Skip to content

Design

Mastercam Design is a computer-aided design solution that simplifies the creation of even the most complex parts with a robust suite of CAD tools. Design is included with Mastercam’s suite of CAM solutions. It is also available as a standalone product.

From fixing flaws in an imported model, to creating fixtures for work holding on a machine-and so much more, this powerful CAD engine includes modeling and prep tools for CAM programmers to get parts on and off machines quickly.

  • Comprehensive CAD platform.
  • Direct modeling, file import functionality, and model prep.
  • CAD for CAM supports production efficiency.

A notable advantage of our integrated CAD for CAM is the ability to import files from virtually any computer-aided design source. Mastercam includes a large selection of CAD model importers, so no matter where a model was created, you can import and modify as needed for your machining purposes.

  • Mastercam can read CAD files from ASCII, CADL, DWG, DXF, EPS, IGES, Inventor (IPT, IDW, IAM), KeyCreator Files (CKD), Parasolids, Rhino 3DM, SOLIDWORKS (SLDPRT, SLDASM, SLDDRW), SAT (ACIS solids), Solid Edge (PAR & PSM), SpaceClaim Files (SCDOC), STEP, STL, and VDA.
  • Specialty data translators are available to read CAD files from UG/NX, CoroPlus®, Creo, and CATIA™.
  • Full 3D CAD modeling.
  • Import, create, and manipulate wireframe, surfaces, STL, and solids data.
  • Mastercam Art makes it possible to work with files including JPG, TIFF, and raster-based images—and create a 3D relief based on user preference.

Find a Reseller

If you are looking to find your Reseller, click on the link below.

Features

Robust CAD

A comprehensive suite of tools for the creation/import and editing of models to modify and prepare for machining.

Direct-Editing Solids

This suite of tools found on the Model Prep ribbon allows you to modify solids that have no history to edit. You can select faces of a solid body to change the length, you can modify the radius of fillets or remove them all together. You can select bosses or cavities and move them, copy them, or eliminate them entirely.

Drafting

Dimensions, labels, and notes are part of our drafting functionality to communicate important design information to the shop floor.

Wireframe

Includes everything you need for the creation and editing of lines, arcs, splines, and points. Beyond 2D sketch creation, 3D capabilities offer unlimited flexibility to create the geometry you need with ease.

Surfaces

Surface modeling is an excellent way to create, edit, and display shapes from simple surfaces of revolution to complex organic shapes that cannot easily be done with wireframe. Mastercam gives you a powerful set of surface design tools for straightforward control over every detail of your work.

Free Software

Give the world’s #1 CAM software a test drive. Download Mastercam Demo/Home Learning Edition at no cost. Use it to learn Mastercam and get familiar with the latest advances in CAD/CAM – every step of the way up to actually machining a part!

Localized Support

Our Mastercam Resellers bring years of practical experience specific to various regions, manufacturing goals, and language requirements worldwide, to ensure that as a Mastercam user, you always have the support you need to get the most out of your CAD/CAM investment.

History-Based Solids

Allows you to construct models from the simplest wireframe sketches and to continue to edit the model to meet your desired result. These functions create a sequential history of individual operations that can easily be edited as required and update downstream operations automatically. These functions offer a great amount of flexibility for future change.


System Requirements

See the table below for minimum and recommended system configurations for Mastercam. These recommendations are based on systems we have in use at CNC Software for testing and evaluation purposes. Our recommendation is to get as much power (processor, video card, and memory) for your systems as you can afford.

MinimumRecommended
OSWindows 10 or Windows 11 64-bit ProfessionalWindows 10 (version 20H2 or later) 64-bit Professional
ProcessorIntel® or AMD 64-bit processor, 2.4 GHz or fasterIntel i7 or Xeon® E3, Kaby Lake or later, 3.2GHz or faster
Memory8 GB32 GB
VideoOpenGL 3.2 and OpenCL 1.2 support with 1 GB memory. No onboard graphics.NVIDIA Quadro® or AMD FirePro™ / Radeon Pro card with 4 GB (or higher) dedicated memory.
Monitor1920 * 1080 resolution1920 * 1080 resolution, dual monitors
StorageSolid State Drive (SSD) with at least 20 GB free and a USB 2.0 reader (for installation media)NVMe Drive with at least 20GB free
3D Mouse3Dconnexion 3D mouse

Operating Systems

CNC Software continues to review the operating system (OS) requirements for Mastercam with a goal of providing the best possible user experience for our customers.

We recommend using Windows 10 (version 20H2 or later) or later 64-bit Professional editions. While Mastercam may run on other Windows editions (such as Home Edition) or virtual environments (such as Parallels for Mac), it has not been tested on these configurations and is therefore not supported.

Mastercam 2021 was the last release to officially support Windows 7 as Microsoft ended extended support for the OS in January 2020. Mastercam 2022 will install on Windows 7 systems but will not be supported. Future versions of Mastercam will not install on Windows 7.

Processor

The processor speed will impact how fast the software will calculate and complete tasks. With each release, more and more aspects of Mastercam are becoming multi-core processor aware. Toolpath calculation and Simulation will generally run faster with a multi-core processor. We typically see a 50% reduction in toolpath calculation time with the latest Intel i7 or Xeon processors.

