Key features of PowerMill

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
A new strategy that automatically finds all flat regions within a CAD model, then machines them with a single, 5-axis toolpath. Use with flat-bottomed cutting tools for larger cutting stepovers and shorter machining cycle times. (video: 1:40 min.)

A new toolpath that combines the strengths of pencil finishing, corner finishing and rest-boundaries, to identify un-machined stock more accurately and remove it more effectively, resulting in better quality machined parts. (video: 2:00 min.)

Machining Setups now allow safe areas, clearance heights, as well as start and end point settings to be defined and applied to multiple toolpaths helping to simplify CAM programming. (video: 1:19 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Automatic collision avoidance now produces more consistent toolaxis tilting when machining symmetrical parts, resulting in better cutting forces and improved surface finish. (video: 1:37 min.)

Improve the quality of Steep and Shallow and 3D Offset finishing toolpaths when machining parts contain open pockets. Shallow regions now correctly respect open edges, resulting in safer entry moves and reduced likelihood of tool breakages. (video: 1.55 min.)

PowerMill 2023 includes multiple speed improvements resulting in faster performance of automatic collision avoidance, Curve Projection finishing, spun profile calculation, Constant Z finishing of undercuts, and opening and saving PowerMill projects. (video: 1.31 min.)

Machining setups now allow default values to be defined for model location, thickness parameters, workplane settings and machine tools. Default settings mean setups are more intuitive to use, resulting in faster CAM programming and reduced risk of error. (video: 1.52 min.)

Toolpath lead moves are now more intelligent and can be automatically trimmed or extended to help avoid gouges or collisions during subsequent connection moves. These improvements help simplify the machining of parts that contain undercut features. (video: 1.32 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Additive toolpaths that are selected in the PowerMill browser can now be combined into a single toolpath where toolpath segments with the same layer index are grouped together.

PowerMill uses 64-bit, multi-threading technology to complete common CAM programming tasks faster, even on large, complex parts consisting of surfaces, solids or meshes. Faster processing times mean you can start machining sooner or explore alternative solutions. (video: 2.48 min.)

Choose from a range of roughing strategies to remove material quickly and efficiently. Advanced options allow you to configure the toolpath to suit your specific tool type and material, helping to maintain constant tool load and maximise cutter life. (video: 3.15 min.)

Access a vast library of finishing and rest-finishing toolpaths for increased programming flexibility. Achieve exceptional levels of precision and surface finish using advanced settings that suit your specific CNC machine, resulting in parts that require little to no manual polishing. (video: 3.02 min.)

Use powerful toolpath editing options to make global or localised changes to toolpaths without the need for lengthy recalculations. Choose to delete, limit, reverse, reorder, combine or divide entire toolpaths or individual segments using different selection methods. (video: 2.44 min.)

Use separate machining setups to help manage how you cut parts, resulting in faster CAM programming and fewer mistakes. Set default values for setups parameters such as model location, collision checking against fixturing, output workplane, CNC machine and more.

Build a searchable database of cutting tools and share with your team for greater consistency. Define tool and holder geometry, including standard cutters and customised form tools. Automatically calculate feeds and speeds based on stock material.

Use the rotary axes of your machine to access undercuts and other difficult to reach features in a single setups. Alternatively use shorter, more rigid tool assemblies combined with more aggressive feeds and speeds to improve quality and reduce cycle times. (video: 2.10 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Machine the most challenging parts safely and efficiently with simultaneous 4- and 5-axis machining. Choose from a suite of dedicated multi-axis strategies and tool-axis controls to finely control the motion of your 4- and 5-axis CNC machinery. (video: 3.24 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Make changes to the 5-axis motion of your toolpaths using a range of intelligent edits. Change the tool orientation in local regions or apply smooth interpolations between others to avoid erratic motion that could compromise surface finish. (video: 2.50 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Automatically identify and avoid any collisions or near-misses involving the cutting tool and workpiece. Use the rotary axes of your machine to safely and smoothly tilt the tool away and avoid costly mistakes. (video: 58 sec.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Use a 3D model of your 5-axis CNC machine tool to select the best tool-axis orientation to machine parts safely and efficiently. Dynamic drag handles and visual feedback help identify collisions and axis over-travel to speed up CAM programming. (video 1.27 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Access dedicated probing routines to measure 3D surface geometry with spindle mounted touch probes. Use the resulting measurements to simplify part set-up and monitor the quality of machined parts throughout the machining process. Produce inspection reports and share via Autodesk Drive. (video: 2.07 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Use this dedicated interface to streamline the off-line programming of industrial robots for additive and subtractive applications. Simulate and optimise your toolpaths using an accurate 3D model of your robot to reduce axis singularities and over-travel. (video: 2.56 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Automate the design, manufacture, inspection and electrical-discharge manufacturing (EDM) burning of electrodes. Use customisable machining templates to automate the production of families of electrodes for increased process consistency and to help avoid mistakes happening on the shop floor. (video: 2.47 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Create, control and simulate deposition strategies for driving high-rate additive processes, such as Directed-Energy Deposition (DED) and Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). Combine additive and subtractive toolpaths together to enable hybrid manufacturing workflows using suitable CNC machinery. (video: 2.40 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Simplify the CAM programming of blisks (IBRs), blades and impellers using dedicated 5-axis machining strategies. Roughing and finishing strategies use advanced tool-axis smoothing, resulting in safe and predictable machine motion and exceptional surface finish. (video: 1.38 min.)

