Mastercam Add-Ins
Mastercam Add-Ins (formerly known as C-Hooks and NET-Hooks) are applications or utilities that customize, enhance, or extend Mastercam's functionality. They can be created by individual users, Mastercam Channel Partners, third-party application developers, or by Mastercam.
To run an Add-In that has not been added to the interface, select Run Add-In from the Home tab. Mastercam displays a list of all the Add-Ins available on your workstation. Select the desired DLL and click Open.
Support inquiries can be sent to sdk@mastercam.com.
How can I create my own Add-In?
To create and add a utility, you must have the necessary C, C++, C#, and/or .NET programming skills and the proper development tools to compile and link your program. C-Hooks are written in C and C++, while NET-Hooks are written in Visual Basic.NET or C#. You can also create .NET scripts for use within Mastercam, written in C#.
All created utilities should be placed in your ../Shared Mastercam 2026.R2/Add-Ins folder.
The 3rd Party Developers section of the Mastercam website has documentation for setup and debugging C-Hooks and NET-Hooks, as well as sample projects to download. You must be a registered user with Mastercam CONNECT to access these documents.
The included APIs expose a significant amount of Mastercam's functionality and feature set. In addition, a number of useful Add-Ins are already supplied with Mastercam. Mastercam also provides a number of ways for you to integrate Add-Ins into the Mastercam workspace to further customize the interface.
C-Hook requirements
The C-Hook software development kit (SDK) is available on the Mastercam website and includes all the necessary files and documentation. You can install it anywhere on your workstation.
Build C-Hooks using any version of Visual Studio, including the free Community Edition. Mastercam C-Hook project templates (C and C++) can be installed from within Visual Studio. From within Visual Studio, select Extensions, Manage Extensions and search online for Mastercam.
NET-Hook requirements
The NETHook3_0.dll, SimAccessManaged.dll, and ToolNetAPI.dll are installed in your Mastercam program directory when you install Mastercam. It contains all the NET-Hook programming resources that your .NET development tool needs.
Build Net-Hooks using any version of Visual Studio, including the free Community Edition. Mastercam NET-Hook project templates (C# and Visual Basic) can be installed from within Visual Studio. From within Visual Studio, select Extensions, Manage Extensions and search online for Mastercam.
NET-Script requirements
By default, Mastercam includes the necessary files for scripting. You can use the NET-Script Editor to create, test, and run C# scripts directly from the console. For more complex scripts, use Visual Studio Code.
For more information on creating scripts and accessing Mastercam's API documentation, refer to the NET-Script Editor Help.
What is the difference between installed Add-Ins and third-party Add-Ins?
Add-Ins supplied by Mastercam are installed to your ..\My Mastercam 2026.R2\Mastercam\chooks folder and are installed by default. Add-Ins that are sold as added-cost options are not installed. Refer to Add-Ins supplied with Mastercam drop-down below for more information.
Mastercam allows the use of Mastercam Channel Partner and third-party Add-Ins. These Add-Ins are not supplied by Mastercam and should be placed in the ../Shared Mastercam 2026.R2/Add-Ins folder.
Installed and third-party Add-Ins can both be launched using Run Add-In on the Home tab.
Add-Ins Supplied with Mastercam
Expand the following table for a list of the Add-Ins supplied with Mastercam. The table does not include Add-Ins that are sold as added-cost options. A wide variety of Mastercam Channel Partners and other third-parties also develop Add-Ins, so your workstation might have others installed than those listed here.
