The Edgecam 2026 release has introduced new capabilities focused on accelerating program verification, improving collaboration between programming and production teams, and simplifying interaction with the software itself.
Developed by Hexagon’s Production Software Division, one of the immediate improvements for 2026 is in Edgecam’s simulation performance. The software now stores snapshots at each tool change during simulation, allowing users to jump backwards through a machining sequence much faster.
In complex jobs, Hexagon says that rewind times can drop from around 30 seconds to close to one second, helping programmers review long programs without interrupting their workflow.
“At shop level, the pressure is always the same: get the job right and get it moving,” said Zoltan Tomoga, product manager at Hexagon’s Production Software Division.
“The latest Edgecam release focuses on removing delays in everyday programming work, whether that means reviewing a long simulation instantly, helping operators understand the machining process more clearly, or making it easier for programmers to find the right capability inside the software.”
The release aims to strengthen communication between programming and production teams, with a full 3D machine simulation now recorded and embedded directly into Live Job Reports, allowing operators to review machining processes interactively in a browser, even without an Edgecam licence.
They can zoom, rotate, adjust playback speed, and scrub through the timeline to better understand how the job will run before pressing cycle start.
This level of visibility is particularly valuable for complex work, including multi-axis machining, large fixtures and safety-critical setups where operators benefit from a clearer picture of the programmed strategy before machining begins.
Alongside verification improvements, Edgecam 2026 has enhancements across several toolpath cycles. Updates include support for lens tools in the Parallel Lace cycle, smoother roll-in movements in Face Milling, improved holder-aware collision avoidance in Rest Roughing, and expanded Race Line controls for more selective finishing operations.
These refinements help programmers generate efficient toolpaths with better surface quality, improved tool engagement, and fewer manual adjustments during setup.
The release also introduces Hexagon Copilot for Edgecam, bringing natural-language assistance into the CAM environment. Programmers can ask questions, locate functions, and access guidance more easily inside the workflow, reducing the time spent searching menus or documentation in increasingly capable CAM systems.
While Edgecam already supports advanced automation – through feature recognition, Strategy Manager and knowledge-based machining workflows – Copilot builds on this foundation by helping users access those capabilities more efficiently, particularly for new programmers or teams working under tight delivery pressure.
