docs / workbenches / CAM capability matrix
CAM capability matrix
This summary describes CAM functionality and its current limits as documented on 2026-10-21. Start with the CAM workbench for the dialogs, geometry selection, toolpath generation and simulation controls, or the CAM panel for setups, operations, tools and NC programs.
| Area | Capability | Scope and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Setups | Work coordinate systems, work offsets, orientation from faces, edges and axes, multiple setups | Set the origin, Z/X directions, clearance heights, target bodies and protected bodies in the setup dialog. |
| Stock | Boxes with offsets, cylinders, stock from a solid, remaining stock from an earlier setup | Stock can be carried between setups, including a changed orientation. |
| Machines | 3-axis mills, rotary axes, 5-axis table/head machines, lathes and mill-turn definitions | Built-in and document machines describe axis limits, collision solids and a default post. |
| Tools | Milling, hole-making, form tools, turning inserts and holders | Tool geometry and holder profiles are supported; each operation still has cutter and access limits. Ball-cone and tapered-flat workflows are not fully verified end to end. |
| Tool libraries | Document/user libraries, import/export, material feeds and speeds | Feeds and speeds use chip load or surface speed and machine limits. |
| 2D machining | Facing, pockets, contours, slots, trace, chamfer/deburr, engrave/V-carve, bore/circular and thread milling | Pass controls include multiple depths, tabs, finishing and stock to leave. |
| Adaptive clearing | 2D and 3D adaptive strategies | Closed-pocket constant-engagement limits are not yet satisfied. A generated adaptive path does not establish that the requested engagement limit is met. |
| Geometry selection | Edge chains, sketch curves/profiles and face selection | Default chain selection generates toolpaths; optional chain side, offset, start and island settings are refused. |
| Drilling | Drill, spot, peck, chip-break, tap, ream, bore and back-bore cycles | Hole recognition/grouping and order optimisation are supported. Asymmetric back-bore head entry/exit access is not certified. |
| 3D roughing | Pocket clearing and rest machining | Rest machining can use simulated stock remaining from previous operations. |
| 3D finishing | Parallel, contour/waterline, pencil, steep/shallow, horizontal, radial, spiral, morphed spiral, ramp, project, flow/morph and rest finishing | Coverage depends on the strategy, reachable geometry and selected cutter. |
| Scallop finishing | Constant-stepover paths | Supports analytic surfaces and spherical cavities with horizontal rims; arbitrary mixed surfaces remain unsupported. |
| Containment | Boundaries, slope/Z limits, avoid/contact faces | Geometry pickers and operation fields constrain the generated cuts. |
| Multi-axis | 3+2 indexing, rotary wrapping, swarf, multi-axis contour and finishing with tilt/lead/lag | Includes collision avoidance by tilting and machine-kinematics simulation. |
| Turning | Facing, profile roughing/finishing, grooves, threading, part-off, boring and axial drilling | Full thread-flank stock simulation is not provided. Internal profile finishing requires a pilot bore. |
| Stock transfer | Reorienting stock between spindles | Transfers stock geometry; machine transfer controls are not provided. |
| Linking | Leads, ramps, retract policies and keep-tool-down moves | A link that cannot be established uses a reported fallback or is refused. |
| Path processing | Smoothing, arc/helical fitting and feed optimisation | Fitted paths preserve the configured deviation limits; unsupported output modes are refused by the post. |
| Output | NC programs, built-in posts and HTML setup sheets | Programs order operations and export through their selected post. Posts include Fanuc, Haas, GRBL, LinuxCNC, Mach3/4, Heidenhain, Siemens 840D, Marlin/RepRap, Okuma and Mazak. |
| Simulation | Toolpath preview, stock removal, tool/shank/holder collision checks and machine simulation | Unsupported access conditions are reported. |
| Verification | Stock-to-part deviation display and cycle-time estimates | Deviation is sampled; time estimates account for motion length, feed and acceleration. |
| Automatic programming | Recognition of pockets, holes and slots | Floorless through-openings, through-slots and saddles are not yet covered by automatic recognition and machining. |
| Templates and automation | Templates and MCP/script commands | Templates support geometry rebinding through the engine API. Workbench commands cover setups, tools, operations, generation, programs and simulation; an engine capability does not imply a complete dialog workflow. |
For the available operation fields and commands, see the CAM workbench guide.