Hexagon’s new AI-powered automation slashes machine tool programming time by 75%

• Manufacturers can increase productivity significantly by automating the programming of machine tools, and providing users faster access to knowledge base resources
• Companies can train ProPlanAI with their institutional knowledge, ensuring machines can be quickly and efficiently programmed to their quality standards whilst freeing up expert staff
• A Hexagon Copilot provides users with tips, suggested pathways and can advise on best practice without leaving their computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has unveiled an automated computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programming tool, called ProPlanAI, that cuts the time taken to program factory machine tools by 75%. Powered by Microsoft Azure services built into Hexagon’s cloud-based Nexus connectivity and collaboration platform for discrete manufacturers, the new artificial intelligence technology is the next step in the evolution of CAM programming enabling machine shops to achieve operational excellence at scale.

ProPlanAI was unveiled at the Microsoft Ignite Conference in Chicago, USA. Hexagon’s AI application applies Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cosmos DB and Azure Databricks to help manufacturing businesses of any size to apply their institutional knowledge more quickly, easily, and thoroughly, by applying artificial intelligence (AI) to automate time-consuming process planning.

Due for public launch in Q1 2025, ProPlanAI will ‘learn’ from the data being created by a company’s CAM programmers. This will enable manufacturers to automatically explore existing programming information to predict ideal outcomes tailored to a company’s preferences, production capabilities, and needs. Available within Hexagon’s popular desktop CAM software and powered by Nexus, ProPlanAI will continuously learn and adapt, ensuring programmes are as efficient and productive as possible.

Chuck Mathews, General Manager for Production Software at Hexagon comments: “In a highly competitive market, productivity on the factory floor is crucial. While many machines are now automated, the programming of them is often long and laborious and requires highly-skilled professionals that are spread thinly. We have collaborated with Microsoft to leverage their powerful AI capabilities through Nexus, so manufacturers can boost productivity by allowing their programmers to focus on complicated tasks where their knowledge has the greatest impact.

“Because manufacturers use their own pool of data to build programmes, suggestions automatically reflect the knowledge and experience of individual businesses, as well as the parts they produce and the machine tools they use. This ensures that new staff members can be quickly brought up to speed, while also ensuring that there is no knowledge drain when a person leaves a company or retires – something that is vital in an industry facing a skills shortage.”

Clare Barclay, President, Enterprise and Industry, Microsoft EMEA commented: “Microsoft’s collaboration with Hexagon is driven by a shared belief that we can transform manufacturing productivity. It’s rewarding for us to see how the AI capabilities provided by Azure are empowering expert CNC programmers with productivity-boosting automation, while also helping new users to upskill faster. This is exactly the sort of transformation AI can bring to the industry, and we are excited to see Hexagon apply its manufacturing expertise to transform workplace productivity throughout the value chain with its Nexus platform.”

Paul Mooij, Director of Digital, RODIN machining commented: “We set out to build the first autonomous factory in 2022 and we make extensive use of automation, but machine tool programming is complicated and it requires experience. What makes ProPlanAI exciting is that we can leverage our human capital to achieve greater machine utilisation – our team can program machines in a fraction of the time by applying their valued skills in supervising ProPlanAI suggestions and finalising the programme specifics.”

On top of streamlining part programming, the technology could potentially help businesses identify latent standard practices, provide notifications about deviations from company programming standards, and make better use of product manufacturing information (PMI) embedded in design files for even more automated CNC programming.

AI-powered chat support

ProPlanAI will also feature a co-pilot that can guide people through the process of setting up a machine and present to them programs that work. As well as offering support and guidance – for example tips on how to use the software, processes to make a specific part, and the best machining strategy to use – users can use chat functionality to ask specific questions and to launch commands.

ProPlanAI has already been beta tested by several industry experts, including RODIN Machining, which is on a journey to towards complete unmanned production for milling, turning, gripper and material handling, loading and unloading machines, and tool change.

ProPlanAI will be available to customers that use Hexagon’s ESPRIT EDGE CAM software from Q1 2025. Customers can add the use of ProPlanAI to their package via an add-on subscription.

This ProPLanAI announcement is the product of Hexagon’s strategic partnership with Microsoft to redefine manufacturing with cloud technology, announced in April 2024. Nexus is Hexagon’s connectivity and collaboration cloud platform developed for discrete manufacturers.