Above: FastCAM CAD Analyzer – screen shot of data results.

March 2014 - A new $99 download program from FastCAM reads CAD (DXF & DWG) files and reports on all relevant geometric detail within the file including: entity count, outside cut length, inside cut length, number of pierces, part area, part weight, rectangular width, length & weight. It is an invaluable tool for estimators and production personnel. The FastCAM CAD Analyzer is ideal for anyone costing steel parts to be cut using a variety of technologies including oxy fuel, plasma, laser and waterjet.  

In the metal processing and fabrication industries individual CAD [drawing] files are cut in their thousands every day. Anyone requiring analysis of a component can now simply and easily load a file and determine the area, mass and bounding rectangle for any part as long as it is a closed shape. Perimeter distance allows you to calculate processing time but determining the weight (mass) is the prime reason to use the program. Costing is basically Mass x rate = price.