CAM Assist’s Next Generation Roughing: How AI is Revolutionizing Roughing and 3 + 2 Machining

Why roughing needed an upgrade

Roughing – the phase of CNC machining where large volumes of material are removed quickly – is notoriously difficult to automate. Even experienced programmers often spend significant time tweaking toolpaths to match their expectations. As CloudNC CTO Andy Cheadle noted when introducing CAM Assist’s Next Gen Roughing update, the previous version sometimes produced tool paths that users felt needed additional editing.

The complexity increases dramatically for 3 + 2 axis parts because there are far more potential approach directions. CloudNC’s engineers call this a “combinatorially explosive” problem, meaning the number of possible solutions grows exponentially. Prior to this update, CAM Assist already helped automate strategies for 3‑axis parts, but tackling 3 + 2 components represents a huge leap forward.

What’s new in Next Gen Roughing

• Improved tool selection and boundaries: Next Gen Roughing consolidates bulk and detailed roughing into a single operation and automatically generates boundaries. This reduces the manual editing previously required to remove cusps or adjust regions.

• Better results for 3 + 2 machining: The update improves tool selection within user‑defined boundaries and can handle larger parts. CloudNC says this advancement helps CAM Assist cover roughly two‑thirds of global machining work, since 3 + 2 parts are common across industries.

• Faster programming: On CloudNC’s home page, CAM Assist promises to complete ≈80 % of a CAM program in minutes, making shops up to 5× more productive and offering accurate cycle‑time estimates.

Why it matters

Modern manufacturing runs on tight margins. Spending hours roughing a part slows throughput and limits capacity. By using artificial intelligence to generate robust roughing strategies automatically, CAM Assist frees experienced programmers to focus on finishing strategies and optimization instead of repetitive setup. It also helps junior programmers learn good practices quickly.

That doesn’t mean the AI takes over entirely – machinists can still inspect and edit toolpaths. For 3 + 2 parts, CloudNC is also adding controls to let users avoid specific geometric approaches, cloudnc.com, further building trust in the solution. If you tried CAM Assist before but found it rough, lacking finesse, it may be time to give it another look.

Ready to see it for yourself?

Curious how Next Gen Roughing could speed up your shop’s programming? Schedule a custom demo with the CloudNC team. They’ll show how CAM Assist integrates with your existing CAM package and tool library and answer any questions about applying AI‑powered roughing in your workflow.