Edgecam

Edgecam
Name	Edgecam
Developer	Planit Group / Hexagon
Released	1990s
Latest release	(see vendor)
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Genre	Computer-aided manufacturing
License	Proprietary

Edgecam Edgecam is a commercial computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system used for toolpath generation and CNC programming for milling, turning, and mill-turn machining. It integrates with computer-aided design systems and shopfloor controllers to produce NC code for machining centers, lathes, and multitasking machines. Edgecam is deployed across manufacturing sectors and is supported by a network of resellers, training centers, and integration partners.

Overview

Edgecam is a CAM software product developed for CNC programming of Haas Automation lathes, Mazak multitasking centers, DMG Mori milling machines, Okuma lathes, and controls from Siemens and FANUC. It accepts inputs from SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, PTC Creo, Siemens NX, and CATIA and outputs NC code compatible with Heidenhain, Mitsubishi Electric, and Okuma OSP controls. The product is often compared with Mastercam, GibbsCAM, Autodesk PowerMill, CAMWorks, and NX CAM in evaluations by manufacturers using Doosan machining centers, Hurco control systems, and Makino processes. Integrations with Microsoft Windows and networking with SAP SE-managed production systems enable deployment in facilities using Siemens PLM solutions and Dassault Systèmes-based design workflows.

History and Development

Edgecam originated in the 1990s and evolved amid competition from legacy systems such as Cimatron, Delcam, and Esprit. Early adopters included job shops running FANUC controls and aerospace suppliers using Rolls-Royce and Boeing specifications. Ownership and development were influenced by mergers and acquisitions in the CAD/CAM industry, including activity by Planit Group and later corporate alignment with Hexagon AB technologies that also encompass Autodesk partner ecosystems and PTC integrations. Product milestones aligned with advances in Siemens control strategies, the proliferation of multitasking machines from Yamazaki Mazak, and toolpath optimizations inspired by research from institutions like Cranfield University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The software’s roadmap tracked adoption of 5-axis machining as seen in Airbus and Lockheed Martin supply chains and the spread of additive-hybrid manufacturing exemplified by GE Aviation initiatives.

Features and Technology

Edgecam provides CAM capabilities including 2-axis to 5-axis milling, turning, mill-turn, and multi-axis simultaneous machining tailored to Okuma and Mazak hardware. It implements toolpath strategies comparable to Mastercam's high-speed machining cycles and Autodesk PowerMill’s surface finishing approaches, with modules for feature recognition similar to CAMWorks. The software supports post-processors for FANUC, Siemens Sinumerik, and Heidenhain controllers, and integrates with CAD via translators for SolidWorks, CATIA V5, Inventor, PTC Creo Parametric, and Siemens NX. Collision avoidance and simulation are provided in a workflow that mirrors functionality used in Toyota and Ford Motor Company manufacturing engineering. Advanced capabilities include adaptive roughing influenced by algorithms from University of Cambridge research, toolpath smoothing used in Toyota production systems, machine kinematics models for DMG Mori machines, and probing cycles compatible with Renishaw touch probes.

Applications and Industry Use

Edgecam is used in aerospace supply chains supporting companies such as Boeing and Airbus, in automotive component production for groups like General Motors and Volkswagen Group, and in medical device manufacturing for firms similar to Stryker Corporation and Medtronic. Job shops program high-precision parts for Caterpillar heavy equipment and John Deere agricultural machinery. Energy sector applications include turbine component machining for Siemens Energy and oil-and-gas parts for companies like Schlumberger and Halliburton. Education and training deployments are present at technical colleges modeled on RMIT University and Tsinghua University manufacturing labs. The software supports workflows in subcontract machining for defense contractors supplying BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman.

Licensing and Editions

Edgecam is offered under proprietary licensing models with seat-based licenses, network licenses, and maintenance agreements similar to offerings from vendors like Autodesk and PTC. Editions range from entry-level milling and turning modules to full mill-turn and 5-axis suites comparable to packages from Delcam and Mastercam. Volume licensing and enterprise deployments are negotiated with value-added resellers and authorized distributors that also handle training and post-processor customization for shops using FANUC or Siemens controllers. Academic licenses and training editions are sometimes provided to institutions akin to University of Michigan and University of Sheffield engineering departments.

Reception and Market Position

Edgecam is cited in industry reviews comparing CAM performance, ease of use, and post-processor support alongside Mastercam, Autodesk PowerMill, GibbsCAM, and Siemens NX CAM. Adoption by manufacturers using Mazak and Okuma equipment and endorsements from resellers in markets such as United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and China support its market presence. Analysts referencing reports from firms like Gartner and IDC note competition among CAM vendors serving CNC factories that deploy FANUC and Siemens controllers. User communities and training providers affiliated with Society of Manufacturing Engineers and regional manufacturing associations contribute to case studies highlighting productivity improvements in shops operating Hurco and Makino machinery.

Category:Computer-aided manufacturing software