Mastercam (also MasterCAM) is a suite of

Computer-Aided Manufacturing Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) also known as computer-aided modeling or computer-aided machining is the use of software to control machine tools in the manufacturing of work pieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most ...

(CAM) and

CAD/CAM CAD/CAM refers to the integration of Computer-aided design (CAD) and Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Both of these require powerful computers. ''CAD'' software helps designers and draftsmen; ''CAM'' "reduces manpower costs" in the manufactur ...

software applications. Founded in MA in 1983, CNC Software, LLC is one of the oldest developers of PC-based computer-aided design / computer-aided manufacturing (

) software. They are one of the first to introduce CAD/CAM software designed for both

machinist A machinist is a tradesperson or trained professional who not only operates machine tools, but also has the knowledge of tooling and materials required to create set ups on machine tools such as milling machines, grinders, lathes, and drilling ...

s and

engineer Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the l ...

s. Mastercam, CNC Software's main product, started as a 2D CAM system with CAD tools that let machinists design virtual parts on a computer screen and also guided

computer numerical controlled Numerical control (also computer numerical control, and commonly called CNC) is the automated control of machining tools (such as drills, lathes, mills, grinders, routers and 3D printers) by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a ...

(CNC) machine tools in the manufacture of parts. Since then, Mastercam has grown into the most widely used CAD/CAM package in the world. CNC Software, LLC is now located in

Tolland, Connecticut Tolland is a suburban town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,563 at the 2020 census. History Tolland was named in May, 1715, and incorporated in May, 1722 from Windsor. The town was over 20 miles away from T ...

. Mastercam users can create and cut parts using one of many supplied machine and control definitions, or they can use Mastercam's tools to create their own customized definitions. Mastercam also offers a level of flexibility that allows the integration of 3rd party applications, called C-hooks, to address unique machine or process specific scenarios. Mastercam's name is a

double entendre A double entendre (plural double entendres) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to have a double meaning, of which one is typically obvious, whereas the other often conveys a message that would be too socially ...

: it implies mastery of CAM (

computer-aided manufacturing Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) also known as computer-aided modeling or computer-aided machining is the use of software to control machine tools in the manufacturing of work pieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most ...

), which involves today's latest machine tool control technology; and it simultaneously pays homage to yesterday's machine tool control technology by echoing the older term ''master cam'', which referred to the main

cam Calmodulin (CaM) (an abbreviation for calcium-modulated protein) is a multifunctional intermediate calcium-binding messenger protein expressed in all eukaryotic cells. It is an intracellular target of the secondary messenger Ca2+, and the bind ...

or model that a tracer followed in order to control the movements of a mechanically automated

machine tool A machine tool is a machine for handling or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, boring, grinding, shearing, or other forms of deformations. Machine tools employ some sort of tool that does the cutting or shaping. All m ...

. In November 2018, Mastercam launched mastersofcam.com, a website content-driven platform for Mastercam users.

Mastercam product levels

With the release of Mastercam 2017, Mastercam entered the 3rd interface in the product history moving to a familiar Microsoft Office tab format. Prior to Mastercam 2017 was Version X that was introduced in 2005. With Version X the application became a true Windows-based application, as opposed to one ported over from

DOS DOS is shorthand for the MS-DOS and IBM PC DOS family of operating systems. DOS may also refer to: Computing * Data over signalling (DoS), multiplexing data onto a signalling channel * Denial-of-service attack (DoS), an attack on a communicatio ...

. It also represented a fundamental shift in the way the application was configured. Mastercam supports many types of machines, each with a choice of levels of functionality, as well as offers optional add-ins for 4-axis and 5-axis machining. The following list describes the Mastercam product levels that were updated with the release of Mastercam 2017: * ''Design''—3D wireframe geometry creation, surface And solid modeling, dimensioning, importing and exporting of non-Mastercam CAD files (such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Inventor, Parasolid, etc.). * ''Mill Entry''—Includes Design, basic 2-2 1/2 axis machining including associative contouring, zigzag and one way pocketing, drilling operations and full toolpath verification. * ''Mill''—Includes Mill Entry, 2-3 axis single surface machining plus limited multi-surface rough pocketing and finish parallel machining. Also positional 4th axis rotary support. Includes Engrave, Rast2Vec, Nesting. * ''Mill 3D''—Includes Mill plus additional support multi-surface machining up to 3-axis. * ''Multi-Axis add-on''—5-Axis roughing, finishing, flowline multisurface, contour, depth cuts, drilling, advanced gouge checking. * ''Mill-Turn add-on''—Includes full machine simulation and the ability to synchronize multiple code streams including pinch/balance turning. Requires Mill 3D or Mill Lathe, and a .machine file. * ''Lathe Entry''— Includes Design, Solids and 2-axis fully associative turning functionality and full tool-path verification. * ''Lathe''— Full 2-axis turning functionality with C&Y-axis machining and part handling operations. Additional functionality gained by bundling with appropriate Mill package. * ''Router Entry''— Includes Design basic 2-2 1/2 axis machining including associative contouring, zigzag and one way pocketing, drilling operations and full toolpath verification. * ''Router''—Includes Router Entry, 2-3 axis single surface machining plus limited multi-surface rough pocketing and finish parallel machining. Includes Engrave, Rast2Vec, Nesting. * ''Router 3D''—Includes Mill plus additional For multi-surface machining up to 3-axis. Includes Design, Engrave, Rast2Vec, Nesting, and Solids * ''Wire''—Includes Design plus 2-axis and 4-axis package for Wire EDM applications. * ''Art add-on''—Quick 3D design, 2D outlines into 3D shapes, shape blending, conversion of 2D artwork into machinable geometry, plus exclusive fast toolpaths, rough and finish strategies, on-screen part cutting. The Router products are targeted to the woodworking industries but are virtually identical to the Mill line with additional of support for router specific functions such as aggregate heads, drill blocks and saws.

References

External links

CNC Software/Mastercam
{{CAM software Companies based in Tolland County, Connecticut Software companies based in Connecticut Computer-aided manufacturing software Technology companies of the United States Tolland, Connecticut Numerical control 1983 establishments in Massachusetts Software companies of the United States