CAD/CAM Software Directory

Siemens NX CAM is a high-end CAM software system widely used for programming and controlling machining processes in industries such as automotive and aerospace. Developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software, NX CAM allows manufacturers to create precise instructions for CNC machines directly from digital product designs. The software is part of the broader Siemens NX suite, which integrates computer-aided design (CAD), CAM, and computer-aided engineering (CAE) capabilities into a single platform. This integration enables companies to streamline product development from initial design through engineering analysis to final manufacturing within one environment.

SolidCAM is a professional CAM software package used to program CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining operations such as milling and turning. Developed by the company SolidCAM Ltd., the software is distinguished by its single-window integration into mainstream CAD platforms. It operates as an add-in to 3D CAD systems – notably SOLIDWORKS, Autodesk Inventor, and even supports Solid Edge – allowing engineers to perform CAM programming directly within their familiar CAD environment.

Developed by Dassault Systèmes under the SOLIDWORKS brand, SolidWorks CAM allows engineers and machinists to generate toolpaths and CNC machining code directly within the SolidWorks design environment. SolidWorks CAM is powered by CAMWorks – a CAM technology that had long been a Gold Partner solution for SolidWorks – which brings decades of CAM development into the SolidWorks ecosystem. As a product of Dassault Systèmes, SolidWorks CAM benefits from the backing of one of the world’s largest engineering software vendors.

SprutCAM X is a CAM software platform that brings advanced automation to both traditional CNC machining and industrial robotics. SprutCAM X stands out for its all-in-one approach to programming mills, lathes, and even multi-axis robots from a single integrated environment. The software provides manufacturers, engineers, and machinists a streamlined workflow from CAD design to the finished part.

Surfcam is a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software platform used for programming CNC machine tools. It enables manufacturers to create efficient toolpaths for a variety of processes, from basic two-dimensional milling to complex five-axis machining. Renowned for balancing a rich feature set with user-friendly operation, Surfcam has long been favored by machinists and engineers seeking productivity without steep learning curves. The software today is part of the product portfolio of Hexagon AB’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, following a series of acquisitions that brought Surfcam under the umbrella of the Swedish technology giant.

Today, Tebis Technische Informationssysteme AG (the company behind Tebis software) stands as a leading provider of CAD/CAM and MES solutions for manufacturing. Headquartered in Martinsried, Germany, Tebis remains owner-managed and proudly independent even as it serves a worldwide customer base. The software itself has grown into an expansive suite for designing, planning, and controlling complex machining processes.

TopSolid CAM is a fully integrated computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system known for its unique all-in-one approach to product design and machining. Developed and sold by the French company TopSolid SAS (formerly Missler Software), TopSolid CAM combines powerful 3D CAD modeling, advanced CAM toolpath programming, and built-in data management into a single platform. This integration allows engineers and machinists to design parts and generate CNC machining programs within the same environment, streamlining workflow from initial concept to finished product.

VERICUT is a prominent software system for verifying and simulating CNC machining operations before any real cutting occurs. Developed by the California-based company CGTech, VERICUT creates a virtual “digital twin” of CNC machines to test and optimize tool paths in a 3D environment​. Manufacturers use VERICUT to detect programming errors, collisions, or inefficiencies in their NC code, thereby preventing costly machine crashes and scrapped parts on the shop floor. Over the past three decades, this software has become widely regarded as the industry standard for CNC simulation and toolpath optimization​. In October 2022, CGTech was acquired by Sandvik AB, a Swedish engineering conglomerate best known for its cutting tools and machining solutions.

VISI is a comprehensive CAD/CAM software solution specialized for the mold and die industry. Developed originally in the late 1980s, VISI has grown into one of the world’s leading PC-based CAD/CAE/CAM systems for toolmakers. The software provides an integrated environment for 3D tool design, simulation, and multi-axis machining, tailored specifically to the needs of mold makers and die designers. Today, VISI is part of the product portfolio of Hexagon AB, a global technology company.

WorkNC is a CAM software that generates the instructions or CNC machines to cut and form complex parts. In simpler terms, it’s the brain telling high-precision machine tools how to carve metal or other materials into a desired shape. Initially developed for mold and die makers, WorkNC quickly earned a reputation for automation and ease-of-use in CNC programming. Where older CAM systems required extensive manual tweaking, WorkNC’s claim to fame was doing much of the heavy lifting automatically – its toolpath generation aimed to be as close as possible to a one-click operation.