Hexagon EDGECAM Release Aids in CNC Program Verification

Hexagon’s Production Software Division has introduced new capabilities in the latest release of EDGECAM, focused on accelerating program verification, improving collaboration between programming and production teams, and simplifying interaction with the software.

“At shop level, the pressure is always the same: get the job right and get it moving,” says Zoltan Tomoga, product manager at Hexagon’s Production Software Division. “The latest EDGECAM release focuses on removing delays in everyday programming work, whether that means reviewing a long simulation instantly, helping operators understand the machining process more clearly, or making it easier for programmers to find the right capability inside the software.”

EDGECAM now stores snapshots at each tool change during simulation, allowing users to jump backwards through a machining sequence more quickly, the company says. In complex jobs, rewind times can drop from around 30 seconds to close to 1 second reportedly, helping programmers review long programs without interrupting the workflow.

The release also enhances communication between programming and production teams. A full 3D machine simulation can now be recorded and embedded directly into Live Job Reports, allowing operators to review machining processes interactively in a browser, even without an EDGECAM license. They can zoom, rotate, adjust playback speed, and scrub through the timeline to better understand how the job will run before pressing cycle start.

Alongside these verification improvements, EDGECAM features enhancements across several toolpath cycles. Updates include support for lens tools in the Parallel Lace cycle, smoother roll-in movements in Face Milling, improved holder-aware collision avoidance in Rest Roughing, and expanded Race Line controls for more selective finishing operations. 

The release also introduces Hexagon Copilot for EDGECAM, bringing natural-language assistance into the CAM environment. Programmers can ask questions, locate functions, and access guidance more easily inside the workflow.

“Manufacturers are interested in AI, but they’re also very practical,” Tomoga adds. “For most shops, the value comes when technology helps them work faster without changing how they already operate. Copilot is designed to help programmers get more out of EDGECAM by making the system easier to navigate and easier to learn.”

EDGECAM already supports advanced automation through feature recognition, Strategy Manager, and knowledge-based machining workflows. Copilot builds on this foundation by helping users access those capabilities more efficiently, the company says.

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