Mastercam

{{Short description|Suite of Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software}}

{{Infobox software

| name = CNC Software/Mastercam

| logo = 300px

| screenshot =

| caption = Last Version User Interface

| website = [http://www.mastercam.com Official web page]

| developer = CNC Software, LLC

| latest release version = Mastercam 2025

| operating system = Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10(x64)

| language = Multi-language

| genre = Computer-aided manufacturing

| license = proprietary

}}

Mastercam is a suite of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and CAD/CAM software applications developed by CNC Software, LLC. Founded in Massachusetts in 1983, CNC Software are headquartered in Tolland, Connecticut.Mastercam.com: [http://www.mastercam.com/AboutUs/CorporateProfile/Default.aspx About Us]

Mastercam is CNC Software's main product. It started as a 2D CAM system with CAD tools that let machinists design virtual parts on a computer screen and also guided computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools in the manufacture of parts. Mastercam has been ranked by CIMdata Inc. as the most widely used CAM package in the world since 1994.{{cite web |title=Mastercam tops worldwide ranking for CAM usage |url=https://www.ctemag.com/news/industry-news/mastercam-tops-worldwide-ranking-cam-usage |website=Cutting Tool Engineering |access-date=August 10, 2023 |date=October 17, 2022}}

History

=Early Versions=

Early versions of Mastercam were released for MS-DOS and the Apple IIe starting in the mid 1980s.

Throughout the 1980s, Mastercam underwent significant development and improvements. It quickly gained popularity for its user-friendly interface and the robustness of its toolpaths, making it a preferred choice in manufacturing industries. As the software evolved, it added more features, such as 3D milling and lathe turning, to accommodate a wider range of manufacturing needs and complexities.

File:MastercamV9-screenshot.jpg

In its early days, Mastercam combined ease of use with powerful programming capabilities, allowing users to design parts and control CNC machines to manufacture parts precisely. The first version of Mastercam was released in 1983 and was one of the first to introduce CAD/CAM software designed for both machinists and engineers, enabling the transition from drawing board designs to digital CNC programming.

=Modernization=

In the 1990s, Mastercam significantly expanded its capabilities, introducing 3D design and machining functionalities along with high-speed machining options to cater to the increasing demand for precision in manufacturing. The software saw enhancements in its user interface and began integration with solid modeling, streamlining the design-to-manufacturing process.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

File:MastercamX4.jpg Mastercam's global reach and adoption grew during this period, supported by a network of resellers and educational partnerships.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

Versions

Mastercam has been released for different machine types and at times sold as stand alone components such as CAM or CAD individually.

