Looming Crisis for CAM Industry?

Unlike machine or cutting tool manufacturers, CAM companies must consider new developments from a host of other disciplines when planning their R&D budgets. Mr. Fraysinnet predicts that in coming years, individual CAM developers might not have the resources to keep up. 

Machined parts are reaching new extremes in terms of both size—whether large or small—and complexity. While it’s difficult to discern the proverbial chicken from the egg, the technology employed to produce such parts is also undergoing significant changes. Amid increasing globalization and developments in communications technology, the pace of this change is accelerating and shows no obvious signs of slowing down.

This phenomenon was among the trends discussed at DP Technology’s Esprit World Conference, an annual gathering of the Esprit CAM software community. And according to Dan Frayssinet, one of the company’s co-founders, it could spell trouble for the CAM industry. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Frayssinet at this year’s conference in sunny Long Beach, California late last month. Here is an overview of what he has to say about the challenges facing CAM developers in this fast-paced environment.