021) – October is Manufacturing Day/ Month and Edge Factor is providing the 2021 Rock MFG DAY kit for everyone to highlight the extraordinary world of advanced manufacturing. This toolkit will include resources to promote manufacturing careers and technology and showcase how STEAM comes alive in this industry.