WoodDigest.com |

CNC Software, Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008. Two brothers, Mark and Jack Summers incorporated the company in 1983 with a new programming concept for CNC (Computer-Numerical-Control) machine tools. They developed a PC-based CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided-Design/Computer-Aided-Manufacturing) software package with an emphasis on the CAM side. During that time, most of the programs were more CAD-oriented and expensive.

“Ours was developed with the machinist and the design engineer in mind,” says Mark Summers, President. “I was a machinist, and I will always be a machinist at heart. It’s a direct approach – design the parts and generate the toolpaths to machine them.”

They called the software program “Meghan”, named after Mark Summer’s eldest daughter, and then changed it within the first year to “Mastercam” as a clearer descriptive of the software’s primary function. A third brother, Brian Summers, soon joined the company and now serves as Vice President. Jamie Summers, Mark’s wife, is Chief Financial Officer.

Today, Mastercam® is one of the most recognized and best selling brand of CAD/CAM software in the world and has the highest number of seats installed – 135,824 at the end of 2007. The company continually uses its success to reinvest in itself with new Mastercam generations, (the latest is Mastercam X2) improved features and ease of use, its infrastructure of more than 400 dealers worldwide, its world-class “green” facility, and its intellectual property from the best minds in software development. Last year, 2007, the company reported record sales of $29.4 million.