Mastercam vs SolidCAM | Navigating the Future of Manufacturing

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) systems have come a long way from the initial iterations in the 1960s. These days, there are more than a few juggernauts in the competitive CAM space that could be a great fit for your team to help streamline your manufacturing process.

Many of our clients reach out to us to leverage our experienced technical team to help them compare their options for CAM solutions. An often brought up topic is comparing Mastercam vs SolidCAM and which option is the best for their business.

Comparing Mastercam vs SolidCAM

Choosing a computer-aided manufacturing system is arguably one of the most important decisions your company can make. It’s critical that whichever path you go down has the right learning curve and feature set to support your manufacturing. SolidCAM and Mastercam are both incredibly popular CAM ecosystems that provide their own dedicated toolsets for CNC programming. Due to their respective popularity, SolidCAM and Mastercam are often the first two names that come up when clients are investigating their options.

Your CAM ecosystem must have the right combination of robust features, CAD connectivity, and room for growth. While making the less optimal choice can work for the short term, we need to be looking further ahead while deciding which road to go down. While many programmers have their preference in one software or another, making an informed decision for the future can set your shop up for long-term success.

What is Mastercam?

Mastercam has been a CAM software provider for over four decades and has come to be a standard name in machine shops around the world. With all those years of development, it has been able to garner a large and robust feature set for CNC programming. Along with the robust CNC functionality, Mastercam also provides users with both surface and solid modeling functionality directly within the programming environment.

Mastercam operates completely independently of SOLIDWORKS, meaning that the programming environment happens in its own software environment. While you won’t be consuming a SOLIDWORKS license to program parts, you will need to learn a completely new environment. However, Mastercam has built up a strong community of dedicated fans that can provide support for new users.

What is SolidCAM?

SolidCAM is your Ecosystem for Digital Manufacturing, providing a best-in-class CAM solution that makes it effortless to control CNC machines. The SolidCAM software can program basic 2-Axis Routers all the way up to advanced Mill-Turn and Swiss Machines. As the best-in-class CAM solution, it provides an ecosystem to efficiently and profitably control your CNC machines directly inside SOLIDWORKS.

SolidCAM is used across the globe in automotive, aerospace, medical, and other types of manufacturing. From large-scale production facilities to smaller-sized job shops, there is a solution in the SolidCAM portfolio to support you. As a result, the SolidCAM forums and other learning resources provide insight from other users with real-world experience.

Using SolidCAM inside SOLIDWORKS

Why use Mastercam?

Generally, users choose Mastercam for a few reasons. First, they choose it because it is a software that they know and are comfortable using. In my experience, Mastercam has a steeper learning curve than other software solutions, so by getting over that hump, you are more likely to stick with it. However, dedicated, instructor-led training can turn anyone into an expert on a new CAM system in no time.

Companies will also choose Mastercam due to the independent programming interface and not having to use a SOLIDWORKS license. This brings flexibility to the shop since they won’t be consuming a CAD license to program, but it causes issues when updating parts and having to rework toolpaths. While there is some integration, not having everything in a single environment can leave something to be desired when working with new revisions or frequent part changes.

Why use SolidCAM?

You typically choose SolidCAM when you are looking for a fully integrated and fully featured CAM solution. Boasting the ability to program simple 2-Axis tasks to complex Mill-Turn and Swiss machining, SolidCAM gives you full programming confidence without having to leave SOLIDWORKS. As a result, changes to the underlying CAD can be applied to the toolpaths without requiring a full reprogramming.

SolidCAM Machine Simulation perfects toolpaths

Additionally, SolidCAM’s patented iMachining technology provides enhanced toolpath optimization to help you stay on the cutting edge. By providing optimal tool engagement and adaptive cutting conditions, iMachining can improve your tool life by over five times while reducing cycle times by over 70%. Combine the time savings with SolidCAM kinematic machine simulation, and you have a recipe for safer, faster production runs.

Using the SolidCAM AI for programming help

Companies are choosing SolidCAM to stay on the cutting edge of manufacturing and to leverage the latest innovations for CNC programming. Whether it’s support for new machining centers, leveraging time-saving workflows, or using the latest in artificial intelligence, SolidCAM has you covered.

Need Help Choosing SolidCAM vs Mastercam?

Still on the fence about choosing between the two software solutions? Our team of technical experts has the experience to make your decision-making process easier. If you’re setting up a single programmer or outfitting an entire facility, we have the technical know-how to help choose the best option for your team. Get a Quote or Free Trial of SolidCAM software from TriMech: