CNC Software Unveils Mastercam X3

By DE Editors

Faster multiaxis toolpaths combine with more control.

CNC Software (Tolland, CT) released Mastercam X3, which offers expanded machining flexibility with an emphasis on speed and automation. Several new features in the package are intended to improve shop floor productivity.

Highlights and new functionality in Mastercam X3 include Feature Based Machining (FBM) for handling solid models and a way to automatically mill and drill these parts. FBM evaluates a part’s features and automatically designs an effective machining strategy.

The success of Mastercam’s 3D high-speed toolpaths leads to new high speed machining expressly for 2D machining. So with 2D High Speed Toolpaths benefits include improved finish and longer tool life, as well as high-speed cutting and hard milling. Plus, the company says substantially faster multiaxis toolpaths combine with enhanced control to give users more out of these toolpaths.

With Mastercam in SolidWorks, the new X3 package (be released after the general release of Mastercam X3) brings the most used Mastercam toolpaths directly into SolidWorks. Designers can now program those parts with the CAM toolpaths in the same interface.

Other new enhancements include import full SolidWorks history trees, expanded support for cutting STL files, CAD enhancements, 3D high-speed toolpath enhancements, and more.

For details, visit CNC Software, Inc.

For previous DE coverage, see “CCE’s Mastercam Supports Mastercam X3 Files,” (Sept 2008).

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.