The new capabilities accelerate program verification, improve collaboration between programming and production teams, and simplify interaction with the software
With machining strategies becoming more sophisticated and delivery expectations tightening, CNC programmers are under mounting pressure to prepare reliable programmes quickly while retaining confidence on the shop floor
Modern CAM systems offer powerful capabilities for complex machining, but with longer programmes, more operations, and demanding parts, programmers are also verifying toolpaths, reviewing simulations, and communicating machining strategies to operators.
To help manufacturers keep up with these demands, Hexagon’s Production Software Division has introduced new capabilities in the latest release of Edgecam to accelerate program verification, improve collaboration between programming and production teams, and simplify interaction with the software.
Zoltan Tomoga, product manager at Hexagon’s Production Software Division, said, “At shop level, the pressure is always the same: get the job right and get it moving. 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.”
Simulation performance has improved, with Edgecam now storing snapshots at each tool change during simulation, enabling users to jump backwards through a machining sequence more quickly. In complex jobs, rewind times can drop from around 30 seconds to almost one second, enabling long programs to be reviewed without interrupting workflow.
The release also includes strengthened communication between programming and production teams. A 3D machine simulation can be recorded and embedded in Live Job Reports, allowing machining processes to be reviewed interactively in a browser, even without an Edgecam license. Operators can zoom, rotate, adjust playback speed, and scrub through the timeline better to understand how the job will run before pressing cycle start.
This visibility is valuable for complex work, including multi-axis machining, large fixtures, and safety-critical setups where operators benefit from a clearer picture of the programmed strategy before machining starts.
Edgecam also continues to enhance machining performance through improvements across several toolpath cycles. Updates include support for lens tools in the Parallel Lace Cycle, smoother roll-in movements in Face milling, improved holder-award collision avoidance in Rest Roughing, and expanded Race Line control for more selective finishing operations. These enhancements will enable programmers to generate efficient toolpaths with better surface quality and tool engagement, and fewer manual adjustments during setup.
The release also includes Hexagon Copilot for Edgecam, introducing natural-language assistance into the CAM environment. Programmers can ask questions, locate functions, and access guidance more easily inside the workflow, minimising the time spent searching menus or documentation in increasingly capable CAM systems.
Tomoga said, “Manufacturers are interested in AI, but they’re also very practical. 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 supports advanced automation through feature recognition, Strategy Manager, and knowledge-based machining workflows. Copilot builds on this foundation by enabling users to access those capabilities more efficiently.
