CNC Software Celebrates 30 Years in Business

Mastercam developer CNC Software, Tolland, Conn., is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Brothers Mark and Jack Summers started the company in 1983 with a new programming concept for CNC machine tools. They developed a PC-based CAD/ CAM software package with an emphasis on the CAM side. During that time most programs were more CAD oriented.

Brother Brian soon joined the company and now serves as vice president.

“Ours was developed with the machinist and the design engineer in mind,” said President Mark Summers. “I was a machinist. It’s a direct approach— design the parts and generate the toolpaths to machine them.”

Today Mastercam has 165,000 seats installed, and the company continually reinvests in new Mastercam versions.

The first version of Mastercam was a 2-D CAM program. Now the software can be used by designers and programmers involved in multiaxis milling, turning, wire EDM, router programming, plasma and laser cutting, 3-D design and drafting, and Swiss machining.