= Summary =

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ Mastercam for Windows release history
Year ! Name ! Version ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\|Comments ! OS
1983 \|Mastercam "Meghan" \|{{Version\|o\|0.0}} \|First version of Mastercam named after co-founder Mark Summers' daughter. \| Apple IIe
1984 \|Mastercam V1 \|{{Version\|o\|1.0}} \|First Version released. \| Apple IIe
1986 \|Mastercam V2 \|{{Version\|o\|2.0}} \|First Version for MS-DOS \|MS-DOS
1990 \|Mastercam V3 \|{{Version\|o\|3.0}} \| \|MS-DOS
1992 \|Mastercam V4 \|{{Version\|o\|4.0}} \| \|MS-DOS
1994 \|Mastercam V5 \|{{Version\|o\|5.0}} \| \|MS-DOS, Windows NT
1996 \|Mastercam V6 \|{{Version\|o\|6.0}} \|Released as version 6. \| Windows NT, Windows 98
1998 \|Mastercam V7 \|{{Version\|o\|7.0}} \|Released as version 7. \| Windows NT, Windows 98
2000 \|Mastercam V8 \|{{Version\|o\|8.0}} \| \|Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP
2002 \|Mastercam V9 \|{{Version\|o\|9.0}} \| \| Windows 2000, Windows XP
2005 \|Mastercam X \|{{Version\|o\|X}} \|Renumbered versions to X instead of V \| Windows XP
2006 \|Mastercam X2 \|{{Version\|o\|X2}} \| \| Windows XP
2008 \|Mastercam X3 \|{{Version\|o\|X3}} \| \| Windows XP, Windows 7
2009 \|Mastercam X4 \|{{Version\|o\|X4}} \| \| Windows XP, Windows 7
2010 \|Mastercam X5 \|{{Version\|o\|X5}} \| \| Windows XP, Windows 7
2011 \|Mastercam X6 \|{{Version\|o\|X6}} \|First version with 64-bit CPU support. Introduced Xform Fit. \| Windows 7
2013 \|Mastercam X7 \|{{Version\|o\|X7}} \| \| Windows 7
2014 \|Mastercam X8 \|{{Version\|o\|X8}} \|Support ended in 2019 Introduced Dynamic Motion technology \| Windows 7, Windows 8
2015 \|Mastercam X9 \|{{Version\|o\|X9}} \|Added Dynamic Motion improvements, multiaxis enhancements, and many Design and System features \| Windows 7, Windows 10
2016 \|Mastercam 2017 \|{{Version\|o\|2017}} \|Naming changed to match year released. Added a ribbon interface, similar to the Microsoft Office \| Windows 10
2017 \|Mastercam 2018 \|{{Version\|co\|2018}} \| \| Windows 10
2018 \|Mastercam 2019 \|{{Version\|co\|2019}} \| \| Windows 10
2019 \|Mastercam 2020 \|{{Version\|co\|2020}} \| \| Windows 10
2020 \|Mastercam 2021 \|{{Version\|co\|2021}} \| \| Windows 10
2021 \|Mastercam 2022 \|{{Version\|c\|2022}} \| \| Windows 10, Windows 11
2022 \|Mastercam 2023 \|{{Version\|c\|2023}} \| \| Windows 10, Windows 11
2023 \|Mastercam 2024 \|{{Version\|c\|2024}} \| \| Windows 10, Windows 11
2024 \|Mastercam 2025 \|{{Version\|c\|2025}} \| \| Windows 10, Windows 11

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Mastercam for Windows release history

Year

! Name

! Version

! scope="col" class="unsortable"|Comments

! OS

1983

|Mastercam "Meghan"

|{{Version|o|0.0}}

|First version of Mastercam named after co-founder Mark Summers' daughter.

| Apple IIe

1984

|Mastercam V1

|{{Version|o|1.0}}

|First Version released.

| Apple IIe

1986

|Mastercam V2

|{{Version|o|2.0}}

|First Version for MS-DOS

|MS-DOS

1990

|Mastercam V3

|{{Version|o|3.0}}

|MS-DOS

1992

|Mastercam V4

|{{Version|o|4.0}}

|MS-DOS

1994

|Mastercam V5

|{{Version|o|5.0}}

|MS-DOS, Windows NT

1996

|Mastercam V6

|{{Version|o|6.0}}

|Released as version 6.

| Windows NT, Windows 98

1998

|Mastercam V7

|{{Version|o|7.0}}

|Released as version 7.

| Windows NT, Windows 98

2000

|Mastercam V8

|{{Version|o|8.0}}

|Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP

2002

|Mastercam V9

|{{Version|o|9.0}}

| Windows 2000, Windows XP

2005

|Mastercam X

|{{Version|o|X}}

|Renumbered versions to X instead of V

| Windows XP

2006

|Mastercam X2

|{{Version|o|X2}}

| Windows XP

2008

|Mastercam X3

|{{Version|o|X3}}

| Windows XP, Windows 7

2009

|Mastercam X4

|{{Version|o|X4}}

| Windows XP, Windows 7

2010

|Mastercam X5

|{{Version|o|X5}}

| Windows XP, Windows 7

2011

|Mastercam X6

|{{Version|o|X6}}

|First version with 64-bit CPU support. Introduced Xform Fit.

