CloudNC has announced that its Soft Jaw Designer plug-in is now free to download and use for all Autodesk Fusion and Mastercam users. The plug-in automates soft jaw modeling, reducing a manual 30 to 60-minute setup down to just a few clicks.
Soft jaws—custom metal inserts used to hold parts during machining—typically require multiple sketches, booleans, and clearance checks to design. With the plug-in, users can easily position two blanks around the part model, outline the grip location, and hit generate. The tool handles the rest, including corner reliefs, precision allowances, and editable negative geometry.
According to CloudNC, real-world testing shows the tool can cut fixture design time by up to 90%.
Soft Jaw Designer is also designed to work with CAM Assist, CloudNC’s AI-powered programming tool. Once jaws are created, CAM Assist can automatically generate toolpaths for the jaws and part, streamlining the workflow from design to machining.
The plug-in is unrestricted, carries no time limit, and is available at cloudnc.com/soft-jaw-designer.
