ModuleWorks
The heroes behind the curtain
ModuleWorks is a provider of software components for the CAM industry. This includes many areas such as algorithms for 2D, 3D and 5-axis milling. A CAM manufacturer purchases the appropriate components and can use them in their own product. Like a sub-assembly that is purchased for a machine. The product often performs its tasks in the background without the user noticing. However, there are CAM manufacturers who do not bother to create their own user interface for the respective dialogs and use the ones provided by ModuleWorks.
Most CAM systems currently on the market use ModuleWorks as the solution for calculating toolpaths. Since the different systems all cook with the same recipe, the result is the same meal everywhere.
It therefore makes little sense to compare systems that all have ModuleWorks integrated. e.g. SolidCAM and MasterCAM are both listed as partners. In an evaluation of these two systems, only marginal differences are to be expected, e.g. in the look and feel of the software.
The advantage of a system that is based on ModuleWorks is in my opinion the amount of feedback that is passed on to ModuleWorks by the customers of the different manufacturers. e.g.: If a MasterCAM customer discovers a bug in an algorithm, all other users who use a product with ModuleWorks will benefit in the end.
The feedback from a manufacturer who developed the algorithms themselves is only a fraction of that. The probability of discovering such an error as a user is correspondingly higher.
Partners
Here is a list of manufacturers and products which are listed on the homepage of ModuleWorks on June 19, 2023 under Partner. Among them are manufacturers with whole product range like Autodesk with Fusion 360, PowerMILL, FatureCAM, InventorCAM and HSMWorks.
- Autodesk
- a CAM
- Ad CAM
- ADEM
- Aix Path
- Alphacam
- AMCBRIDGE
- APPLICATION PARTNER S. Ghani
- Autodesk Fusion 360
- BES Software & Hardware - Entwicklung
- BobCAD-CAM
- Böhler welding
- Bolc
- CAD LINE
- cadmes
- Additive CADS
- CAM Service
- CAMBRIO
- Camtek
- CAMWorks
- Canik soft
- CAXA
- cenit
- cetim
- CIMATRON
- CIT - Convergent Information Technologies
- COBUS NCAD
- compes
- Coscom (ProfiCAM)
- direkt cnc-systeme GmbH
- Dolphin CAD/CAM
- eCam
- edgecam
- ESC
- Euklid
- evolute
- EVOLVE Additive Solutions
- EXAPT
- FORMTEX
- FPT
- Frauenhofer IPT
- GIBBSCAM
- GNT Sytems
- GO2CAM
- remma-3D
- Hexagon
- Huron
- i-Inspecotr
- Industrial Technology Research Institute
- INNOLINE
- InssTek
- InventorCAM
- Keller
- KOC University
- LTULTRA
- LUNOVU - Integrated Laser Solutions
- MAL
- MasterCAM
- MecSoft Corporation
- Metalcam
- MTS AG
- NCG CAM Solutions Ltd.
- NS CNC
- NTTDATA
- OPUS CAM Software
- PASCAM
- Pegasus CAD-CAM
- PENTA-TEC
- PTC
- refinex
- robotized
- Robotmaster- CAD/CAM FOR ROBOTS
- SANDVIK
- SBI
- SharpCam
- Siemens
- Siepmann
- SKM Informatik
- SmartCAM
- SolidCAM
- DSS Spatial
- SprutCAM
- SurfCAM
- TopSolid
- vectorcam
- vero Software
- VISI
- ZNC Software GmbH
**CONCLUSION In my opinion, it makes no sense to compare products that use ModuleWorks against each other. Same input, same output. Therefore, focusing on the investment costs in the evaluation is much more promising.