Mastercam APlus

Yes. Mastercam can be used to program additive manufacturing with the APlus add-on. APlus is specifically designed for DED processes, in which material is added to a part in the form of wire or powder, for example, and melted into place using a laser, electron beam, or electric arc.

APlus enables additive toolpath programming, backplot review, and simulation in the same Mastercam environment as subtractive toolpaths. This allows Mastercam to be used for hybrid manufacturing, where material is added and machined during the same manufacturing process.

Hybrid manufacturing combines additive manufacturing and material-removing CNC machining in the same manufacturing process. For example, material can be added using the DED method and then machined to the final geometry, dimensional accuracy, and surface finish.

The method can be used both to manufacture new parts and to repair existing components. Mastercam APlus enables additive operations to be programmed in the same environment as Mastercam’s subtractive toolpaths.

Yes. Mastercam APlus enables DED-based additive toolpaths to be combined with Mastercam’s conventional subtractive toolpaths in the same programming environment.

For example, the manufacturing process can be structured so that material is first added to the part, the deposited area is machined, more material is added, and the part is finally finished to the desired dimensions. This is a key advantage of hybrid manufacturing.

In hybrid manufacturing, the worn or damaged area can first be machined away in a controlled manner. New material is then added to the area, for example using the DED process, after which the added material is machined to its final geometry and dimensions.

Mastercam APlus enables you to program the additive repair phase alongside Mastercam’s subtractive toolpaths. This method is particularly well suited for repairing high-value metal components when remanufacturing the entire part is not practical.

Yes. In Directed Energy Deposition (DED), material can be fed directly onto the surface of an existing metal component and melted onto it in a controlled manner. The material can be supplied, for example, as metal wire or powder.

The process can be used to build new geometry onto an existing component, repair worn surfaces, or add material only where it is needed. The deposited material can then be machined to its final shape.

Yes. Mastercam APlus enables programming multi-axis additive toolpaths, allowing the position of the additive head or nozzle to be changed as material is deposited.

4- and 5-axis movement allows material to be deposited from different directions based on the part geometry. This expands the use of DED for applications such as curved surfaces, hard-to-reach areas, and complex repair and hybrid manufacturing projects.

Yes. Mastercam APlus allows you to backplot and simulate additive toolpaths before transferring the program to the machine.

The simulation lets you review the progress of the additive process and the accumulation of material, as well as how additive and subtractive operations combine to form the part’s manufacturing process. This makes it easier to verify the toolpaths and the entire hybrid process during the programming stage.

Mastercam APlus is a Mastercam add-on designed for DED-based additive manufacturing and hybrid manufacturing. It enables you to program additive toolpaths, review them using backplotting, and simulate the additive process within the same Mastercam environment as subtractive machining toolpaths.

APlus is suitable for applications such as repairing metal components, adding material to existing parts, building new geometries, and manufacturing processes that combine additive manufacturing and CNC machining into a single workflow.