Machine Works 8.8: GPU Raytracing for CNC Simulation

Simulation software Machine Works 8.8 targets faster, more detailed machining simulation

2026-06-09 Source: Machine Works 2 min Reading Time

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GPU raytracing is at the centre of Machine Works 8.8. The latest release adds more precise surface-quality visualisation, faster recording playback and new functions for solid extraction, clash tolerances and multi-axis turning simulation.

Left: A large area mold machined with a small radius tool at a low sample resolution. Centre: The same model visualised using GPU raytracing. Right: The camera has zoomed in further, and the scallops can be clearly seen.(Source: Machine Works) — Left: A large area mold machined with a small radius tool at a low sample resolution. Centre: The same model visualised using GPU raytracing. Right: The camera has zoomed in further, and the scallops can be clearly seen.
(Source: Machine Works)

Software company Machine Works announces the release of Machine Works 8.8. This release includes updates to Machine Works GPU, including the new GPU raytraced rendering that delivers stunningly accurate visualisation of the of the stock surface quality when interactively reviewing simulation results.

Changes include:

GPU-based raytraced rendering

Simplification/decimation of meshes during solid extraction

Significant performance improvements to seek and playback of recording files

Setting of hard clash tolerances on fixture solids

In addition, the release incorporates some minor new functionality, including:

Snapshot differences can be saved and added to a new session as a stock.

Additional support for multi-axis turning cuts.

Attach multiple work assembly objects to a workpiece reference assembly.

Various render query extensions.

In Machine Works 8.8, Machine Works GPU has been enhanced to support GPU-based raytracing of analytic surfaces. Based on Multicut technology, a ray fired from each pixel is intersected with the analytic surface identified from data stored on the underlying tri-dexel model, as opposed to the dexel model itself or a mesh reconstructed from the dexel model.

As the surface coordinates and their normals are computed from analytic equations the accuracy is very high, leading to precise and detailed images of surface quality even when the acceptable dexel resolution is being stretched by available GPU RAM.

Since the computation of both the underlying dexel model and the ray queries are done on the GPU, with no requirement to transfer data back to the CPU, on a modern GPU the raytrace update is almost instant in most cases, allowing fast interactive inspection of surface quality and detail.

Dr Fenqiang Lin, Managing Director of Machine Works commented: “We continue to make breakthroughs with the new GPU technology and we are already moving into the testing phase for the further improvements coming in Machine Works 8.9. It's also rather nice to see the Multicut technology finding a new home on a completely different type of hardware architecture, nearly thirty years after we originally started working on it.”

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