What MecSoft's CEO thinks about the HSMworks acquisition

Joe Anand is ceo of Mecsoft, maker of such CAM software as VisualMill and FreeMill. Yesterday he launched the company's new blog with a couple of thought-provoking articles. One on the state of manufacturing in the USA, the other on Autodesk's acquisition of the Solidworks-only CAM software from HSMworks of Denmark.

On the HSMworks matter, you can read the whole thing at http://www.mecsoft.com/blog/hsmworks-acquired-by-autodesk/. Suffice to say, he thinks it'll  mostly be a win-lose-lose situation for the many parties affected. His theory is that HSMworks was running out of cash, and was looking to be bought out. 

Now over on Dezignstuff, Matt Lombard has a differnt theory, that maybe HSMworks was running scared of Solidworks V6 and the unknowns Dassault Systemes has distributed for the many years through which they've said too little. This are the devastating lines from HSMworks for all Solidworks third-party developers:

We reached out to people as recent as last month in an effort to get any information that might shed some light on the future direction of SolidWorks [V6], the SolidWorks Partner program, or the SolidWorks OEM program. No one could tell us anything.

Read it at http://www.dezignstuff.com/blog/?p=7803

 

Comments

[Matt Lombard]

I think the two ideas are compatible. HSMW, short on cash, shops itself to DS SW, but finds that there is no place for them other than the dead end track of SolidWorks. Faced with fading away or selling out, which would you pick?

[Jon Banquer]

Nice to see that Joe Anand of Mecsoft, one of the very few truly honest people in the CADCAM business, back up what I know be the truth about why HSMWorks was really sold.

HSMWorks can't hide the real truth from those who have years of experience with the CAM industry and who are honest.

It's very unfortunate that the sale of HSMWorks is being used by those who have an agenda to further their cause against Dassault/SolidWorks. While I believe their cause against Dassault/SolidWorks is legitimate, and is in many ways well founded, it doesn't mean the real reason HSMWorks was sold should be covered up/ignored.

Lots of discussion on HSMWorks sale can be found on the CADCAM Technology Leaders group on LinkedIn. The membership of that group speaks volumes about what people in the CADCAM industry think about it.

Thank you for giving Joe Anand's blog post on HSMWorks the attention it truly deserves. There is a reason I'm so loyal to WorldCAD Access and to upFronteZine.

Jon Banqeur
CADCAM Technology Leaders group on LinkedIn