Leveraging EdgeCAM for manufacturing excellence

In the precision manufacturing industry, where tolerances are measured in microns and efficiency determines competitiveness, Factory 33 has established itself as a notable success story. Since its founding in 2016, this family-run engineering company has expanded from a modest 165sq/m facility with just two CNC machines to a sophisticated 500sq/m operation serving high-demand sectors including Formula 1, aerospace, medical, and nuclear industries. Central to this remarkable growth trajectory has been the strategic implementation of Hexagon’s EdgeCAM CAD/CAM software, which has evolved alongside the company for over 18 years.
When Factory 33 first acquired its initial Hurco machines, the need for a sophisticated CAM system became immediately apparent. “It was within the first week of operations that we realised we needed a CAM system,” recalls Marcin Krzywina, Director at Factory 33. His previous experience with EdgeCAM influenced this critical technology decision, but equally important was the software’s modular architecture.
“EdgeCAM is a modular package, allowing for incremental additions like 3 and 4-axis milling to full 5-axis simultaneous machining,” Marcin explains. This modularity proved ideal for a growing business, enabling Factory 33 to start with essential functionality and expand its software capabilities in parallel with its physical operations and machine inventory.
The financial structure of the implementation also played a crucial role in Factory 33’s early development. “As a startup, I appreciated the financial support from Hexagon, including a good price and the option to pay in instalments,” Marcin shares. “The early stages of the business were financially tight, but the support from Hexagon was a significant boost and a valuable partnership.”

Driving Production Excellence
EdgeCAM’s technical sophistication has proven exceptionally well-suited to Factory 33’s diverse machining needs. Zoltan Tomoga, a Hexagon Product Manager, highlights the software’s advanced toolpath strategies as a particular strength: “We’ve invested in five extra strategies over the last few years, starting with 5X simultaneous deburring.”
These specialised 5-axis strategies have continuously expanded, with Zoltan noting that: “Last year, we released two new 5-axis simultaneous cycles for roughing and finishing.” The ongoing development ensures Factory 33 remains at the cutting edge of machining technology, with upcoming releases focusing on ‘enhancing free access cycles’ and introducing a new free access strategy called Race Line Finishing Cycle, designed specifically for cast and die ceiling faces to ensure the quickest and smoothest tool paths.”

Automation: The Cornerstone
of Operational Efficiency
Perhaps the most significant impact on Factory 33’s operations comes from EdgeCAM’s comprehensive automation capabilities. “The way we’ve got it configured is that it’s fully automated,” Marcin emphasises. This automation extends to multiple aspects of the manufacturing process. “The datums, even for our components, are generated automatically from the software, so we don’t have to set anything. G10 takes care of rewriting G54 within the program. The beauty of a CAM system like EdgeCAM is that we can take any of our existing, already programmed parts, either a 3 or 5-axis part, we can literally swap the post, and off you go.”
This level of automation significantly reduces programming and setup time, allowing skilled staff to focus on higher-value activities rather than routine tasks. It also enhances production flexibility, allowing Factory 33 to optimise resource allocation based on machine availability and capability.
Advanced Manufacturing Workflows
Factory 33 has implemented several sophisticated workflows that maximise EdgeCAM’s potential. One such workflow involves tool management, with Hexagon’s Zoltan describing: “The process involves downloading 3D models from tooling providers, inserting them into the tool store, and generating NC code for CNC machines.”
For complex setups, including pallet loaders, Marcin believes that keeping the fixture manager up to date simplifies programming. The process involves selecting the tombstone and fixture, as well as running a full collision check and tool path trimming.
The Tombstone Manager feature has proven particularly valuable as Factory 33’s production complexity increased. “The Tombstone Manager in EdgeCAM enables running multiple parts on a single tombstone, enhancing versatility and efficiency,” Marcin notes. Zoltan adds that this feature allows users to ‘scale up from 3-axis machines to four or 5-axis machines.”
Factory 33’s proximity to Hexagon has fostered a uniquely collaborative relationship that benefits both organisations. “Marcin is located nearby and has been testing EdgeCAM features. He has been interested in advanced features like the Tombstone Manager and 5-axis programming,” Zoltan explains. This real-world testing environment allows Hexagon to refine EdgeCAM based on practical manufacturing challenges, giving Factory 33 early access to emerging capabilities. “The collaboration has allowed for continuous testing and improvement of EdgeCAM features,” Zoltan adds, highlighting how this relationship drives innovation in the software.

Future Directions
Despite Factory 33’s sophisticated use of EdgeCAM, Zoltan suggests that some powerful features remain underutilised across the broader user base. “Customers should use the Waveform cycle more, especially with new chip thickness and material removal rate improvements,” he advises. Looking ahead, EdgeCAM continues to evolve with new releases approximately once per year, ensuring that Factory 33’s investment in EdgeCAM delivers new capabilities and efficiencies.
The technical capabilities of EdgeCAM translate directly into business advantages for Factory 33. “The ease of use in EdgeCAM contributes to efficient machine operation, allowing Factory 33 to offer competitive pricing and meet customer demands,” Marcin explains.
The comprehensive collision detection capabilities minimise costly errors and machine downtime, protecting expensive equipment and tight production schedules.
This versatility enhances production flexibility, allowing Factory 33 to optimise resource allocation. “The versatility of EdgeCAM allows for different tool paths, ensuring that Factory 33 can program parts in various ways,” Marcin adds. “The ease of finding the right toolbox within the software makes the programming process straightforward.”
Factory 33’s journey with Hexagon’s EdgeCAM shows how the right CAD/CAM solution can become a cornerstone of manufacturing excellence. “Factory 33 has grown, and EdgeCAM has grown with them,” observes Zoltan, noting how Marcin has added modular packages to the system to expand their capabilities over time.
EdgeCAM did not merely enable this evolution—it accelerated it. The software’s scalable architecture allowed Factory 33 to grow its capabilities alongside its business, incorporating new modules and features as its manufacturing challenges became more complex.
For manufacturers contemplating their own CAD/CAM strategy, Factory 33’s experience provides valuable insights. Their success was attributed to their modular approach to software acquisition, focus on automation to minimise routine tasks, and collaborative relationship with the software provider.
As Marcin concludes: “The ease of integration and automation within EdgeCAM contributes to efficient machine operation and quick part programming,” demonstrating that the right technical foundation can transform challenges into opportunities.