AI for Mastercam has a deep understanding of the rules and physics of machining, paired with the ability to generate trillions of possible ways to manufacture a component. It does this bearing in mind your unique combination of part + fixture + tooling + machine. It rapidly simulates these possibilities, narrowing down the options to a sensible set of operations that will successfully produce the part to tolerance, which it then inputs this directly into to your CAM package, much in the same way you would. This leaves you with a CAM program that is ready to simulate and edit.
AI for Mastercam will rarely provide a perfect strategy first time, but it will usually get you 80% of the way there – it is up to you to decide how to use that time.

AI for Mastercam has a deep understanding of the rules and physics of machining, paired with the ability to generate trillions of possible ways to manufacture a component. It does this bearing in mind your unique combination of part + fixture + tooling + machine.

It rapidly simulates these possibilities, narrowing down the options to a sensible set of operations that will successfully produce the part to tolerance, which it then inputs this directly into to your CAM package, much in the same way you would. This leaves you with a CAM program that is ready to simulate and edit.

AI for Mastercam will rarely provide a perfect strategy first time, but it will usually get you 80% of the way there – it is up to you to decide how to use that time.

Whereas feature-based machining can identify a certain feature on a part and enable you to make a macro for that feature, AI for Mastercam is an AI that’s been programmed to know how to make the whole component.
That means instead of recognizing features and drawing from a template library you have built, AI for Mastercam works out the best toolpaths and strategies based on all the elements that a component consists of, because AI for Mastercam understands the part holistically, as a whole.

AI for Mastercam is an AI that understands the physics and rules of CNC machining, works at full effectiveness out of the box, and receives new capabilities added monthly enabling it to program more components with faster cycle times and better process robustness.

By contrast Feature Based Machining is not AI and does not understand CNC machining. It can take upwards of a year to build an effective macro database, and most factories employing Feature Based Machining also employ full-time technicians to continually expand this database.

Feature Based Machining is known for being inflexible and difficult to set up. It tends to be most popular in major manufacturing operations producing large families of similar components – a use case in which it excels. It is rarely found in the subcontract machining arena. ‍

AI for Mastercam requires no setup and little training, integrating directly into your existing CAM package. It also contains powerful additional capabilities including instant cycle time estimation, instant fixture generation and instant feed and speed optimization.

No – AI for Mastercam works directly within your existing Mastercam package and therefore does not require new post-processors. Furthermore, AI for Mastercam creates Mastercam native toolpaths in the Operations Manager and can be further modified beyond what the AI generates. So even if the AI doesn’t get the toolpath 100% to your liking, Mastercam’s depth of toolpath customization is at your disposal.

AI for Mastercam Cutting Parameters AI is the engine powering the feeds and speeds underlying the automatic machining strategy generation in AI for Mastercam. This dynamic physics model computes feeds and speeds based on the characteristics of the chosen machine, tooling, materials and numerous other parameters. With the Cutting Parameters Explorer tool, users can also modify these parameters dynamically for each toolpath operation to account for the specific factors of the job at hand.

AI for Mastercam utilizes the full suite of 2D and 3D Mastercam Milling toolpaths. A Mastercam Mill 3D seat is highly recommended to use the plug-in to it’s maximum potential. If you are currently a base Mill/Mill 2D Mastercam user but want to take advantage of the power of this AI programming tool, we’re happy to evaluate your specific scenario and if an investment in AI for Mastercam would make sense for your shop.