Mastercam 2026 is Available to All Customers!

[megatronprime]

I feel your frustration.
I wonder if sometimes their hands are tied because of the higher ups.

Maybe they just don't like you 

[Jeff]

Maybe they just don't like you 

Can ya blame em?

[neurosis]

Can ya blame em?

Depends. Did you tell them that Dr Fauci was their "beloved"? 

[Here's Johnny!]

Depends

Those are diapers!!!

[Dylan Gondyke]

Dylan

It's pretty well documented on this thread on the Mastercam fourm

https://my.mastercam.com/forums/topic/2026-pb3-5x-linking/#post-89197

This is R41359
https://my.mastercam.com/forums/topic/mc2026-machine-output-folder/

and R-41589

https://my.mastercam.com/forums/topic/absolute-vrs-incremental/

Just for completeness:

The 5ax linking behavior item has a case #.

R-41457- This one is resolved but not yet pushed to Mastercam 2026- it's a high priority and will probably end up in an earlier Update unless issues arise.

R-41359- still under development

R-41589- still under development

[gcode]

R-41359 is a real PIA and I can think of no good reasons for making these changes.

I grind my teeth every time I try to change an output folder and I sometimes do that a half dozen times a day 


I really appreciate you taking the time to look into these.  Thanks 

[Jeff]

R-41359 is a real PIA and I can think of no good reasons for making these changes.

I'm amazed someone even thought of changing it to begin with. Not to mention went through with it, AND it was approved!

Stop changing stupid shit and fix the shit that people have been bitching about for years!

Like on/off level icons in the levels manager. Did they really need to spend time changing the icons?
That's just making changes just to make changes. It's as useful as tits on a bull.

[JParis]

That's just making changes just to make changes. It's as useful as tits on a bull.

Jeff, changes these days aren't about "us", the long time users....this kind of stuff is focus grouped on new and non-users....we are already users, these kinds of changes are targeted at getting new users.

It's not to say they don't care the long-time user base, it's just that it is really now, more than ever, all about sales. Sandvik demands sales.

Last years maintenance renewal showed me that loud & clear.  Yes, I still know many of the people but no, they cannot really do anything about what they are being told is the new policy.

[Jeff]

Jeff, changes these days aren't about "us", the long time users....this kind of stuff is focus grouped on new and non-users..

Yeah I don't buy that excuse anymore.
Do they tell the focus groups that if they make these changes that the current things that are broken or buggy won't get fixed for years if at all?

[JParis]

Yeah I don't buy that excuse anymore.
Do they tell the focus groups that if they make these changes that the current things that are broken or buggy won't get fixed for years if at all?

Nope, not how a focus group works.

The group is presented with the material, whatever it might be and they are asked to comment on that which they have been present with....they may get presented with an option to test against but they are only giving feedback on what they have been tasked with reviewing.

The rest of everything else you mention is handled by the perceived level of importance.

Something that's a 95% importance for you might be nothing to 75% of the user base. While I hate to say, something like that is not deemed important. It might eventually get fixed but it is deemed small potatoes.

That kind of handling is not limited to software companies....I'll hold out car companies as another glaring example...they might know of an "issue" but it's not seen as a widespread problem....it might only get a bulletin, while larger issues get issued recalls.

[Newbeeee™]

hey might know of an "issue" but it's not seen as a widespread problem...

In the field testing, FTW!

[SuperHoneyBadger]

In the field testing, FTW!

The boys, upon installing/opening the latest Mastercam public release, ready to investigate undocumented features. - ca. Jul 2025

[gcode]

Personally I think they are losing market share to Fusion/AutoDesk and what we are seeing is an effort
to compete directly with AD.
I also think that's why the company was sold.
A privately owned firm does not have the resources to take AD on in a head to head fight.
Sandvik does.
I don't think "be like Fusion" is the solution though

[SuperHoneyBadger]

I heard it though the grapevine that Mastercam used to be practically given away, if not gratis, to colleges and schools to become the defacto first CAM experience in hopes of maintaining top-of-mind awareness. Further, that this program had been winding down for the past 5 or so years, hence the reason why other CAM packages at the low/mid-tier were gaining ground, Fusion and Gibbs to be specific. Just the chatter around the spindles.

[JParis]

I heard it though the grapevine that Mastercam used to be practically given away, if not gratis, to colleges and schools to become the defacto first CAM experience in hopes of maintaining top-of-mind awareness.

That might have become the case as things went along but earlier in the game, educational institutions were complaining the MCAM would cost ($$this) vs AD who was giving it away.

I think the part of the story you got was the change in their plan after getting the lunches handed to them by AD...in some ways they never recovered in that sector.