Why choose Mastercam?

Mastercam is the Industry Standard

The most recent analysis of CAM software seats produced by CIMdata, Inc. shows that CNC Software’s Mastercam® is the world’s most widely-used CAM software. With almost 136,000 installed seats, Mastercam has more than twice the installed base of the closest competitor.

What does this mean for you? It means that when you choose Mastercam, you’re using innovative CAM software that has helped more shops achieve success than any other. It also means that skilled Mastercam users are much easier to find.

Mastercam’s Support is Second to None
Mastercam is supported by a worldwide network of dedicated, expert resellers who focus exclusively on ensuring that Mastercam fits your needs. They know the software, know your area, and are there when you need them.

Mastercam also enjoys a large online user community that offers advice, help, tips and tricks to fellow Mastercam programmers.

Mastercam is Dedicated to the Future
As one of the pioneers in PC-based CAD/CAM, Mastercam has a long history of company security and health. As a privately-owned company, we continue to focus exclusively on the needs of NC programmers. And as a CAD/CAM innovator, we’ll be here to work with you as you move into the future.

A Focus on Speed and Ease of Use

Mastercam X3 features let you do more faster, minimize programming and cycle times, and make current processes more efficient and automated.

Feature Based Machining (FBM)

A highlight of Mastercam X3 is Feature Based Machining (FBM). FBM, available with Mastercam Mill Level 1 or Mastercam Router and higher, eliminates manual feature identification for programming milling and drilling operations on solid parts. The FBM Mill and FBM Drill operations automatically create the toolpaths needed to machine features that are identified using your specific criteria. FBM's interface is simple and intuitive, so you'll become comfortable with it quickly.

New Controlled Engagement and 2D High Speed Toolpaths

Face toolpaths offer an additional cutting method--controlled engagement. This smooth controlled motion maintains a constant load on the tool with minimal entries and exits.

Mastercam X3 introduces new 2D High Speed Toolpaths for Level 1 and Router, all optimized for high speed machining and hard milling.

Peel Mill efficiently machines open slots and channels using the full depth of the cutting tool. Proprietary microlifts raise the cutting tool a very small amount to avoid dragging the tool across the part floor on the back passes.
Core Mill automatically machines standing bosses and cores in one easy step that requires less CAD knowledge and model preparation from the programmer.
Area Mill produces smooth, clean motion when machining pockets. Controls for helical entries, tangent stepovers, and smoothing parameters let you fine tune the motion.
Rest Mill targets material that previous toolpaths left behind. Mastercam uses all previous toolpaths as the source for the rest mill toolpath, calculates the remaining material, and applies high speed motion between cuts.
Blend Mill morphs smoothly between two curves, generating motion previously unavailable in 2D toolpaths with fewer retracts and toolpath operations on difficult-to-machine features. Blend Mill also uses the tool's full depth and more of the flute length, resulting in less cycle time and even tool wear.

Energized 3D Toolpaths for Level 3 and Router Pro

Mastercam X3 improves multiaxis toolpath speed and introduces new HighSpeed Toolpath (HST) controls that make programming efficient.
HST can now be controlled by an XML-based file containing formulas used to derive the values in the HST toolpaths. This gives you the ability to set intelligent values for different cutting conditions (for example, material hardness).
Options for controlling climb or conventional cutting have been added to all constant-Z HST toolpaths, including Core Roughing, Area Clearance, Waterline, Rest Roughing, and Horizontal Area.
The Port5ax and Flow5ax toolpaths include a new feature that allows an overlap/blend to be added at the beginning and end of a toolpath. This feature is very useful in creating better finishes where toolpaths may need to meet from opposite directions.

Mastercam X Mill	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
CAD
Complete customizability
Create and dimension live wireframe geometry
Read / write IGES, DXF, SAT, Parasolid, EPS & more
Read native Autocad, SolidWorks, Solid Edge & more
Read native Catia and Pro/E files	optional	optional	optional
Live surface modeling
CAD file change recognition
Solid modeling	optional	optional	optional
CAM
Fully associative toolpaths
Automated feed rate optimization
Feature Based Machining
Contouring, pocketing, and drilling
Automatic solid drilling when combined with Solids
3D contour cutting, trimming & remachining
On-screen toolpath verification
Safety zones for all toolpaths
Machine and control definition
Engraving
Single and limited multisurface roughing
Single and limited multisurface finishing
Full multisurface and solid roughing
Full multisurface and solid finishing
Full multisurface and solid "cleanup" machining
Full multisurface and solid high speed machining
5-axis drilling and curve machining	optional	optional	optional
Full 4-and 5-axis machining			optional

Mastercam System Requirements

Processor: 1.5 GHz (minimum) 32-bit Intel-compatible processor; 64-bit Intel-compatible processors are supported.
Operating System: Windows XP, Windows Vista (Business or Ultimate) including the latest service packs and recommended updates; .NET 2.0 framework.
Memory: 1 GB (minimum), 1.7 GB available hard disk space.
Graphics: 128 MB OpenGL-compatible graphics card (minimum).
Monitor: 1024 x 768 at 96 DPI (minimum)
Mouse: Windows-compatible 2-button or 3-button mouse (or with middle mouse wheel.

As an independent software vendor partner with Dell, Mastercam receives and tests their latest hardware offerings to make sure that they are compatible with Mastercam. Once a system is received, Mastercam is installed and we run tests to insure the hardware platform and its individual components work without error. By eliminating the issue of incompatibility, both software and hardware vendors help reduce troubleshooting and resolution. If the system meets our approval, it is deemed “certified” and then listed on Dell's web page as a supported and recommended system from running Mastercam.

Click here for a list of the current Dell Precision Workstations that Mastercam has certified.