Hexagon has released a new version of EDGECAM aimed at reducing the time CNC programmers spend verifying increasingly long and complex machining sequences before a job reaches the machine. The update focuses on faster simulation review, clearer communication with operators, and a set of toolpath changes intended to improve cutting performance and reduce manual intervention.
The most immediate change is in the simulation engine. EDGECAM now stores snapshots at each tool change, allowing users to jump backwards through a sequence far more quickly than before. On complex jobs, rewind time drops from roughly 30 seconds to around one second, making it easier to revisit a potential collision point, review a previous operation, or step through a long five-axis routine without repeatedly breaking the flow of programming work.
Hexagon has also extended that simulation view to the shop floor. Full 3D machine simulations can now be recorded and embedded in Live Job Reports, giving operators access to an interactive browser-based view of the programmed process without requiring an EDGECAM licence. They can zoom, rotate, scrub through the cycle, and review how the part will run before setup moves to the machine, which is particularly useful on parts involving multi-axis movement, large fixtures, or tight clearances.
The release also expands a number of machining functions. Parallel Lace now supports lens tools, Face Milling gains smoother roll-in motion, Rest Roughing improves holder-aware collision avoidance, and Race Line finishing gets tighter control for selective work on critical surfaces. Together, those changes are aimed at producing cleaner tool engagement, improved surface quality, and less adjustment during setup.
Hexagon has also introduced Copilot for EDGECAM, bringing natural-language assistance into the CAM environment. Users can ask questions, locate functions, and access guidance inside the software rather than working through menus or external documentation. For shops running sophisticated CAM systems under delivery pressure, that kind of in-workflow support is becoming part of the expected software baseline rather than a novelty feature.
EDGECAM already includes feature recognition, Strategy Manager, and knowledge-based machining capabilities. This release concentrates on how quickly users can review, communicate, and act on that information, with the emphasis placed firmly on getting from part model to production-ready NC code with fewer pauses in between.