| Windows 7

2013

|Mastercam X7

|{{Version|o|X7}}

| Windows 7

2014

|Mastercam X8

|{{Version|o|X8}}

|Support ended in 2019 Introduced Dynamic Motion technology

| Windows 7, Windows 8

2015

|Mastercam X9

|{{Version|o|X9}}

|Added Dynamic Motion improvements, multiaxis enhancements, and many Design and System features

| Windows 7, Windows 10

2016

|Mastercam 2017

|{{Version|o|2017}}

|Naming changed to match year released. Added a ribbon interface, similar to the Microsoft Office

| Windows 10

2017

|Mastercam 2018

|{{Version|co|2018}}

| Windows 10

2018

|Mastercam 2019

|{{Version|co|2019}}

| Windows 10

2019

|Mastercam 2020

|{{Version|co|2020}}

| Windows 10

2020

|Mastercam 2021

|{{Version|co|2021}}

| Windows 10

2021

|Mastercam 2022

|{{Version|c|2022}}

| Windows 10, Windows 11

2022

|Mastercam 2023

|{{Version|c|2023}}

| Windows 10, Windows 11

2023

|Mastercam 2024

|{{Version|c|2024}}

| Windows 10, Windows 11

2024

|Mastercam 2025

|{{Version|c|2025}}

| Windows 10, Windows 11

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603154243/http://blog.mastercam.com/2010_06_01_archive.html |date=3 June 2014}}

{{cite web |url=https://mcamnw.com/mcam-northwest-past-present-and-future/ |title=MCAM Northwest: Past, Present, and Future |website=MCAM Northwest |publisher= |date= 4 January 2019|access-date=2024-02-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.mastercam.dk/download/mastercam/tutorials/Whats_New_in_Mastercam.pdf |title=What's New in Mastercam |author= |date= |website=Mastercam Denmark |publisher=CNC Software, Inc. |access-date=2024-02-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.mastercam.com/news/blog/important-notice-for-mastercam-x8-users/ |title=Important Notice for Mastercam X8 Users |author= |date= |website=Mastercam News Blog |publisher=Mastercam |access-date=2024-02-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalengineering247.com/article/cnc-software-releases-mastercam-x8/ |title=CNC Software Releases Mastercam X8 |author= |date= 15 December 2014|website=Digital Engineering 247 |access-date=2024-02-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.cnctimes.com/editorial/mastercam-x9-released |title=Mastercam X9 Released |author= |date= |website=CNC Times |access-date=2024-02-21}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.mastercam.com/news/press-releases/mastercam-2025-is-now-released/#:~:text=Mastercam%2C%20the%20industry%20leader%20in,new%20benchmark%20in%20the%20industry. |title=Mastercam 2025 is Now Released! |author= |date= |website=Mastercam.com |access-date= }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.mastercam.com/company/ |title=Company - Mastercam |publisher=Mastercam |accessdate=2024-02-22}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.mastercam.com/news/press-releases/mastercams-35th-anniversary/ |title=Mastercam's 35th Anniversary |publisher=Mastercam |accessdate=2024-02-22}}

{{cite web |title=Meghan West - Management |url=https://www.mastercam.com/company/management/meghan-west/ |website=Mastercam |access-date=2024-02-23}}

{{cite web |title=Meghan Summers-West Appointed President of CNC Software, Inc. |url=https://www.mastercam.com/news/press-releases/meghan-summers-west-appointed-president-of-cnc-software-inc/ |website=Mastercam |access-date=2024-02-23}}

}}

External links

[http://www.mastercam.com/ CNC Software/Mastercam]

Category:Companies based in Tolland County, Connecticut

Category:Software companies based in Connecticut

Category:Computer-aided manufacturing software

Category:Technology companies of the United States

Category:Tolland, Connecticut

Category:Numerical control

Category:1983 establishments in Massachusetts

Category:Software companies of the United States