Categories: Blog
In 1970 — when the machine tool industry made a major shift toward NC (numerical control) — it was Mr. Taiji Sano who founded JBM as a maintenance company for computer terminals.
As NC machines began to spread in the 1980s, the use of CAD/CAM started to take off in manufacturing. Sano quickly recognized this wave of change. In the early 1990s, he turned his attention to Mastercam, which had only just entered the market and was struggling to expand sales in Japan, and he pushed its introduction into the Japanese market. It was a “first move” that only Sano could have made—someone with deep expertise in computers and the manufacturing floor, as well as a strong command of cutting-edge overseas CAD/CAM technology.
Now, Sano has launched a new company, CAMSUPS (headquartered in Eda, Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama). By bringing ENCY Software’s CAD/CAM products into Japan, he aims to once again inject a fresh breeze into the market.
We spoke with President Sano and Vice President Toba about the background behind CAMSUPS’s founding and their determination to take on the market challenge, and we introduce the strengths of ENCY products, which are set to go on sale in January 2026.
(President Sano recalls it was a bitter decision.)
— Congratulations on the launch of CAMSUPS. Why did you stop selling Mastercam as of July 2025?
Sano: At first, Mastercam took Japan’s “perpetual-license culture” into consideration and allowed the one-time purchase model (perpetual licenses). However, after that, CNC Software made a major policy shift toward focusing on subscriptions, and as a result we could no longer sell perpetual licenses.
In Japan, there is a strong preference for ownership — people want to “buy it and make it their own” — and it’s not uncommon for companies to keep using machines and software for more than 10 years. Because of that, subscriptions tend to leave the impression that “the payments never end,” and in manufacturing, where long-term operation is the norm, subscriptions can easily be seen as expensive.
Moving to subscription-only could narrow users’ options, so taking these circumstances into account, we decided to end sales of Mastercam products at the end of July this year.
— So it was a very difficult decision.
Sano: At first I felt, “Well, it can’t be helped.” I’m 84 this year, and I had been thinking that maybe it was time to step back. But then the employees strongly said, “We’ve come this far — let’s start something new!” Toba and the others also worked hard to gather information, and that’s when they set their sights on ENCY Software.
(Vice President Toba worked tirelessly to gather information.)
Toba: I reported it to Sano right away, and by the very next day things were moving quickly — we were already holding a web meeting.
Sano: In fact, something completely unexpected happened during that web meeting. Someone at ENCY actually knew who I was. The moment they saw me on the screen, they reacted with a mix of surprise and joy. That instantly brought us much closer, and even though it was on a screen, our enthusiasm for each other’s work really rose.
Then, as our technical team spent about a month thoroughly testing and “tinkering with” ENCY products — communicating with them almost every day — September came around, and there was the EMO show in Germany. So I instructed Toba and the technical team to fly there.
Toba: We had heard that ENCY would be announcing a new version at the EMO show. We flew to Germany as well, brought a proposal document, and delivered a presentation — and it was a real success. More than anything, I believe Sano’s name recognition, built through many years of contributing to the industry, gave us a big push.
After we returned to Japan, all employees gathered at our Osaka office. The ENCY president and other key members also joined by web conference, we conducted a final review of the contract, and both sides signed it.
— Things came together incredibly quickly. It’s quite a dramatic story.
Sano: Thanks to everyone, we were able to conclude a contract to become ENCY’s general agent in Japan. At first, we thought it would be fine to act as a reseller — buying from the developer and reselling — but Toba worked hard on the presentation and managed to secure a distributor agreement. That allows us to expand sales channels more effectively, but direct sales still don’t fit well with Japanese business customs. Since we need sales agents to provide technical support after implementation and to speed up market penetration, we’ll be recruiting new partner companies to expand our network.
— How many employees do you currently have?
Sano: Seven. But we urgently need to increase both our sales and technical staff, so we’re actively recruiting.
— What attracted you to ENCY’s products?
Sano: It’s their configuration that goes beyond conventional thinking: leveraging AI functions, and having “ENCY (CAD/CAM),” “ENCY Robot,” “ENCY Tuner,” “EMCY Clouds,” “ENCY Hyper,” and “MachineMaker” all operate as a system within a single company — and achieving a low price point. Another attraction was that customers who currently use a variety of systems can import the legacy NC data they already have using the standard built-in drawing and editing functions, enabling a smooth transition without causing confusion on the shop floor.
