CNC programming has its own “language”, just like computer programming. The difference is that now the IT market has Microsoft’s Windows as its absolute advantage. No company has an absolute advantage when it comes to CNC systems, which means that CNC systems are not yet compatible with each other. Therefore, when we want to use CNC machine tools, we must first know which system the machine tools we already own use.
CNC programming is widely used in the machine manufacturing industry. It typically includes analyzing part models to determine the machining process, calculating tool paths to obtain tool position data, writing CNC machining programs, producing proofreading programs and the test cutting of the first piece.
Introduction to commonly used CNC software
CNC (machining center) is rapidly gaining popularity in the machinery field, and computer modeling has become a must-have skill for machine and mold practitioners. Reality also proves that a technician who understands drawing and programming will earn much more than his peers of the same technical level. Therefore, it is necessary for us to understand the relevant knowledge in this field.
Nowadays, MASTERCAM, CIMATRON, PRO-E, UG, CATIA, CAD… are commonly used in the CAD/CAM industry.
1. MASTERCAM is the most commonly used software in the Pearl River Delta today. He was the first to enter mainland China. 70% of the factory’s CNC masters use MASTERCAM. It integrates drawing and programming, has fast line drawing and good zoom functions. .
2. CIMATRON is an Israeli military software that entered China later. Its tool functions are superior to MASTERCAM, making up for the shortcomings of MASTERCAM. The system is now widely used in the machinery, electronics, aerospace, scientific research and mold industries. CIMATRON and MASTERCAM are used in 99% of machining programming. At first, these two software programs were used for drawing pictures and writing CNC programs, but their drawing and modeling functions were not very good. PRO-E entered mainland China around this time.
3. Pro/E is software developed by PTC (Parametric Technology Co., Ltd.) in the United States. It has become the most popular three-dimensional CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) system in the world. more than ten years. Widely used in various industries such as electronics, machinery, molds, industrial design and toys. It integrates part design, product assembly, mold development, CNC processing, modeling design and other functions into one. It became popular in mainland China in 1997 and is used for mold design, product drawing, advertising design, image processing, lighting design, and can automatically generate technical drawings. Currently, most companies are equipped with Pro/ENGINEER software. Both it and UG are the best drawing software, but PRO-E is more popular in mainland China. It is recognized to use PRO-E for drawing and MASTERCAM and CIMATRON for processing.
4. Unigraphics (UG for short) arrived on the continent much later than PRO-E, but it is also the world’s most advanced high-end CAD/CAE/CAM software for the manufacturing industry. leading global manufacturers in the fields of industrial design, detailed mechanical design and technical manufacturing. Today, UG has more than 17,000 customers worldwide. Since entering the Chinese market in 1990, UG has developed rapidly and become the preferred software in the fields of automobile, machinery, computer, household appliances and mold design.
Introduction to the background and characteristics of commonly used CNC machining software
（1）Mastercam
CAD/CAM software based on the PC platform developed by American CNC Company. It has practical and intuitive geometric modeling. Mastercam provides an ideal environment for designing the shape of parts. Its powerful and stable modeling function allows you to design parts with curved and complex surfaces.
Mastercam has solid roughing and surface finishing features. There are many surface finishing options, which can meet the surface treatment requirements of complex parts. Due to its low price and superior performance, it has become the first choice for CNC programming software in the domestic civil industry.
（2）UG Unigraphics
It is a set of three-dimensional parametric software developed by Unigraphics Solution Company in the United States that integrates CAD, CAM and CAE functions. It is the most advanced high-end computer-aided design, analysis and manufacturing software used in aviation. aerospace, automobiles, ships, general machinery and electronics and other industrial fields. UG software occupies a leading position in the field of CAM. It was produced by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company in the United States and is the preferred programming tool for CNC machining of aircraft parts.
Advantages of UG:
1. Provide reliable and accurate toolpaths
2. Can be processed directly on curved surfaces and features
3. Good user interface, customers can also design the interface themselves
4. Various processing methods make it easier to design and combine effective toolpaths.
5. Comprehensive Tool Library
6. Processing parameter library management function
7. Including two to five axis milling, lathe milling and wire cutting
8. Managing a large tool library
9. Solid simulation cutting
10. Universal post-processor and other functions
11. High speed milling function
（3）Pro/E
It is a software developed by PTC (Parametric Technology Co., Ltd.) in the United States and is the most popular three-dimensional CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) system in the world. Widely used in civil industries such as electronics, machinery, molds, industrial design and toys.
