What Version of Mastercam is Your Daily Driver?

[jstell]

As much complaints about bugs and workflow changes with new versions, it seems like 2026 takes the cake.  I'm curious what version folks are actually using to get work done.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

I started 2 related production programs in 2026.R2 (how bad could it be?), and I don't feel like reprogramming to backgrade everything to 2024.

But yes I have been using it since R2's first public day, albeit on and off the first 2 weeks.

[TSmcam]

2019

Actually, I dont even have it installed anymore...

[Here's Johnny!]

2019, does what we need. I have been looking to update as we are on maintenance but each year I hold off.

[jstell]

2019, does what we need. I have been looking to update as we are on maintenance but each year I hold off.

2020 offers greatly improved functionality in the drill point selection function panel.  That was a new development in 2019 and the edit-at-point was a bit messed up, as well as the list being only nine points long (expandable, but collapsed back to default every time you opened it) and not having the ability to drag points to reorder.  I stuck on 2018 until 2020 came out for this workflow regression.

Still running 2022 because of machine group setup being forced into the now ubiquitous function panel in 2023, and the same level of workflow regression.  That and the re-org of the tool page in the operations.  Crappy font, shortened list but lots of wasted space they could have let us use.

[TSmcam]

To be honest, I tried to install 2019 on my Windows 11 Pro notebook (I had an old Mastercam file I needed to extract geometry from).

It just wouldn't install at all (I cant recall the error), but I gave up. Even with assistance from a couple of then CNC Software employees (yes, I was still good terms with some)

I ended up reinstalling it on an older notebook with Windows.

I was talking to someone the other day still running Mastercam V9.1 on an old Windows 98 (I think) machine. He said he was happy plodding along with that

[jstell]

still running Mastercam V9.1 on an old Windows 98

It'll run on XP.  I know I had it running on Win7 but I think I had to run in compatibility mode targeting as XP.

[Zoffen]

I really wish someone with V9 could go through it and find all the things that are exactly the same in 2026.....

[jstell]

I really wish someone with V9 could go through it and find all the things that are exactly the same in 2026.....

The legacy surface operations, at least.  Probably one of the reasons they work predictably.  And the best part is you can usually use them without avoidance geometry and they don't just randomly plunge to full flute length on an outside vertical wall or try to roll around the sides of a channel opening, cutting nothing.

[Here's Johnny!]

I am going to have to update soon as Vericut (newer versions) no longer support 2019.