Worknc Tutorial ((exclusive)) May 2026

Marco had been staring at the 5-axis CNC machine for three hours. The block of aerospace-grade aluminum sat there, cold and silent, mocking him. His boss had dropped the file on his desk at 4:55 PM. "New client. Impossible geometry. You have until Monday."

It was Friday night.

Marco was a veteran machinist, but this part—a twisted turbine housing with undercuts and a zero-tolerance draft angle—was a nightmare. He knew his usual CAM software would choke on it. Then he remembered the old license on his second monitor: WorkNC.

He had ignored the "WorkNC Tutorial" folder for months, dismissing it as vendor fluff. Now, desperate, he double-clicked it.

The first video was titled: "The Golden Rule: Roughing that Doesn't Fight Back." A calm British voice explained how WorkNC’s roughing cycles didn't just remove material; they thought about the final shape. Marco followed along, dragging his solid model into the software. He set the parameters as shown: "High-speed roughing. Trochoidal entry." He pressed simulate.

Instead of the usual violent toolpath that slammed into corners, the simulation showed a gentle, looping dance—a helix that spiraled down, peeling away metal like an orange rind. The tool never experienced a full-width cut. It was… elegant.

He paused the tutorial. "That can't be real," he muttered.

The second video was harder: "3-Axis Finish with Automatic Collision Avoidance." Marco’s part had a deep, narrow pocket. In any other CAM, that meant five separate toolpaths and a risk of a $5,000 end mill snapping. But the tutorial showed a feature called "Z-Level Relieving." He clicked the pocket wall. WorkNC asked: "Rest material from previous operation? [Yes]." worknc tutorial

He clicked Yes.

The software turned orange, then green. It automatically calculated where the rougher had left stock and generated a single, continuous finishing pass that never exceeded 0.2mm engagement. No jitter. No sudden plunge. The British voice said: "WorkNC does not cut air. It only cuts what remains."

Marco leaned back. It was 2:00 AM. He was supposed to be exhausted, but he felt a strange excitement. He loaded the final tutorial: "5-Axis Swarf Machining for Impossible Angles."

This was the boss fight. The part had a 30-degree twist that conventional 3-axis couldn't touch. He watched as the tutorial demonstrated "Auto-5." He selected the twisted wall, set a single line as the drive curve, and pressed Compute.

The simulation rendered a single, sweeping pass. The tool tilted, swiveled, and stayed perfectly tangent to the wall—no step-over lines, no witness marks. The entire feature finished in 47 seconds.

Marco saved the file. He posted the code, transferred it to the machine, and loaded the tool. At 6:00 AM, he pressed Cycle Start.

The machine whirred to life. The spindle dropped, and the tool began that helical dance he’d seen in the simulation. Chips flew in perfect, predictable spirals. At 6:47 AM, the machine stopped. Marco had been staring at the 5-axis CNC

Marco opened the door. The part was warm, smooth, and flawless. The twisted pocket looked like liquid metal. He touched the surface—it was mirror-finished. No chatter marks. No steps.

His phone buzzed. A text from his boss: "Client moved deadline to 8 AM. Sorry. On my way."

Marco set the finished part on the inspection table, next to a printout of the WorkNC tutorial notes. He wrote a single post-it note and stuck it to the machine:

"WorkNC: Stop fighting the metal. Let the math win."

When his boss walked in, he didn't say a word. He just pointed at the part. The boss stared, measured it, and looked at Marco.

"You learned all that from a tutorial?"

Marco smiled. "Best Friday night I ever had." Part 6: Resources to Go Beyond This Tutorial

Part 6: Resources to Go Beyond This Tutorial

This WorkNC tutorial gives you the foundation, but mastery requires continuous learning. Here are the best places for advanced training:

Hexagon’s Official Documentation (WorkNC Online Help): Press F1 inside the software. It is context-sensitive, meaning it opens the exact page for the window you are looking at.
YouTube – CAMInstructor & TigginTips: While less abundant than Mastercam, channels like "TigginTips" offer specific WorkNC workflows for high-speed machining.
User Forums: The official Hexagon Community Forum is excellent. Search for "WorkNC 3-axis finishing" or "WorkNC 5-axis simultaneous."
Local Resellers: Most WorkNC resellers offer 2-day certification courses (Beginner, Intermediate, and 5-Axis). These are expensive but worth it for professional programmers.

2. Getting Started

Opening a CAD model (Supports: STEP, IGES, CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, Parasolid)
Setting up the coordinate system (WCS – Work Coordinate System)
Defining stock model (Block, cylinder, from file, or STL)
Setting machine and controller parameters

Step 4: Simulating the Roughing Pass

Never send code to a CNC without simulation.

In the Operation Tree, right-click your new roughing operation.
Select Simulate > Solid Simulate.
A new window opens. Press the Play button. Watch the tool remove material layer by layer.
Check for: Gouges, excessive air cutting, or holder collisions. WorkNC should show none.

1. Simulation

Never trust a toolpath blindly. Use the NC Simulator.

Click the Simulation icon (usually a "Play" button symbol).
Watch the digital stock being cut away.
Check for Red Zones. In WorkNC simulation, red indicates a gouge (cutting the part) or a collision (tool holder hitting the stock). If you see red, edit your toolpath parameters.

2. Post-Processing

Once satisfied, you must convert the internal CLDATA (Cutter Location Data) into G-Code your machine understands.

Click Post Process.
Select the specific Post Processor file for your machine (e.g., Fanuc, Siemens, Heidenhain).
WorkNC will generate a .nc or .txt file ready to be sent to the CNC machine.

Step 1: Introduction to WorkNC Interface

When you first open WorkNC, you will be greeted with a user-friendly interface that includes several key components:

Menu Bar: Located at the top of the screen, the menu bar provides access to various WorkNC functions, such as file management, editing, and view options.
Toolbar: Below the menu bar, the toolbar offers quick access to frequently used commands, including new, open, save, and undo.
Workspace: The main workspace is where you will spend most of your time. Here, you can create and manipulate 3D models, generate toolpaths, and simulate machining operations.
Tree View: The tree view panel displays a hierarchical list of all entities in your project, including 3D models, toolpaths, and machining operations.

2. Defining the Stock (Raw Material)

You cannot generate a toolpath without telling the software what you are starting with.

Navigate to the Stock menu.
Select Box or Cylinder for standard blocks.
Alternatively, use Cast Material if you have a CAD model of a near-net-shape casting. Defining the stock accurately ensures WorkNC only cuts air where necessary and protects the tool.