It has multiple functions such as part design, product assembly, mold development, CNC processing and modeling design.
Pro/E is widely used by companies in the south of my country. It is currently common to use PRO-E for design and modeling, and to use MASTERCAM and CIMATRON for programming and processing.
(4) Cimatron CAD/CAM system
Israeli company Cimatron’s CAD/CAM/PDM product is the first system to perform full three-dimensional CAD/CAM on a microcomputer platform.
The system provides relatively flexible user interface, excellent three-dimensional modeling, technical drawing, full CNC processing, various general and special data interfaces, and integrated product data management.
CimatronCAD/CAM system is very popular in the international mold making industry and is also widely used in the domestic mold making industry.
(5) CAM functionality
Complete feature-based CAM software developed by American company DELCAM, all-new feature concept, super feature recognition, process knowledge base-based material library, tool library and card-based programming mode process.
Comprehensive software, from 2-5 axis milling, to combined turning-milling processing, from curved surface processing to wire cutting processing, provides comprehensive solutions for workshop programming.
The post-editing function of DELCAM software is relatively good.
In recent years, some domestic manufacturing enterprises have gradually introduced it to meet the development needs of the industry, and it is an emerging product.
（6）EdgeCAM
The intelligent and professional CNC programming software produced by the British company Pathtrace can be used to program CNC machine tools such as turning, milling and wire cutting. Considering the current characteristics of complex three-dimensional surface processing, EdgeCAM has designed a more convenient and reliable processing method, which is currently popular in European and American manufacturing industries. British Path Company is developing and exploiting the Chinese market to provide more choices for domestic industrial customers.
（7）Catia
Catia is a product launched by the French company Dassault. Catia is used in the development and design of French Mirage series fighter jets and Boeing 737 and 777 aircraft. CATIA has powerful surface modeling functions and ranks at the forefront of all three-dimensional CAD software . It is widely used in aerospace enterprises and domestic research institutes, gradually replacing UG as the first choice for complex surface design.
CATIA has strong programming capabilities and can meet the CNC machining requirements of complex parts. At present, some fields adopt CATIA design modeling and UG programming processing, and the two are combined and used together.
（8）VERICUTVERICUT
An advanced special-purpose CNC machining simulation software produced by American company CGTECH. VERICUT uses advanced three-dimensional display and virtual reality technology to simulate the CNC machining process at an extremely realistic level.
Not only can it use colorful three-dimensional images to display the entire process of cutting tools to form parts, but it can also display tool holders, fixtures and even the operation process of machine tools and environments virtual factories. simulated as if it were on the screen. Watch videos of CNC machine tool processing parts.
Programmers import CNC machining programs generated by various programming software into VERICUT VERICUT, and the software performs verification, which can detect calculation errors generated in the original software programming and reduce the accident rate of machining caused by program errors during machining.
At present, many domestic powerful enterprises have begun to introduce this software to enrich their existing CNC programming systems and have achieved good results.
With the rapid development of manufacturing technology, the development and use of CNC programming software has also entered a new stage of rapid development. New products appear one after another, and the functional modules become more and more refined. reasonable products on microcomputers. And it is rich in custom CNC machining technology, which makes CNC machining programming easier and more convenient.
(9) CAXA Manufacturing Engineer
CAXA Manufacturing Engineer is a domestically produced CAM product launched by Beijing Beihai Air Software Co., Ltd., enabling domestic CAM software to occupy a place in the domestic CAM market. As an outstanding representative and well-known brand of independent intellectual property software in the field of manufacturing informatization in my country, CAXA has become the leader and main supplier in my country’s CAD/CAM/PLM industry .
CAXA Manufacturing Engineer is a milling/drilling CNC machining programming software with good process performance for two- to five-axis CNC milling machines and machining centers. The software offers superior performance and affordable price and is very popular in the domestic market.
Daguang focuses on providing solutions such as precision CNC machining services (3-axis, 4-axis, 5-axis machining), CNC milling, 3D printing and rapid prototyping services.