Add-Ins supplied with Mastercam
| Add-In | Description |
|---|---|
| Input utilities | |
| DXFRescuer |
Loads and converts non-standard DXF data from AutoCad® files |
| MCDigitize |
Enters points, lines, and splines from a digitizer |
| Prob2Spl |
Converts 3D (XYZ), 5D (XYZ AB), or 8D (XYZ AB UVW) probe center data into splines. Used for reverse engineering of machine probe position data. |
| Wireframe geometry | |
| Arc MultiEdit |
Resizes multiple arcs simultaneously |
| Asphere |
Creates the geometry for an aspherical lens |
| BreakCircles |
Breaks full circles into smaller arcs |
| FindOverlap |
Finds and deletes overlapping entities |
| Fplot |
Plots a mathematical function |
| Gear |
Creates one tooth or all teeth of an involute spur or internal gear |
| GridPock | Fills a pocket with points or circles or draws points along its boundary |
| MedialAxis |
Generates geometry on the medial axis of a closed pocket boundary |
| Pts2Arcs |
Creates circles around all selected points |
| SortCircles |
Sorts all full circles in the part by size and plane |
|
Creates the geometry for a sprocket |
|
|
Creates single lines of text on lines, curves, and other geometric entities |
|
|
Creates a helix with a variable pitch |
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|
Creates a spiral with a specific height and diameter |
|
| Surfaces and solids | |
|
Converts surface curves to parametric splines |
|
|
Creates a surface from a grid of curves, called a Coons surface |
|
|
Creates a 2D or 3D boundary curve around a set of surfaces or around the theoretical machined area for specific tool sizes |
|
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Creates fillets at surface and solids intersections |
|
|
Produces a planar surface from a 3-dimensional non-planar surface |
|
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Maps a surface curve from one surface to another |
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Converts a surface to a new surface based on a specified number of U/V patches |
|
|
Repairs gaps in an STL file |
|
| Toolpath utilities | |
|
Provides data entry for AgieVision controls |
|
|
Converts linear moves into 2D or 3D arcs |
|
|
Imports part files and automatically assigns toolpaths to the geometry and nests the toolpaths. This is typically used for cabinet applications. This is a Mastercam Add-On. |
|
|
Adds surface compensation vectors to 3-axis surface toolpaths to support machine controls that have 3D tool compensation |
|
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Creates toolpaths around a rotary axis |
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Creates a thread on a selected chain |
|
| Posts, machine definitions, control definitions | |
|
Encrypts all or part of a post as a binary post |
|
| UpdatePost |
Upgrades post processors from earlier versions of Mastercam to the current version |
|
Defines the boundaries for an existing steady rest machine component for lathe machine definitions |
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Renames the post processor, machine definition, and control definition |
|
| Screen and views | |
|
Locates duplicate entities and blanks them, instead of deleting them |
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Saves the contents of the graphics window to a .EMF file |
|
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Locate 3D annotations that are associated with selected geometry. |
|
| Support utilities | |
|
Compares two control definitions (or their post text) and highlights the differences |
|
Adding Add-Ins to the Interface
In Mastercam, you can link to an Add-In to further customize a function. Select a drop-down below to learn more.
Running
an Add-In automatically when starting or exiting Mastercam
You can configure Mastercam to automatically run an Add-In every time you start Mastercam, close Mastercam, or both.
- On the File tab, click Configuration, and choose the Start/Exit page.
- Select the desired Add-Ins in the Add-In programs section, and save the .config file.
If you work in both U.S. and metric modes, make sure you add the Add-In to both .config files.
Linking
an Add-In to the Miscellaneous values button
You can attach an Add-In to the Miscellaneous values button on the Toolpath parameters tab so that when a user clicks the button, Mastercam runs the Add-In instead of opening the Miscellaneous Values dialog box. This also replaces the Miscellaneous values page with the selected Add-In for tree-style toolpath dialog boxes.
This is a property of the control definition, so you can select an Add-In particular to a machine, product type, or post. It is used most often when you need to create custom input for specific machine tools, such as an AgieVision EDM.
Adding Add-Ins to a tab or menu
Use the Options dialog box (File, Options) to add frequently used Add-Ins to a tab or the graphics window context menu.
Assigning
a keyboard shortcut to an Add-In
Select Customize next to Keyboard shortcuts in the Customize Ribbon page of the Options dialog box (File, Options) to map keyboard shortcuts to frequently used Add-Ins.
