CNC Sheetmetal & Punch-Press Programming Software
While I have Built Computers from Scratch in The Olden Days, Know several Programming Languages, and have used various Computers for 45 years, I do Not consider myself to be any kind of an Expert on CNC Programming, as this is a Speciality that one needs to do on a
Daily Basis to become and remain Proficient.
The Purpose of this Web Page is to Introduce the Newcomer to General Current Practices in
CNC Fabrication Programming, and then Both Newcomers & Experienced Users can use the
Hot-Links Listed Below to gather more Information from the Software Venders themselves.
Programming Software Types and Usage varies greatly from vender to vender.
Some are Simple & Well-Integrated, while others are Complex and perhaps more Powerful,
with many Features that may Integrate with different Program "Modules" (such as Un-Folding, Optimization, and Part-Nesting) that you can Process your Part Program through.
Different CAD Software Packages work in Different Ways But, In General, you First
and generate a File of this Information.
This may also be done using your Programming Software Package itself.
Or, a Cad-File may have already have been created by your own Engineers, or supplied to you
by your Customer's Engineers who used Different Software like AutoCAD or SolidWorks.
These Files would then be Imported into your Programming Package for further work & editing.
The CAD-File would be Unfolded if it were a 3D File, into a 2D Flat-Pattern File, then it would
be Reworked & Edited using criteria of the Machine & Process to be used, Tools & Tool-Paths, Workclamp Gripping Placements, Etc., Etc. into a Source-Code File.
This Source-Code File is then run through a Machine-Specific Postprocessor Program, and perhaps a Nesting and Optimization Program, that converts it in to a NC-Run File (G-Code)
for the Specific-Machine that You plan to run it on.
You then Download This NC Program File to your Machine Control, and Run your Parts.
Postprocessors are written by Your Software Package Vendor Specifically for Your Machines.
Postprocessors Taylor the Code to work on Your Machine, with it's particular Turret, Table-Size, CNC Control, Code-Set, and Features like Auto-Index, etc. For Example, If you have Multiple Machines, like a Strippit Punch, an Amada Punch, and a Mazak Laser, you could purchase 3 Postprocessors. Each Postprocessor would be Custom Set-Up to make Correct NC Code for each of Your Machine Tools.
Then you could take your Original CAD/CAM Source Code,
run it through any of your 3 Postprocessor's,
to generate NC-Files (G-Code) to make the Same Part on any of your 3 different Machines.
Again, as the above procedures vary Greatly by Vendor and even by the Software Package
(some vendors offer different Versions and Levels of Software) You Need to
Evaluate Software Carefully Yourself to determine what suits Your Particular Needs!
Contact Vendors, most will provide Free Demo Programs, Instructional Tapes, DVD's, and Downloads for your Evaluation. Some also have Traveling Salesman that can be scheduled
to stop-in to provide a Live Demo of their Programs, See & Try-Out their Demos!
As Software is Quite Portable, many Software Companies are based in another Country. As long as they have a Office or Distributor providing Good Support in Your Country, this should not be
a big concern. As with your Machines, Service & Technical Support is Extremely important,
make Sure it is available and will be there when you need it!
While I may have comments for some of them, I make NO Recommendations, as it is
Impossible to stay Current on all these Companies and their Evolving Products.
You Need to Compare their Products! And I'm Sure there are More Good Companies Out-There that I do not know about, Please let me know of them! Here, In Alphabetical Order,
are some Independent Software Companies & Resources for Sheetmetal Punch Fabrication;
Computes Spa, based in Italy,
Seems to have been Gobbled-Up by the Amada Co.
They offered a Suite of various Fabrication Software and Engineering Solutions. Support for Non-Amada Machines
is Likely to Stop, so I would Avoid if I had
Other than Amada Machines.
Lantek, based in Spain, has a Large Suit of Software Solutions. Little known, is that Lantek also Repackages
their Software for several OEM Machine Manufactures.
LVD Strippit's "CadMan" Software is Really Lantek Software!
Metamation, based in Reno, NV, has a Suit of CAD/CAM Punch and Laser Fab Software Solutions.
One of the Oldest Programming Software Companies,
Merry Mechanization, now based in Sunny Florida, has been around since 1979, and specializes in Punching Software.
Metalix, based in Israel, offers cncKad, a integrated
Suit of Sheetmetal Programming & Fabrication Software.
SigmaTEK, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, has several
Advanced Programming, Nesting, and
Fabrication Software Solutions.
This is Design CAD Software, Not Programming Software.
Autodesk has provided AutoCAD for over a Quarter Century, and is a Industry Standard.
Many Companies Design with AutoCAD, and provide Standard .DXF Cad-Files it generates to their own Manufacturing, or to their Vendors to Convert with
Cam / Nesting Software to Generate NC Files (G Code)
to run and make their Production Parts.
Metalsoft, based in Irvine CA, was a Leader of the
Fab Software Industry.
I would Avoid it now if I had Non-Amada Machines,
as Metalsoft has been Bought by Amada to be
Programming Solutions for Amada Brand Machines ONLY.
Support for other Brands of Machines Stopped, so look for a New Software Solution if you Program LVD Strippit Machines.
MTC Software, located in Good Old Lockport New York, provides several Design, Programming, and Nest Software Solutions. Any Company Audacious Enough to do Business in W.N.Y. Deserves a Look!
