Hexagon has released an updated version of NCSIMUL, adding a Selective Simulation capability intended to help manufacturers verify and optimise NC programs faster.
NCSIMUL brings G-code verification, CNC simulation, and optimisation into a single digital twin environment. Manufacturers use the software to check NC programs before they reach the machine, reduce prove-out risk, and improve machining efficiency in production environments where machine time, part value, and programme complexity are all rising.
The latest release introduces patent-pending Selective Simulation, using GPU-accelerated Rest Stock Previews to generate intermediate stock models during the NC decoding phase. These previews give programmers earlier visibility of how a part is developing through a long programme, allowing them to move more directly to operations that need closer inspection.
Hexagon said the capability is designed for long, complex machining programs where sequential simulation can delay access to the section of the job that requires review. In a customer trial by an American athletic footwear corporation, based on a long-cycle mould application, a 47-hour machine cycle previously required 48 minutes of sequential simulation before the programmer could inspect the required operation; using Selective Simulation, Rest Stock Previews were generated in under two minutes.
“Simulation accuracy has always been central to NCSIMUL, and that remains unchanged,” said Jasper Sanders, Product Manager for NCSIMUL at Hexagon’s Production Software division. “Selective Simulation gives programmers a more flexible way to work through complex programs. They can gain useful visibility much earlier, focus their attention on the operations that matter most, and still rely on the full NCSIMUL simulation engine for final verification.”
Rest Stock Previews are intended to support earlier review and iteration, not replace full NC code simulation. Complete collision detection and material removal accuracy remain part of the full simulation process before a programme is released to the machine.
High-value machining operations require that separation between rapid navigation and final sign-off. Programmers need faster ways to reach risk points, while manufacturers still need confidence before first cut, particularly when a collision, missed stock condition, or unverified operation can carry a heavy cost on an expensive component or fully booked machine.
The release strengthens NCSIMUL’s broader role in combining simulation and optimisation before production begins. By bringing verification and machining efficiency work into one environment, the software is intended to help engineering teams protect productivity while maintaining the controls needed for complex parts.
“Manufacturers are under pressure to make better use of time, skills, and machine capacity,” said Peter Ameloot, Senior Director EMEA North at Hexagon’s Production Software Division. “That pressure is felt strongly at the verification stage, where teams need confidence before a program reaches the machine, but cannot afford unnecessary delay.”
The latest NCSIMUL release is available from 19 May 2026. Further information is available from the NCSIMUL product page.
