SolidCAM’s Strategic Leap: Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Integrated Additive and Subtractive Technologies

SolidCAM has long been a pivotal force in the realm of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), consistently delivering cutting-edge software solutions tailored for a diverse array of machining applications. Renowned for its seamless integration with industry-leading CAD software packages such as SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor, SolidCAM empowers manufacturers worldwide. A cornerstone of its innovative offerings is the patented iMachining module, a game-changer designed to dramatically optimize CNC operations. This powerful module significantly reduces manufacturing cycle times, extends tool life, and boosts overall productivity for CNC machine users. The integrated iMachining Wizard automatically calculates and suggests optimal cutting conditions, meticulously factoring in various stock materials, cutting tools, and CNC machine types, ensuring peak performance and efficiency. In a strategic move reflecting its commitment to comprehensive manufacturing solutions, SolidCAM has recently ventured into the rapidly evolving additive manufacturing market, with a specific focus on metal 3D printing. The company recently announced its partnership to offer Desktop Metal 3D printing solutions, marking a significant step towards combining the best of both additive and subtractive production methodologies. For SolidCAM, additive manufacturing is not merely an alternative, but an indispensable complement to traditional subtractive CNC manufacturing. This integration aims to tackle the most intricate manufacturing challenges, providing unparalleled added value and innovative capabilities to its global customer base. To delve deeper into this transformative strategic shift and SolidCAM’s ambitious vision for the future of manufacturing, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Emil Somekh, the esteemed founder and CEO of SolidCAM.

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and SolidCAM?

My name is Emil Somekh, and I am the proud Founder and CEO of SolidCAM. We operate as an independent, international company specializing in Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software. Our journey began in 1984, and since then, we have been dedicated to revolutionizing the way CNC machines operate. Through our innovative CAM software solutions and our patented iMachining technology, we have consistently pushed the boundaries of efficiency, precision, and productivity in machining processes across various industries. Our long-standing commitment has been to provide intelligent and integrated solutions that empower manufacturers to achieve superior results and tackle complex production demands with ease. SolidCAM’s rich history is built on a foundation of continuous innovation, aiming to simplify complex manufacturing workflows and maximize the potential of CNC machines, a tradition we proudly continue today.

3DN: Why did SolidCAM turn towards additive manufacturing?

SolidCAM’s expansion into additive manufacturing is a direct response to the evolving needs of our subtractive CNC manufacturing customers. We fundamentally view additive technologies as a powerful complement, not a replacement, to existing CNC processes. Over the past few years, we have observed truly incredible innovation within the metal 3D printing sector, witnessing its rapid maturation and increasing viability for industrial applications. This technological advancement has led us to make a firm commitment to becoming a leading resource in this dynamic space. The ability to produce complex metal parts with remarkable speed, accuracy, and repeatability is no longer exclusive to large corporations; it is now becoming genuinely accessible to even the smallest CNC job shops and manufacturing facilities. We recognized this paradigm shift and established SolidCAM Additive specifically to guide and support our customers in adopting these transformative additive technologies. Our goal is to ensure they can leverage the full potential of metal 3D printing, backed by the same level of renowned worldwide technical support and expertise that SolidCAM is celebrated for in the subtractive manufacturing world. This strategic move allows our customers to expand their capabilities, address new design challenges, and achieve unprecedented levels of part complexity and performance, ultimately enhancing their competitiveness and opening new market opportunities.

3DN: Why did you choose to partner with Desktop Metal?

Our decision to partner with Desktop Metal was driven by their pioneering approach and their commitment to making metal additive manufacturing truly accessible. With their innovative Shop System, Desktop Metal was the first company to introduce metal additive manufacturing, specifically utilizing Binder Jetting technology, in a way that truly caters to and is within reach of all job shops. This accessibility was a critical factor for us. Desktop Metal has made significant investments in simplifying what is traditionally a highly complex manufacturing process. Their focus on user-friendliness allows for dramatically increased productivity and throughput of high-quality metal parts, all while requiring minimal operator involvement. This simplification democratizes metal 3D printing, making it a viable and profitable option for a much broader range of manufacturers, not just large enterprises. Considering their robust product ecosystem, their clear vision for the future, and a continuously expanding list of complementary AM products and solutions, Desktop Metal stood out as the ideal partner for SolidCAM to embark on and expand into the exciting field of additive manufacturing. Their technology aligns perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive and easy-to-implement manufacturing solutions to our customers, ensuring they can seamlessly integrate new capabilities into their existing workflows.

3DN: Could you remind us of the main benefits of Desktop Metal’s technology?