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Access specialised 3-axis and 5-axis machining strategies to automate the CAM programming of engine ports and manifolds. Use advanced toolpath controls to regulate surface finish and improve the flow of fluid/gas resulting in optimal part performance.

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Produce cutter-friendly toolpaths to mill the deep ribs and slots commonly found in moulds and dies. Toolpath offsets are optimised to maintain a constant tool load, prolonging tool life and reducing the risk of tool failure. Use as a low-cost alternative to EDM.

Simulate your 3- and 5-axis toolpaths using a 3D digital twin of your CNC machine. Avoid costly downstream problems by visualising machine motion in a virtual environment to fix problems, including machine over-travel, axis reversals and more.

Simulate the removal of material from a virtual stock piece. Use advanced analysis tools to identify un-machined stock with different colours. Instantly highlight any gouges involving the cutting tool or collisions with the tool holder for increased peace of mind.

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Access a range of advanced options to analyse toolpath behaviour to predict the quality of your CNC machined parts. Instantly visualise defects that could be caused by undesirable rotary axis motion. Experiment with different feeds and speeds to simulate the impact on surface finish.

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Carry out detailed safety checks of entire projects, including toolpaths and NC programmes. PowerMill uses background processing to check for gouges, collisions and more, meaning you can continue part programming to save you time and increase confidence in the safety of your NC programmes.

FUSION 360 WITH POWERMILL ULTIMATE
Quickly transfer your NC programmes, CAD model, stock definition, tooling, datums and other important data to third-party verification software for more in-depth analysis and added peace of mind.

Import common CAD file types from mainstream design systems, including surfaces, solids or meshes. PowerMill excels at handling poor quality data, meaning you can instantly start creating high-quality toolpaths and NC code without wasting time fixing models.

Embed your machining best practices into templates, macros and toolbars that can automate common tasks. Share these with new workers to help them to become more productive and free up experienced workers to handle more valuable projects.

Quickly output high-quality NC code for your CNC machine and NC controller. PowerMill includes a large library of editable post-processors that you can configure to meet your needs. For more advanced customisation, additional support can be provided through our network of global resellers.

Automatically produce 2D setups sheets to help communicate critical information with machine operators and other project stakeholders. Share details about models, fixturing, tooling, datums and toolpath feeds and speeds to avoid mistakes and allow critical decisions to be made quickly.

Securely store key PowerMill data in the cloud and share with internal and external members of your team for improved project collaboration. Use password protection to manage access across your team and keep your data and intellectual property safe.

• New inclined flat finishing: Automatically detect all flat regions within a user-defined angular range, then machine them using a single, 5-axis toolpath.
• New rest finishing: A new and improved strategy that accurately detects and removes un-machined stock left by previous operations.
• Setup connection settings incuding safe area, clearance heights, as well as start and end point settings can now be defined within machining setups.
• Enhanced automatic collision avoidance: More consistent toolaxis tilting across neighbouring toolpath passes improves surface finish.
• Steep and Shallow finishing: Improved quality of toolpaths when machining models with open pockets, including the option to add staggered links.
• Faster calculation: Multiple speed improvements affect Curve Projection finishing, spun profile for turning, machining undercuts with Constant-Z, and open and save projects.
• Leads and links: Automatically extend lead moves to avoid collisions when machining undercuts, and shorten the ends of toolpath segments to accommodate gouge-free lead in/out moves.
• Additive toolpaths: Combine additive toolpaths such that segments with the same layer index are grouped together.

• PowerMill 2022

  • Background verification: The ability to carry out toolpath and NC programme verification using a background processor for faster CAM programming times.

  • Enhanced projection finishing: The ability to control minimum and maximum projection ranges for Line, Plane and Point Projection toolpaths.

  • Trusted macros and HTML: Improved security to prevent macros or HTML documents being used to access or corrupt the data on your PC or extended network.

  • Finishing toolpaths exclude flat areas: Certain finishing toolpaths can now exclude flat regions – knowing these will be machined separately.

  • Flat finishing: Improvements to the accuracy of flat area detection resulting in more areas being found and machined as desired.

  • 4-axis collision avoidance: Collision avoidance can now correctly generate toolpaths containing 4-axis motion only.

