SOLIDWORKS 2025 brings exciting new updates to the SOLIDWORKS CAM add-in, for both milling and turning machines. There are some exciting updates for finishing strategies, turning, and the in-software toolpath simulation.
You just received a new machine, and now you need to get your TechDB (Technology Database) from the old machine to the new one, but how is this done? Is there a difference between SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks? This article shows the process for backing up and restoring your CAMWorks and SOLIDWORKS CAM TechDB.
Introduced in SOLIDWORKS 2018, SOLIDWORKS CAM allows you to fully integrate design and manufacturing processes under one system by leveraging your 3D CAD model to generate programs for CNC machines. However, for users who already have CAMWorks installed, you will need to be intentional on what “Add-Ins” you want currently active.
Lots of great enhancements have been added to the latest version of SOLIDWORKS to simplify your CNC machining setup in SOLIDWORKS CAM 2024. Let’s get started with these sneaky additions.
For years, both MasterCAM and GibbsCAM offered SOLIDWORKS users the ability to use their tools in a familiar environment via the SOLIDWORKS add-in. With these developers announcing a 2024 discontinuation date of the add-in, those who rely on these combined solutions are beginning to ask themselves...now what?
Importing files can be a hassle in any CAD or CAE environment. Different vendors utilize different kernels, and while STEP files are nice, everyone has encountered at least one that didn’t quite behave as expected. Starting in SOLIDWORKS 2017, Dassault Systemes introduced 3D Interconnect, a “CAD Translator” that can take native CAD files from other vendors.
Tab cutting in computer-aided manufacturing is a way to give special attention to components being manufactured. You can set material to not be removed from your stock so when your laser, waterjet, or plasma cutter is removing material, inside core material will not tip or fall damaging the cutting tool, machining center, or part.
The core of SOLIDWORKS CAM is its feature recognition engine, but these features are not the same extrudes and revolves we are used to with SOLIDWORKS. Let's take a tour through the feature types and allowable operations used by SOLIDWORKS CAM.