AI-Powered Automation Promises to Slash Machine-Tool Programming Time
March 5, 2025Comments
Through a partnership launched in April 2024 between Hexagon and Microsoft, the Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence division unveiled, during the Microsoft Ignite event held last November, its ProPlanAI automated computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programming tool, which it says can reduce machine-tool programming time by 75%. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) will allow ProPlanAI to learn from the data being created by a company’s CAM programmers. That built-in intelligence, then, will enable manufacturers to automatically explore existing programming information to predict ideal outcomes tailored to a company’s preferences, production capabilities and needs.
Says Chuck Mathews, general manager for production software at Hexagon: “While many machines are automated, programming them often proves laborious and requires highly skilled professionals. With AI, manufacturers can boost productivity by allowing their programmers to focus on complicated tasks where their knowledge has the greatest impact…. New staff members can quickly be brought up to speed, while also avoiding knowledge drain when a person leaves a company or retires.”
In addition to streamlining part programming, the technology potentially may help businesses identify latent standard practices, provide notifications about deviations from company programming standards, and make better use of product manufacturing information embedded in design files.
ProPlanAI also features a co-pilot to guide operators through the process of setting up a machine tool, and present to them programs that work. The co-pilot also can provide tips on how to use the software, processes to make a specific part, and the optimum machining strategy—users can access chat functionality to ask specific questions and launch commands.
See also: Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
