CAM Software:
Mold Machining : Surface Milling, roughing, rest milling, finishing, drilling, 2D profiling, pocketing and wire EDM, NC Simulation, Tool path optimization (feed/speed, air cut), NC post-processing and NC simulation (gauge checking)
Production Milling : 2 1/2 D Milling, Rotary axis in positioning, macro capability, tool path editing, NC Post-processing and NC simulation
Production Turning : 2 and 4 axis turning (synchronized or not), Mill/Turn (C and/or Y axis), sub-spindle, macro capability, tool path editing, NC Post-processing and NC simulation
Multi-Axis Milling : Continuous 5 axis milling, tool axis control, collinear axes (Z/W), tool path editing, NC Post-processing and NC simulation
Sheet metal manufacturing : Punch press (with tool indexing), flame cutter, laser cutter, waterject, part nesting, tool path optimization (by tool, by part, ..) , automatization, NC post-processing
Specialized Mfg : Wire EDM, engraving, wood router, ...
Based on my own experience, I have rated the different software products using the following notation from
Recommended to 
Not Recommended
NC POST-PROCESSING:
Mold Machining : Milling 3 axes, wire EDM 4 axes, arc fitting, nurbs fitting, high speed machining
Production Milling : Milling 3 axes + rotary axis in positioning (auto CLAMP), sub-program, tool pre-selection, cycles
Production Turning : Turning 2 and 4 axes (synchronized), Mill/Turn (C and/or Y axis), sub-spindle
Multi-axis Milling : Continuous 5 axis milling, no-orthogonal rotary axis, LINTOL (LINear TOLerance), feed calculation (1/T feed), rotary turn-around
Customization - Macro : macro language for customization, debugger, case tool for macro development (Rapid Macro Development tool)
GUI - Ease of use : Graphic User Interface, mouse driven, expert system, default configuration for standard CNC controls
Based on my own experience, I have rated the different software products using the following notation from Recommended to Not Recommended
| Product ( Company) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Comment |
| 5Th Element (Closs CAD/CAM) | 5 Axis post-processor utility for SurfCAM, MasterCAM and APT | |||||||
| CIMCO Post-processor | 5 Axis post-processors and NC simulation for Mastercam | |||||||
| CATIA PPB (Dassault/CENIT) |  | |  | | | | | Weak in Multi-axis and customization. Build for CATIA CL file. |
| CodeWizard (PATHTRACE) | |  | | | | | | Works only with EdgeCAM |
| GPM (Unigraphics) | | | | | | | | Works only with UGII (and not always !). To be replaced by the New UG/POST ? |
| Intellipost (Software Magic) | | | | | | | | The grand father of all PP with a New UI in IntelliPost2000. OEM by PTC under the name CVGPII |
| IMS Post (IMS) | | | | | | | | The PP solution of Matra but works with all CAM. The best macro development tool (testing and debugging) |
| Gpost (Intercim) | | | | | | | | OEM by SurfCAM under the name Spost. Provided with an APT processor. |
| NCPOST + (CAD/CAM Resources, Inc). | | | | | | | | Java based. The cheapest solution available on the market. |
| PostWorks (NCCS) | | | | | | | | Works well with CATIA and NCL CL files. Powerfull in 5 axes. |
| POS-GEN (SpazioSystem) | ||||||||
| ERA Post | ||||||||
| VegaPost | Specialized in post for BCL |
NC-SIMULATION:
Mold Machining : Fast milling simulation, gauge checking, zoom
Production Milling : Milling 3 axis + positioning, Tooling definition, Fixture, multiple view
Production Turning : Turning 2 and 4 axis (synchronized or not), Tooling Definition
Multi-axis Milling : Milling 5 axis, linearization, collision checking
Kinematic Machine : Simulation of machine kinematics
NC Optimization : optimization of Speed, Feeds, air cutting, database (feed,speed,material)
GUI - Ease of use : input format (SLA, IGES, CAD), code simulated (CL file, NC codes), setup, user interface
| Product ( Company) | | | | |  |  | | Comment |
| AnySIM | | | | | | | ||
| CANVAS (Turbotek) | | | ||||||
| CNC Editor (Solas Data) | | | | |||||
| CNC Simulator (MTS) | | | ||||||
| MachineWorks/RapidCUT (LightWork) | | | | | | | Library used by CAD/CAM developer to do NC simulation New module with true solid | |
| NC Sentry 98 (Qarm) | | | | | | |||
| NC-Safer (Aikoku) | | | | run inside CATIA | ||||
| NC Simul (Spring) | | | | | | | ||
| NC Verify (SIrius) | | | | | | | | New module True solid - Very fast for mold machining |
| NCView (SplineWare Graphics Systems Ltd) | | | ||||||
| NCV (Cimplex) | | | | | | | | |
| N-See (NC Microproducts) | | | | | ||||
| Powercut (CIMCO) | NC Simulation for Mastercam | |||||||
| REPLAY (CENIT) | | | | Run inside CATIA | ||||
| Soft Machines (SILMA) | | | | | | | | |
| VERICUT (CGTECH) | | | | | | | | New GUI in Rev 4.0 ! |
| Virtual NC (DENEB) | | | | | | | |
NC MACHINES:- AGIE
- Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation
- Amada's Group of Companies Home Page
- AHHA : Artisan CNC Control
- ANCA - Grinder
- ANILAM
- Artran
- Autocon (Dynapath control)
- Biesse woodworking machinery
- Boehringer
- Boko
- Bostomatic
- Bridgeport
- Brown & Sharpe
- Cam Tech Industries Inc.
- Cellular Concepts
- Centroid - CNC Technology
- Charmilles
- Cim Work
- Clausing
- Cleveland Motion Controls
- Creative Technology
- CMS GROUP HOME PAGE
- Daewoo
- Davenport
- DEFIANCE
- Delta Tau Data Systems, Inc.
- Denford
- Dixi
- ESAB
- Excell-o
- Fadal
- Fagor
- Fidia
- FlashCut CNC
- Fortune CNC
- Fryer Machine
- GE Fanuc Automation
- Giddings
- Haas
- Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc.
- Hardinge
- Heidenhain
- Hitachi Seiki
- Hurco
- IMT
- Ingersoll
- Juroca
- Kitamura
- Komo Machines
- KOMATSU
- Kuraki America
- Lamb Technicon
- Larken CNC routers
- Lasercut Systems
- LEADWELL USA
- Light Machines
- Lockformer (Valcan Plasma)
- Lumonics
- Makino
- Mandelli
- Marubeni Citizen
- Matsuura
- MAKA Max Mayer Maschinenbau GmbH Deutschland
- MAZAK
- MDSI
- Mikron USA
- Milacron
- Mighty USA
- Mitsubishi EDM
- Mitsubishi Laser
- Mitsubishi Machine Tools
- Modig Machine Tool AB
- Monarch
- MotionMaster
- NEOS Robotics - The TRICEPT Robot
- OKK USA
- Okuma America Corporation Home Page
- OmniTurn CNC Lathes
- Precitech CNC Lathes
- QuickMill
- Renishaw home page
- Republic-Lagun Machine Tool Co.
- Rye Machinery Limited
- Sharnoa
- Shoda
- SNK
- Sodick
- Southbend
- Star CNC Machine Tool Corp.
- Strippit
- Summit
- Thermwood
- Tornos
- Tsugami
- Tree
- Trumpf
- VEGA Control (ISS)
- The Victor Group Home Page
- Vickers Electronic Systems, Inc.
- Wasino
- W.A. Whitney
- Wotan - WMO Machine Tools
- YASDA!
Zeiss