Striker Systems, located in White House, TN,
has provided Advanced CAD/CAM & Programming
Fab Software for over 3 Decades.
Strippit, located in Beautiful Downtown Akron N.Y.,
has provided various Programming Solutions for their
NC & CNC Machines for 50+ years since the late 1960's.
In 1960's & 1970's they Developed FAB1 to FAB5 Software Programming Systems using DEC Mini-Computers.
In 1980's & 1990's Strippit Developed "Mulitpunch" which was a Low-Cost and Very Easy to Use Integrated CAD Programming Package that is Still used by many Shops.
It was designed to Run ONLY on Apple MAC Computers,
but Strippit also had a P.C. Version, which they
Don't Advertise, because LVD Strippit does NOT want to
Sell or Support Multipunch anymore. Really a Shame.
LVD Strippit's current Software Solutions are "CadMan"
which is Really Repackaged Lantek Software
LVD Strippit is slow in releasing Latest Versions. So, some have purchased New Software Updates Directly from Lantek.
Note! LVD in Belgium bought Strippit in 1998, and has been Down-Sizing & Converting "Strippit" into just "LVD".
Founded by MIT Refuges in Concord MA, but bought-out by those Wily French at Dassault Systems, SolidWorks is a
World Leader in 3D Design & Modeling Software. Like AutoCAD, this is Design Cad Software, Not Programming.
Parts are Designed and can be assembled with other CAD Parts, then Motion-Animated in 3D to show how they Fit & Work together. Like a Door on a NEMA-Box Swinging Back & Forth showing Fit & Possible Interference Points of it's Parts.
Very Cool! Finished Cad Files are then Exported to Your Programming Package to generate CNC G-Code.
Western Computer Sciences offered 2 versions of Prippit (Prippit and Prippit 2000) Programming Software Program. A Very Early Programming Company, Prippit has been around since DOS Computer Days in early 1980's, but did Not keep up with current technologies, and seems to be fading away. Prippit is Simple to use & Inexpensive, and might be suitable for small Shops with older Punch Machines.
UPDATE! Sadly, Walt Cook, The Owner and
Programmer of Prippit Co. Died a few years ago.
The Prippit Co. is now Defunct, with No Sales or Support.
Prippit is Outdated and NOT a viable solution anymore, so
Look for a New Software Replacement if still Using it.
Mike Beazer at CNC Programming Services Inc. has over
30+ Years of Prippit Experience and is the
Only Source for Prippit Programming Systems & Prippit Software & Prippit Technical Support that I know of.
Mike is also the Canadian Distributor for Lantek Software
Phone: 416-523-1110
Email: mb@cncprogrammingservices.com
This page was last updated: May 18, 2023
Industrial Press Inc. sells many Great Resource Books like
"CNC Programming Handbook"
"Beginning AutoCAD"
"CNC Programming Techniques"
"Fanuc CNC Custom Macros"
"Applied SolidWorks"
Etc.
Go Buy Some Books and Learn Something New!!!
Jetcam International, based in Monaco, has a large Suit of Software Programming & Nesting Software Solutions.
Radan, located in Bath, UK, is one of the Oldest Cad/Cam Software Providers, dating back to 1976, and has several Design, Programming, and Nest Software Solutions.
Old Planit Holding Limited which sold Radan Software seems to have been Bought or Absorbed by Vero Software who provides Software Solutions for Sheetmetal, ChipMakers, Wood Working, Stone Cutters, Production Control, Etc.
Applied Production Inc., Dating back to 1985 in Cincinnati Ohio, Developed ProFold Flat Pattern Development Program.
They also Market their ProFab Lite Program which is a
Low-Cost ($1495.00) Sheet Metal CAM System to generate
G-Code for Turret-Punches & Lasers for Small Shops.
This is a Good Deal and Other Software Vendors should also Offer a Low-Cost Programming Package in this Price Range!
UPDATE 2014! Unfortunately, Joe Bucalo
has Closed his Company Applied Production, and
ProFab Software is Not available anymore. A Real Pity.
Kubotek of Osaka Japan, is now the Owner of CADKEY, Now Renamed KeyCreator, which was 1 of the Earliest 3D Cad Programs. They also Develop & Market other Software Tools.
There have been Problems with Various Owners of
CADKEY / KeyCreator Software over the years, so
Check-It-Out Carefully, as it may not be a viable Solution
for New Users anymore. Kubotek USA is their
Marketing & Sales Division here in North America.
ALMA, Has their Software-Roots Dating back to 1979 and is Located in Saint-Martin-d'Heres, France.
They have Developed Advanced Application and Nesting CAD/CAM Software Solutions.
One of My Favorite Programming Places.
Liza & I Hiked The Cliff Path,
in the Rain,
from
to
Which Damn Near Killed Me.
So, We Took The Ferry-Boat
back to our Hotel in
UPDATE!
Hypertherm Co. Acquired MTC Software Co., and in 2012 Retired MTC Software. Hypertherm offers their ProNest & TurboNest Software which supports Laser & Plasma Profile Cutting, but Does NOT Support CNC Punching.
Sketchline Technologies, located in Mexico,
has a Very Inexpensive $1850.00
CAD Programming Solution called GPuncher.
Not as advanced as other CAD Programs,
But, GPuncher may be adequate for many Shops needs,
and you can not go too far wrong with the Low Price.
