Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS
Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS® is an integrated software solution combining the world’s leading CAD with the world’s most widely used CAM.
With this product, you can standardize your database of CAD files with no need to compromise the quality of your NC programming. SOLIDWORKS users gain all of the programming benefits of Mastercam for streamlined productivity. Fast, easy, and accurate — the way manufacturing should be!
- Includes Mastercam’s industry-leading toolpath technology and post processors in the SOLIDWORKS environment.
- Delivers the ease of SOLIDWORKS add-ins such as modeling, assemblies, and drawings with fully associative Mastercam toolpaths.
- Utilize SOLIDWORKS configurations to program an entire family of parts with one click.
Mastercam Mill, Lathe, and Router products include the option to run a corresponding Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS® environment. Standalone licenses of Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS® Mill and Lathe products are also available for purchase.
As a Certified Gold SOLIDWORKS® partner, our Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS solutions deliver design power coupled with advanced technologies for machining productivity.
- Popular solids modeling interface
- Convenient Mastercam parameter screens
- Minimized learning curve
- Preferred machining strategies
- Intelligent, stock-aware toolpaths for milling, turning, and router machines
- 2D/3D and powerful Multiaxis
- Complete Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS® tool library and custom tool support
Learn how Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS can help solve your manufacturing challenges.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MASTERCAM RESELLER
Features
Accelerated Finishing™
Take advantage of innovative profile tools and processes aimed at greater efficiency and higher machining productivity.
Extend tool life with proprietary toolpath strategies that maximize material removal rate and reduce cycle times.
Certified Gold Product
Only available to software companies, Certified Gold Product status provides a fully integrated, “single window.”
Compatibility
SOLIDWORKS users can access the Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS environment using Mastercam Mill, Mastercam Lathe, and Mastercam Router. Contact your local Reseller for additional options.
Advanced Toolpaths
Reduce costs and cut programming time with advanced toolpaths like Deburr and Equal Scallop.
Machine Simulation
Detect collisions between your stock, tool, and machine components before sending code to your machine tool. Machine Simulation is a safe way to prove out 3-axis, 4-axis, or 5-axis Mill (or Router) toolpaths to make clean, efficient, and accurate programs.
SOLIDWORKS Design Tables
You can program an entire family of parts by simply programming the first configuration—Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS will propagate the toolpaths into the various other versions within the family of parts.
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.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or Windows 11 64-bit Professional | Windows 10 (version 20H2 or later) 64-bit Professional |
| Processor | Intel® or AMD 64-bit processor, 2.4 GHz or faster | Intel i7 or Xeon® E3, Kaby Lake or later, 3.2GHz or faster |
| Memory | 8 GB | 32 GB |
| Video | OpenGL 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. |
| Monitor | 1920 * 1080 resolution | 1920 * 1080 resolution, dual monitors |
| Storage | Solid 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 Mouse | 3Dconnexion 3D mouse |
Connection to Internet and email is recommended for installation, support, and updates.
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.
Add-Ons
5-Axis Curve Machining
Port Expert
Productivity+
Case Studies
IUPUI School of Engineering and Technology Success Story
Learn More
NOVO Engineering
Learn More
South Texas College Success Story
Learn More
Mastercam Community
When you choose the world’s most widely used CAM and Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS®, 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.
- Online and local training
- Network of innovation
- Educational resources
- What’s New documentation for Mastercam and Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS®
Please contact a local Mastercam Reseller for additional information and expert advice about products and services to meet your exact needs.
Find My Reseller
FAQs
Does SOLIDWORKS have a Mastercam? ›
Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS® is an integrated software solution combining the world's leading CAD with the world's most widely used CAM. With this product, you can standardize your database of CAD files with no need to compromise the quality of your NC programming.
Which is better SOLIDWORKS or Mastercam? ›SOLIDWORKS is the superior design tool, but for just creating and modifying 3D models for programming Mastercam Design can get the job done.
How do I add Mastercam to SOLIDWORKS? ›- To configure the Mastercam for SOLIDWORKS install for SIM Type or Shared Folder Location, select the Configure button.
