ModuleWorks has released version 2026.08 of its software components for CAD/CAM vendors, CNC Control Makers, Machine Tool Builders and Cutting Tool vendors. This release introduces new performance and quality enhancing capabilities for toolpath generation, cutting–physics–based automation, GPU-accelerated simulation, Next Generation Shopfloor Programming and the Manufacturing Data Exchange Specification (MDES).
Toolpath Enhancements
Toolpaths remain central to the release, with new capabilities designed to enhance efficiency and surface quality in turning, 3-axis and multi-axis machining.
Feature-Based Machining Direction Optimization in Auto 3+2 Roughing automatically selects effective tool orientations by analyzing the part’s geometry. This helps to reduce setups, improve cycle efficiency and lower production costs.
SmartRoughing with VoluMill brings the proven VoluMill pattern into SmartRoughing, giving users automatic optimization of cutting depth, width, spindle speed and nominal feed while preserving VoluMill’s dynamic feed reductions in corners and high-engagement zones.
SuperFinish on NURBS Surfaces combines mesh-based calculation reliability with NURBS-based toolpath accuracy in a single cycle, helping users achieve precision finishing on demanding mold-and-die surfaces.
Cutting-Physics-Based Automation
The cutting physics enhancements focus on making process optimization more transparent and easier to apply in production.
SmartRoughing Physics Report gives users a structured view of generated slices and selected process parameters after each optimization, helping remove the black-box effect from automated roughing decisions.
Support for Tapered End Mills and Convex Tip Endmills extends FeedControl with a broader range of tool geometries for mold-and-die machining, while Review and Optimize Process Constraints lets users review and adjust calculated limits such as chip load, forces and power before final feed optimization.
GPU-Accelerated Simulation
GPU acceleration continues to shift simulation from a verification step to a computational engine inside advanced CAM workflows.
GPU-Accelerated Engagement Tracking for Milling Operations speeds up engagement analysis for complex milling toolpaths through multi-core processing and optional GPU acceleration.
GPU-Accelerated Material Removal for Grinding extends GPU-powered stock calculation into grinding, and Thread Cutting and Grinding with Pixel-Perfect GPU Renderer brings pixel-accurate visualization to thread cutting and grinding for sharper inspection and more reliable analysis.
Next Generation Shopfloor Programming
For on-machine shopfloor programming, Automatic Machining Direction and Feature Type Suggestion helps programmers reach a valid setup faster by suggesting both the machining direction and feature type during feature selection.
Section-Based Hole Machining automatically recognizes every section within a hole shape, allowing each section to be machined independently for greater programming flexibility and control.
Expanded MDES Support
The release also expands support for the Manufacturing Data Exchange Specification (MDES), further extending standardized data exchange across digital manufacturing workflows.
MDES Equipment Starter Export adds MDES-compliant equipment data export to MachSim. CAM vendors that integrate MachSim can now offer users direct export of standardized machine setup data from their CAM solutions, reducing integration effort with compatible downstream systems, such as on-machine collision avoidance systems, and improving connectivity across manufacturing workflows.
MDES Tool Assembly Integration for Toolpath allows tool assembly objects in the MDES format to be used directly in toolpath calculations without conversion, making it easier to connect standardized tool data across systems.
Together, these additions extend MDES support for both machine setup and tooling data and help improve the interoperability of CAM software and downstream manufacturing systems.