Memory

When Mastercam uses all available RAM, it switches to using virtual memory space, which is stored on the hard drive and will dramatically slow the system down. We recommend a minimum of 8 GB of memory. For large toolpath generation and simulation, we recommend 32GB of RAM.

Video

When purchasing a new computer for Mastercam, one of the most important component is the video card.

We recommend an NVIDIA Quadro® or AMD FirePro™ / Radeon Pro card with 4GB or more of memory. Other graphics cards can be used, but they must offer full OpenGL 3.2 and OpenCL 1.2 support. OpenCL is required for Mastercam to be able to hand off certain computation tasks to the graphics card to increase system performance.
We do not recommend or support the use of onboard graphics found with some PC configurations. These do not generally have the capability to drive graphics intensive applications such as Mastercam and can lead to system instability.

Make sure you are using up-to-date drivers from your card manufacturer. We often see issues that are resolved with updated video drivers. The driver version can have a great impact on how the card performs.

The latest drivers for NVIDIA and AMD can be found at the online links. We recommend using the automatic detect feature to detect which video card is installed. More information on configuring the graphics card can be found at this Mastercam knowledge base article.

Monitor

Most of our internal systems utilize dual monitors and we find this to be a more productive setup. Mastercam displays on the primary monitor while applications such as Mastercam Simulator, Code Expert, or Tool Manager display on the secondary monitor.

The minimum recommended resolution for the primary display is 1920 * 1080 resolution typical of widescreen monitors available today. Mastercam will run on lower resolution screens but beware of potential sizing issues with larger dialog boxes and panels which may be awkward to work with. Lower resolution monitors may work fine as a second monitor in a dual screen setup.

Mastercam will run on large format displays, including 4K monitors and high-DPI devices however, we do experience some display issues with these configurations.

Storage

We have found that one of the best computer upgrades is to invest in a NVMe drive. These drives are now priced at a point which makes them a good investment. Many of our test systems employ a smaller primary NVMe drive for the OS and installed applications with a second large capacity conventional drive for data.

3D Mouse

A 3D mouse improves the way you interact with your 3D application. It is designed to be used by your non-dominant hand in tandem with a standard mouse for a balanced and cooperative work style. You gently manipulate the 3D mouse’s controller cap to simultaneously pan, zoom and rotate 3D content while your standard mouse is free to select menu items or parts of the model. Additional technical and purchase information can be found on the 3Dconnexion website.

Anti-Virus Software

Most computers today have some kind of anti-virus software to protect from unwanted malware. In some cases, these have been found to interfere with applications such as Mastercam which are running on the computer. CNC Software does not recommend specific anti-virus products, but if you see unexpected issues, it may be a conflict with anti-virus software. Try temporarily disabling the anti-virus software or setting an exception for Mastercam.

 

Close

Case Studies

two high school teachers standing next to each other Education

CADET at Kent Theodore Roosevelt High School

Computer Aided Design and Engineering Technologies (CADET) is one of 26 College Tech Prep Initiatives available to students at Kent Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio, under Ohio’s Six-District Educational Compact. The Compact engages nearly 25,000 students in rigorous, project-based courses designed to prepare them for college and careers.
a group of CCSU students outside Events

Central Connecticut State University

For thousands of aspiring engineers, the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge is the highlight of their student careers. High school and college teams are invited to design, build, and test technologies that enable rovers to operate in harsh environments. Hosted by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the annual event was held at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL.

Mastercam Community

When you choose the world’s most widely used CAM, you gain benefits beyond the technology driving our software. Our global community of Mastercam users, experts, educators, and enthusiasts helps you get the most from your investment.


FAQs

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software is used in design to produce prototypes and production parts. Using a software like Mastercam, parts that are created in design software are prepared for machining. The CAM software generates the toolpaths that control a CNC machine to cut or 3D print parts to the specifications of the design.

Close

From design through the manufacturing process, CAD and CAM increase productivity with digital solutions that help designers apply their creative and technical expertise. The limits of what CAD can be used to design is truly the human imagination.

Close

CAD/CAM software is used in the design industry because the technology enables rapid prototyping and iterative design processes. Using CAD/CAM, you could reach a production run in the time it once took to create blueprints.

Close

CAD/CAM software is used in product design to bring digital flexibility and automation to design and manufacturing processes. The use of these technologies brings speed and efficiency to product design that can reduce the barrier to the market and improve the chances of successful market introduction as a result of digital iteration and rapid prototyping.

Close

Computer aided design software, called CAD, can be used to design everything from industrial production parts to art installations to everyday items you will find in your home. CAD is used to design parts for cars and the transportation industry, lifesaving parts and devices in the medical field, numerous components in the aerospace industry, and much more.

Close

The design industry has been empowered by advances in CAD technology. CAD software applications provide digital tools for improved design quality, streamlined productivity, and enhanced collaboration among designers.

Close

CAD/CAM software is used in the design industry because the technology enables rapid prototyping and iterative design processes. Using CAD/CAM, you could reach a production run in the time it once took to create blueprints.

Close