- If you are using a NetHASP, you can change the SIM Type. ...
- Select Next.
- Read and accept the license agreement. ...
- When the installation is complete, select Exit.
Software Price: Depending on the options a user chooses, Mastercam can cost anywhere between $4,000 and $40,000 per seat.
Is Fusion 360 better than Mastercam? ›When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Fusion 360 easier to use, set up, and administer. Reviewers also preferred doing business with Fusion 360 overall.
Does SOLIDWORKS have CAM? ›SOLIDWORKS CAM is an add-on to all versions of SOLIDWORKS CAD that lets you prepare your designs for manufacturability earlier in the development cycle. Manufacturing tasks that had to wait until a design was complete can now be performed concurrently with the design process.
Is SOLIDWORKS and solid cam same? ›SolidCAM, the leader in Integrated CAM software, runs directly inside SOLIDWORKS with seamless, single-window integration and full associativity. SolidCAM is the only CAM with the unmatched, patented iMachining solution for the fastest cycle times and longest tool life in the industry.
What is Mastercam used for? ›Mastercam is a software that provides both CAD and CAM functionality to drive CNC machines efficiently for optimized productivity.
What is CAMWorks SOLIDWORKS? ›CAMWorks is the first fully integrated computer-aided manufacturing solution designed exclusively to operate in SOLIDWORKS, and the first to offer knowledge-based, feature recognition, and associative machining capabilities within SOLIDWORKS.
What is Mastercam Direct for SOLIDWORKS? ›Mastercam is a Windows based manufacturing CAD/CAM solution for 2 through 5 axis milling/routing, turning, mill-turn, 2 & 4 axis wire EDM, 2D and 3D design, and surface and solid modeling.
Can you download Mastercam for free? ›
Free Software
Download Mastercam Demo/Home Learning Edition at no cost. Students and educators can use Demo/HLE to learn Mastercam and get familiar with the latest advances in CAD/CAM – every step of the way up to actually machining a part!
Mastercam 2022 increases machining productivity and reduces overall production costs with faster and more flexible multiaxis improvements, powerful new roughing tools for 2D users, advances in modeling, enhanced intelligence and automation, and much more.
Is mastercam a subscription? ›Subscription License
This provides flexibility with lower, predictable payments to access the productivity benefits of Mastercam's industry-leading CAD/CAM software. You pay for the right to use Mastercam for a period of 12, 24, or 36 months — with discounts available for 24- and 36-month options.
The average mastercam programmer salary in the USA is $63,375 per year or $32.50 per hour. Entry level positions start at $55,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to $83,200 per year.
What is the best CAM software for CNC? ›- Fusion 360. Fusion 360 is one of the most popular free CNC software. ...
- Free CAD. Although FreeCAD is primarily CAD, it has efficient CAM capabilities. ...
- SOLIDWORKS. ...
- EnRoute. ...
- Carbide Create. ...
- Exocad. ...
- Estlcam. ...
- Inkscape.
If you come from a Mastercam background, this video series goes through Fusion 360's interface and programming style to get you up and running as quickly as possible.
Who makes mastercam? ›HCL Technologies Ltd. CAMWorks is the first fully integrated computer-aided manufacturing solution designed exclusively to operate in SOLIDWORKS, and the first to offer knowledge-based, feature recognition, and associative machining capabilities within SOLIDWORKS.
Can you download Mastercam for free? ›Free Software
Download Mastercam Demo/Home Learning Edition at no cost. Students and educators can use Demo/HLE to learn Mastercam and get familiar with the latest advances in CAD/CAM – every step of the way up to actually machining a part!
Mastercam is a software that provides both CAD and CAM functionality to drive CNC machines efficiently for optimized productivity.
What is milling with Mastercam? ›
CAM for milling is one of the most commonly used techniques in the manufacturing world for producing parts to extremely precise shapes and sizes, because it combines two powerful tools: milling and CAM software. Milling is a type of subtractive machining process, meaning that it removes material from a workpiece.