Sandvik at it again purchasing ICAM

[crazy^millman]

Press Release

Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire Canada-based ICAM Technologies Corporation, a provider of innovative solutions that translate CAM data into optimized coding for guiding CNC machining operations. With a global reach, ICAM sells to some of the world's most renowned companies in the aerospace and defense, general engineering and automotive industries. The company will be reported in Sandvik Coromant, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.

[mayday]

The way of the world now,
I still provide 5X programming examples and solutions but I'm glad I'm not programming full time anymore
43 years is enough IMHO

[Jeff]

I heard about this the other day, I never heard of Icam. Are they like a Vericut?

[CNCAppsJames]

I heard about this the other day, I never heard of Icam. Are they like a Vericut?

Like Vericut and CAMplete combined. Post, Collision Checking, Verification, AND you can build your own machines.

[gcode]

I heard about this the other day, I never heard of Icam. Are they like a Vericut?

ICAM started as a posting software, then branched out into machine simulation and toolpath verification
An all the bells and whistles post/machine sim setup actually runs the simulation/verification process
as it posts the NC code..
Because it's tied into the machine models and axial travel limits it is kinematically  aware
and adjusts the code as needed. Pretty cool stuff... but it is NOT cheap

I bought an ICAM post for our Okuma but found they weren't really up for Mastercam posts
I eventually let it go and switched to Postability

[crazy^millman]

Well I worked with them for a time years ago and they thought it was good business to take a possible new relationship I was bringing to them and make it a house account cheating me out of the 40% commission I would have been getting. I walked away and the customer started to walk away as well. They offered to make it better, but at that point the relationship was soured far as a I was concerned. They also poached Tim Markoski that was working with me as well. I wanted what was best for the customer so I let them do the demo and they failed miserably. Maybe if I had stayed involved they would have landed that account and grown their market place, but seeing what their total sales were for 2020 they were in bad shape. CG Tech should be able to integrate their Post engine into their product line. Offering full NC Posting across any platform of CAM will then allow them to compete against CAMPlete and the fact you can build your own machines unlike CAMPlete will make them very attractive to more companies. Good move on the Sandvik teams side of the process. Now they just need to get Verisurf and Moduelworks under the same umbrella and they will be unstoppable going into the next 15-20 years.

[gcode]

Well I worked with them for a time years ago

that was the only reason I went to ICAM for our Okuma post after my local dealer failed miserably.
Right after I signed the deal, they kicked you to the curb which I though was pretty low.
I worked with them a couple of years, but getting the post lined out was like pulling teeth
The post tech I was working with didn't have a seat of Mastercam and would only work with NCI files.
One day I called after waiting 2 weeks for an "emergency" post edit.. and got excuses and a request for a fresh NCI file
I dumped them for Postability soon after that
Oddly enough I just now got a call from an ICAM guy who introduced himself as my new account manager.
I can't see any reason I would ever go back to ICAM, but you never know
Mastercam, ICAM and Vericut are all one big happy family now so who knows what the future holds

[gcode]

The ICAM rep who called me this afternoon sent me some eyecandy if anyone is interested

https://icam.com/a-look-into-the-icam-software-solution-for-cnc/

[byte]

It's a nice video for sure, watched it right to the end!

[crazy^millman]

Well I worked with them for a time years ago

that was the only reason I went to ICAM for our Okuma post after my local dealer failed miserably.
Right after I signed the deal, they kicked you to the curb which I though was pretty low.
I worked with them a couple of years, but getting the post lined out was like pulling teeth
The post tech I was working with didn't have a seat of Mastercam and would only work with NCI files.
One day I called after waiting 2 weeks for an "emergency" post edit.. and got excuses and a request for a fresh NCI file
I dumped them for Postability soon after that
Oddly enough I just now got a call from an ICAM guy who introduced himself as my new account manager.
I can't see any reason I would ever go back to ICAM, but you never know
Mastercam, ICAM and Vericut are all one big happy family now so who knows what the future holds

Yes I hated the way that all went down. I tried teaching them the correct way to use Mastercam with a Post and NCI and they just wouldn't listen. Tim tried teaching them when he worked for them and they wouldn't listen to him either. I was able to teach a couple of their people the basics of Mastercam, but like most people who hear the word Mastercam that come from a CATIA or NX background you get the normal snubbing and how inferior a person you are for using such a software to earn a living. That is what really drives me crazy about this profession. All of us get looked down on by the majority of the population and then you get those in this trade who do the same damn thing. No one is better than the other in this profession. I have worked in some pretty high profile clients and done some really crazy parts over the years, but do my hardest to keep myself humble and appreciative of everyone and anyone that will work with me. That is the rub the Summers never have gotten over the years they give to people. They walk around like a upper class group when they are in all reality looked down upon by the really wealthy people in this world.They are very nice and once you get to know them realize that is not how they really are, but how many get to know them personally?

I choose this path and have almost walked away from it a few times and at one point was almost forced in a different direction for doing CAM programming. Now that Sandvik has stepped in we will see if they can right the ship and get all the bugs exterminated and add the developers and support staff that is really needed to make Mastercam the product it is meant to be. I can remember getting $2.2 million of funding from Boeing lined up to get the probing product with Verisurf and Mastercam working together. I was dismissed and pretty much spat on for my efforts for even daring to think of bridging the gap between the two companies. What I envisioned all those years ago that Mastercam could have been the leaders in is finally coming to market by other companies and guess who is still playing catch up in this arena? Yes CNC Software. When I found out they had signed papers with Renishaw before it was all announced I told everyone it was a stupid direction. Why would Renishaw that is partly owned by a revival CAM Software be willing to help CNC Software make something better than what they offer? Why would they help them do something better than the company that owed part of Renishaw do something better than the revival CAM software was offering? It was always going to be just okay, but never what it could have been with Verisurf. Funny thing is Verisurf has one of the best Engines for simulating CNC Machines that works directly inside of Mastercam on the market and no one has every explored that. CNC Software went down the Moduleworks path which unless Sandvik buys them could one day spell and end to CNC Software and its 5 Axis programming if a competitor buys them and does like Autodesk is currently doing buying up companies and completely dissolving other CAM capabilities as it robs the technology from them.  

Well that is enough about that and hopefully 20 years from now when I am still earning a living in this profession that I never got a degree in it will still allow me to do just that earn a living.

[crazy^millman]

Bumping for Gcode.   

[Zoffen]

Funny thing is Verisurf has one of the best Engines for simulating CNC Machines that works directly inside of Mastercam on the market and no one has every explored that

THIS x1000000000

[TSmcam]

That is the rub the Summers never have gotten over the years they give to people. They walk around like a upper class group when they are in all reality looked down upon by the really wealthy people in this world.They are very nice and once you get to know them realize that is not how they really are, but how many get to know them personally?

Well, the Summers rubbed me the wrong way. Summers, Bertrand, and the reseller. You know the story, but I had to put in my two cents worth and say that as far as I'm concerned, they were are loyal to poor performing resellers to a fault. Like you with ICAM, I was really concerned about the way Mastercam was being handled by the local agent, and wanted to make it right for the customers, as they deserved better.

I spoke at length with Tim Markoski about all that. He made me feel better, and made me realise it wasn't me, or my fault. To add insult to injury, the reseller then tried to make me out to be in the wrong to my then employer.

So, now, a few years on, things are a lot better (with a different application )

Still enjoyed catching up with you and the gang at the VUE in Irvine that year. Great times