Module Works Tests Digital Manufacturing Software on ARM Processor

High-performance CAM solutions Module Works brings native ARM compatibility to life

2025-01-21 Source: Module Works 2 min Reading Time

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Software company Module Works announces the successful testing of its digital manufacturing software components on a Snapdragon ARM processor running Windows. The results confirm the stability and performance of the software on the ARM architecture, opening the prospect of running high-end CAM solutions on energy efficient platforms.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X is a cutting-edge ARM-based processor designed to deliver exceptional performance and energy efficiency. (Source: Snapdragon X) — Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X is a cutting-edge ARM-based processor designed to deliver exceptional performance and energy efficiency.
(Source: Snapdragon X)

As CAM vendors keep an eye on advances in computer hardware, the performance of ARM processors is attracting attention. These processors have the potential to offer fast toolpath calculations and advanced 3D simulations with a low energy footprint. This opens the door to a wide range of high-performance CAM solutions for mobile, lightweight and cloud-connected devices.

The hurdle for CAM vendors is adapting their software to run natively on the ARM architecture. This includes not only the software they develop in house, but also the software they purchase and integrate from partner companies like Module Works. For this reason, the company decided to put its CAM software engine to the test.

Miguel Johann, Product Director at Module Works explained: “Our digital manufacturing software components are integrated in many of the leading CAD-CAM and CNC solutions. When migrating to ARM systems, our partners need a guarantee that ModuleWorks runs seamlessly as native software in ARM environments. We are very proud to announce that it does.”

Module Works tested its CAM Engine on the latest ARM (Snapdragon X Elite) and x86 (AMD Ryzen 7 and 9) processors. The ModuleWorks Engine ran reliably and consistently on both, generating identical toolpath results.

The results show that CAM vendors can expect the Module Works native ARM software to deliver a processing performance similar to the x86 version, especially on 12 threads. Although not as fast as the x86 version, the performance is high for a laptop.

It is also possible to run the Module Works x86 software in emulation mode on the Snapdragon SoC. However, running Module Works in native ARM is more than 30 percent faster, so it makes sense to take advantage of native ARM on the Snapdragon.

What makes the Snapdragon SoC particularly attractive for CAM is its ability to deliver a high performance while maintaining lower energy consumption. This not only extends battery life but also reduces heat output, allowing devices to stay cooler under heavy computational workloads. For CAM vendors this creates the opportunity to develop high-end solutions for lightweight, portable devices, making it easier to work on-site or in remote locations.

“CAM on ARM is an exciting development for the industry”, said Miguel Johann. “Making our CAM Engine ARM-ready means our partners can press ahead with the development of CAM solutions that are energy efficient.”

The Module Works CAM Engine is available as native ARM software libraries in addition to the x86 libraries for Windows and MAC OS systems.

(ID:50292219)

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