Interview with Graham Hargreaves, Marketing Manager from Mastercam/CNC Software at 3D Experience World 2020

We recently had the opportunity to interview Graham Hargreaves, Marketing Manager of MasterCAM at 3D Experience World 2020.

Mastercam is a suite of Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and CAD/CAM software applications. Founded in 1983, CNC Software, Inc. is one of the oldest developers of PC-based CAD/CAM software. Mastercam, CNC Software’s main product, started as a 2D CAM system with CAD tools that let machinists design virtual parts on a computer screen and also guided computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools in the manufacture of parts.

Mastercam’s comprehensive set of predefined toolpaths—including contour, drill, pocketing, face, peel mill, engraving, surface high speed, advanced multiaxis, and many more—enable machinists to cut parts efficiently and accurately. Mastercam users can create and cut parts using one of many supplied machine and control definitions, or they can use Mastercam’s advanced tools to create their own customized definitions.

Jeff Rowe: Can you provide some information or background on Mastercam for our viewers?

Graham Hargreaves: Basically, Mastercam is a CAD-CAM package and we also integrate directly within SOLIDWorks. So, basically we are producing G-code that powers CNC machines.

JR: But there’s a lot more to it than just that.

GH: Absolutely. Yes, there is. We have a full suite of products from milling, turning, mill-turn, we have a design package, and wire EDM. So, basically any CNC related material or application, we can help power those machines.

JR:  What in particular are you showcasing this week at the show?

GH: This week at the show we are showcasing our next release, which is Mastercam 2021 that’s coming out in a few months, in June, so we’re giving users a sneak peek at that.

JR:   Can you talk about some of the new features it has?

GH:  We’re doing a lot of consolidation with our drilling. We’re working more toward automation, which is a very popular topic. And then just general graphics improvements all throughout the suite.

JR: You’ve got a lot of competition. What are some things that set you, you know, Mastercam apart?

GH:   Normally what we say is that basically any CAM system is going to cut your part one way or another, and they’re all comparable. Some are stronger in milling, some are stronger in lathe, some are stronger in mill-turn, but where we really separate ourselves is our service and support.

We have over 120 resellers throughout the world that are local to their customer base that are out there training, supporting, getting people set up and getting their machines running. So it’s that local service and support that really sets us apart as an industry leader in what we do.

JR:  Do you specialize in any one market segment, say medical or automotive, or you have like a diverse customer base?

GH: We’re very diverse. We’re somewhat of a jack of all trades. Any industry that is using CNC machining is something we can apply our software to.

JR:  What kinds of trends do you see occurring in the CAM industry?

GH:  The biggest trends are more complex machines. Multitasking machines are very popular and we kinda follow the trends that we see in tooling in those machines. They’re coming out with new technologies, we then are developing our software to keep up with what’s coming out. Another big trend and you’ll see it at the show a lot, is automation. So just making programming more simple.

And then, overall shop floor connectivity and getting data out of your machines and really allowing you to become more efficient is key. So the term is Industry 4.0 and you can see a lot of people developing software and partnering with other complementary companies to help address those needs.

JR: Can you tie in to quality assurance programs?

GH: Quality assurance programs, yes, we can.

JR:  Where can our viewers go for more information?

GH: You can find us at www.mastercam.com. We also have a variety of social media sites. We’re on Instagram, we have a YouTube channel, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. So you can search for us on those platforms and come and see what we have to offer.

Category: Interview

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