Desktop Metal’s greatest strength lies in its holistic and integrated approach to developing additive manufacturing solutions. They have meticulously engineered every aspect of the AM workflow, from the creation of proprietary metal powders specifically optimized for their systems, all the way through to the precise sintering of parts within their advanced furnace solutions. This end-to-end control ensures consistency, quality, and predictability throughout the entire metal 3D printing process, significantly reducing variables and improving success rates. At SolidCAM, we deeply understand that even the most advanced hardware can only perform as well as the software that drives it. In this regard, Desktop Metal has truly excelled by delivering the groundbreaking Live Sinter application. This pioneering software, developed through a close collaboration with Desktop Metal’s world-class material science team, represents a significant leap forward in metal additive manufacturing. Live Sinter utilizes a unique, multi-physics engine that possesses the remarkable capability to accurately simulate the incredibly complex forces and material deformations that parts undergo during the sintering process. What makes it truly revolutionary is its ability to generate “negative offset” geometry in mere minutes. This pre-compensated geometry, when sintered, results in perfectly straight, dimensionally accurate, and entirely defect-free parts directly out of the furnace. This eliminates the need for extensive trial-and-error, significantly reduces waste, accelerates product development cycles, and ultimately provides immense value and a distinct competitive advantage to manufacturers.

3DN: How does SolidCAM see the complementarity of AM and CNC machining?

Both additive manufacturing and CNC machining are powerful production methodologies, each possessing distinct advantages and inherent limitations. The true innovation, and where SolidCAM sees immense potential, lies in the intelligent combination of these two technologies. By synergistically integrating AM and CNC machining, companies can unlock new capabilities, solve previously intractable manufacturing problems, and achieve unprecedented levels of design freedom and efficiency. Metal 3D printing excels at creating complex geometries, internal channels, lightweight structures, and consolidating multiple parts into single components, features often challenging or impossible with traditional subtractive methods. This allows for optimized designs that reduce material usage, improve performance, and enable entirely new product functionalities. However, parts produced via additive manufacturing almost invariably require post-processing through CNC machining. This critical step ensures that the parts meet the exacting finish specifications, tight tolerances, and critical dimensions that customers demand for functional applications. SolidCAM is uniquely positioned as a leader in CAM solutions, and we are actively adapting and enhancing our software technology to effectively and efficiently post-process the rapidly growing market of additive parts. This includes developing specialized toolpaths and strategies for machining printed components, addressing challenges like support structure removal, surface finishing, and achieving precise feature geometries. Our integrated approach allows manufacturers to leverage the best of both worlds: the geometric complexity, material efficiency, and rapid prototyping capabilities of AM, coupled with the unparalleled precision, superior surface quality, and material integrity achievable through advanced CNC machining, creating truly hybrid manufacturing workflows.

3DN: How do you see the future of metal additive manufacturing?

This is an exceptionally exciting era for metal additive manufacturing. We are witnessing an industry that is not just growing, but accelerating at an incredible pace as more companies begin to fully grasp and harness the profound advantages that 3D printing brings. These advantages extend across increased productivity, enhanced design capabilities, and the ability to create parts with functionalities previously unattainable or economically unfeasible with conventional CNC manufacturing methods alone. As the technology matures and becomes even more reliable and cost-effective, its adoption will continue to broaden across various sectors, from aerospace and medical to automotive and general industrial applications. The ability to produce customized parts on demand, reduce supply chain complexities, and innovate faster will drive this growth. SolidCAM is committed to being at the forefront of this revolution. We will continue to lead the way in providing the essential knowledge, advanced software tools, and comprehensive resources necessary for our customers to effectively leverage metal additive manufacturing to its absolute full potential. Our vision is to empower manufacturers to innovate faster, produce more efficiently, and open up entirely new design and production paradigms, solidifying their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving global market. We anticipate a future where hybrid manufacturing becomes the norm, seamlessly integrating digital design with advanced production techniques.

3DN: Any last words for our readers?

If your company is exploring or considering the vast opportunities presented by metal additive manufacturing, we urge you not to embark on this journey alone. SolidCAM is uniquely positioned and deeply committed to supporting you every step of the way, both locally and through our international network of experts. Our goal is to ensure that you are not just participating in, but truly leading the charge in the additive revolution, gaining all the significant competitive advantages that advanced metal 3D printing technologies offer. From expert guidance on integration to optimized software solutions for both AM and post-processing, we are here to maximize your success and help you navigate the complexities of adopting new manufacturing paradigms. We invite you to learn more about our comprehensive solutions and how SolidCAM can empower your manufacturing future by visiting our website HERE. Join us in shaping the future of manufacturing.

What do you think of SolidCAM’s strategic expansion into additive manufacturing? We would love to hear your thoughts! Share your comments below or connect with us on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Newsletter here to get the latest 3D printing news delivered straight to your inbox! You can also find all our insightful videos on our YouTube channel for more in-depth content.

*Cover Photo Credits: SolidCAM