CloudNC announces its CAM Assist solution is available as a plug-in for Autodesk’s Fusion 360 software platform, allowing US manufacturers to precision machine components much more quickly and efficiently.
CAM Assist uses advanced computer science techniques to generate professional machining strategies for 3-axis parts in seconds, which could take CNC machine programmers hours or even days to manually create.
As a result, the amount of time it takes to program a CNC machine to make a component – a bottleneck in many factories – is reduced by up to 80%, compared to the previous manual programming process, saving manufacturers hundreds of production hours a year.
According to CloudNC, that gain enables manufacturers using CAM Assist to raise productivity and shorten lead times. In addition, the software frees up time for experienced programmers, while also allowing junior employees to program more complex parts and be productive faster, helping fill the manufacturing sector’s widening skills gap.
CAM Assist is publicly available to download today, via the Autodesk App Store.
Previously, depending on complexity, it could take a CAM programmer between an hour to several days to determine the best strategy to CNC machine a new component. This includes selecting the correct tools, strategies, and techniques – determining between hundreds of thousands of potential variables and approaches.
Instead, CAM Assist uses advanced computational optimization and AI inference techniques to rapidly determine a professional strategy and toolset needed to manufacture a part, along with the most appropriate cutting speeds and feeds from the user’s library.
As a result, a Fusion 360 user can today upload a 3D model of a 3-axis component and the software determines the best milling tools needed from those available, and how they will be used. In seconds, CAM Assist drafts the code required to instruct a CNC machine how to make it, within the user’s existing CAM platform.
At its core, CAM Assist is like a machining technician – it has a practical understanding of the physics and processes of cutting metal so it can make the sort of decisions that a machinist would make.
CloudNC has conducted side-by-side trials of CAM Assist with senior CAM programmers. According to the results, CAM Assist users can reduce programming times by up to 80% in comparison to manual programming methods, saving time for more senior programmers by completing tasks associated with program set-up and toolpath creation.
New users can also use CAM Assist to start to learn how to use software platforms like Fusion 360 far faster, producing components on the day of first use.
While the software today performs best with 3-axis components, multi-axis and freeform capability will be accessible to beta customers shortly.
CAM Assist is available today for CAM and CAD programmers using Autodesk Fusion 360 at https://www.cloudnc.com.
About CloudNC
CloudNC is a technology company reinventing precision manufacturing by automating CNC CAM programming, enabled by data and experience from our aerospace and defense accredited, high-spec factory.
The company, founded in 2015, consists of a world-class team combining expertise in computer science and physical manufacturing, and is backed by leading venture capital firms Atomico and Episode 1 Ventures, alongside Autodesk and Lockheed Martin as strategic partners.