  • Staggered start points: Start points on closed toolpath passes can be staggered to maintain forward machine motion for improved quality and faster cycle times.

  • Constant Z with undercuts: Improvements to Constant Z finishing when machining parts with undercuts by using automatic collision avoidance.

  • Faster model preparation: Work with toolpath calculation and toolpath editing and see how it has been speeded up substantially.

• PowerMill 2021

  • Improved arc-fitting: Better quality and reliability when choosing to fit arcs into toolpaths.

  • Faster collision identification: The time taken to analyse toolpaths and draw collisions is significantly faster.

  • Safer collision avoidance: Enhanced ability to edit the tool axis of a toolpath within a region.

  • Combined profile and raster in-fill: A new option combines profile and raster toolpath segments into a single, more efficient strategy resulting in better printed parts.

  • Dynamic Machine Control for roughing: Use dynamic drag handles to change the tool axis used for roughing and rest-roughing toolpaths that use hemispherical tools.

  • Steep and Shallow ordering: A new “top-first” ordering option improves toolpath safety and helps prevent collisions between tool assembly and unmachined stock.

  • Automatic collision avoidance for roughing: The ability to automatically avoid collisions by tilting the tool axis on a 5-axis machine now works with roughing and rest-roughing toolpaths.

  • Speed and quality improvements: Multiple improvements to toolpath calculation times and the robustness of PowerMill.

• PowerMill 2020

  • Speed improvements: Affecting calculation times for multiple toolpath types (Steep and Shallow, Constant Z, Raster, Corner) as well as toolpath verification and ViewMill simulation.

  • Quality improvements: Affecting the quality of multiple toolpath types resulting in better machined parts.

  • Model filleting: Automatically add fillets to internal corners when calculating Optimised Constant Z and Steep and Shallow finishing toolpaths.

  • Uphill corner finishing: Additional user controls allow steep areas of corner finishing to be machined in the upwards direction to improve cutter conditions.

  • Multi-threading improvements: Use the multi-threading of leads and link processing for faster calculation times.

• PowerMill 2019

  • PowerMill Additive: A suite of specialised toolpaths and controls helps programme high-rate deposition for additive manufacturing.

  • Probing: Create probing toolpaths to use spindle mounted probes to measure parts to simplify part setup and monitor part quality.

  • 3+2 arc-output: Output arcs when post-processing 3+2 toolpaths that contain orientation vectors.

  • Enhanced high-efficient roughing: Multiple improvements to the ordering and quality of Vortex roughing toolpaths.

  • Improved collision avoidance: PowerMill now finds and avoids more collisions with smoother machine motion.

  • Interactive collision avoidance: Colliding toolpath sections are highlighted in red and automatically update as toolpath editing is used to resolve problems.

  • Pattern Turning: Create user-defined turning toolpaths using sketched wireframes for increased programming flexibility.

  • ViewMill thickness shading: Use colours to instantly highlight different amounts of unmachined stock as well as identifying any gouges.

  • 2D machining improvements: The ability to quickly create 2D machining features from selected geometry and better support for side faces, open pockets and channels.

  • Online help: Get easy access to common questions, essential skills and more.

• PowerMill 2018

  • PowerMill viewer: A feature-restricted version of PowerMill can be installed on multiple machines at no additional cost.

  • Ribbon interface: A new, easy-to-use interface shortens the learning curve for new users while offering increased UI customisation for experienced users.

  • Improved ViewMill simulation: Improved quality and speed of the ViewMill display.

  • Editable turning toolpaths: Turning toolpaths can now be edited using commands such as trim, reverse, delete etc.

  • Turning stock models: Stock models can now be created for turning operations, simplifying the machining of rest material across operations.

  • Dynamic Machine Control in a region: Use dynamic drag handles and a 3D model of your machine tool to update regions of a toolpath to use an alternative tool axis.

  • Surface-based feed rate edits: Edit regions of your toolpath to use different feed rates for greater control of surface finish.

  • 2D machining improvements: Use the new option to machine the sidewalls and base of 2D features with a single toolpath.

  • 3D offset centre line: Automatically add a centre-line pass to 3D offset finishing toolpaths to remove material previously left unmachined.

  • Shared views: Quickly create views of your PowerMill project that can be securely shared with project stakeholders for review purposes.

• Autodesk support

  • Autodesk support specialists: Schedule a call,† chat online (limited availability) or email us.

  • Remote desktop assistance: Get secure, hands-on troubleshooting.†

  • Online resources: Access our knowledge base for help documentation, tutorials, training videos and community support forums. 

• Access to the latest software: Instantly access the newest releases and updates.

• Access previous versions: Download and use previous releases.

• Flexible term lengths: Subscribe monthly, annually or for 3 years.*

• Administrative tools: Easily manage software licences, seats and usage from your Autodesk Account. 

*Not available to maintenance plan customers. 
†Available to maintenance plan customers with Advanced Support.