Toba: These days, with every manufacturer, AI is becoming indispensable in CAD/CAM systems. Even while offering functions comparable to — or better than — other manufacturers, as Sano said, being able to provide it at a low price — depending on the product, about one-half to two-thirds — is a major advantage. Also, for 5-axis machining, simulation software is essential. There are extremely expensive simulation packages on the market, but ENCY includes G-code simulation software as standard. I believe that’s a competitive advantage you won’t find with other companies.
— President Sano, you took on a second start-up with so much energy and curiosity that it’s hard to believe you’ll be turning 84 in December. I think your positive attitude gives great courage to others active in the industry.
Sano: People in the industry seem to call me a “monster,” but what makes me happiest — and what makes it fun — is simply the fact that I can still do the work.
— You’ve powerfully proven that passion moves people, and that you can take on business challenges at any age. Thank you very much.
(Next page: the features of ENCY products.)
ENCY reflects the material removed during machining in real time, continuously updating the virtual model of the stock (raw material).
Now, let’s explain ENCY’s products.
What sets ENCY apart from other CAD/CAM systems is that it has a “technology platform.” Vice President Toba emphasizes that this is the key difference. This foundation is built on three pillars:
What differentiates ENCY is its integrated approach to CNC machines and robots. Normally, CNC-machine programming and industrial-robot programming are treated as completely separate worlds. With ENCY, however, you can program both CNC machines and robots intuitively with the same “feel.” In other words, with a single interface, you can operate in both worlds.
With the dedicated app MachineMaker, you can easily build your own robot-cell digital twin!
Conventional CAD/CAM systems were not like this. In many cases, additional software is required to operate robots. It has been common to handle the toolpath calculation, the conversion of trajectories to match complex robot motions, simulation, and multiple processes using separate pieces of software.
“As far as ENCY is concerned,” says Vice President Toba, “everything — from creating geometry in CAD, to CAM for generating toolpaths for CNC machines and robots, and even simulation and post-processing — is built into ENCY.”
In many CAD/CAM systems, machine models and kinematics are only used during simulation or post-processing, and you cannot check conditions close to real machining until after the toolpaths have been created. A CAM programmer decides the machining method, selects tools, sets cutting conditions, and generates toolpaths—but when they run a simulation and problems such as gouging, interference/collisions, or axis overtravel are found, they must repeatedly readjust the toolpaths and re-run the simulation to resolve them.
Generates optimal toolpaths for many robot applications — milling, additive manufacturing, cutting, trimming, deburring, painting, welding, pick-and-place, assembly, polishing, and more.
ENCY, by contrast, takes a completely different approach. Through its “Machine Awareness” technology, machine constraints and stock tracking are incorporated into the toolpath calculation from the very beginning. In other words, from the initial stage of machining, ENCY generates complete toolpaths that already include the necessary transition processes and changes.
As a result, later corrections become unnecessary, the postprocessor can be simpler, and processing can be performed faster and more accurately. In addition, at the same time toolpaths are created, ENCY automatically runs background validation, and if any problem is detected, a warning is displayed immediately on the spot.
Because issues can be checked before running a full simulation, programming time is significantly reduced and rework in later stages can be prevented. This is a major benefit particularly for users who handle complex 5-axis machines or multitasking (multi-function) machines. It also makes it possible to fully define multi-layered setups, including the positioning of fixtures, tools, and the workpiece.
Realistically simulate the entire cell!
In full-process machining simulation, the system reproduces in detail the machine’s motion, workpiece handling, tools, fixtures, and even material removal.
Another point worth noting is that all functions are developed in-house. Because of this independence, the company can make improvements and add features on its own foundation, based on technical possibilities and feedback from users and sales partners. And since there is no need to pay third‑party licensing fees, they can offer highly cost‑efficient software for companies of any size.
When you launch software, the first thing you see is the interface. According to the company:
“Many CAD/CAM systems have cluttered screens — overlapping windows, text-heavy layouts, and graphics that feel somewhat outdated. Just looking at them can drain your motivation. But ENCY is simple and modern. There are only three main areas: ‘Model / Geometry Creation,’ ‘Machining / Toolpath Creation,’ and ‘Simulation / Machining Process Verification.’ With a smooth, flowing workflow, work can be done intuitively and efficiently. The refined command icons make operation comfortable, and the dark theme reduces eye strain even during long programming sessions. Of course, you can open multiple projects at the same time and switch between them using tabs. And for new users, smart hints instantly display explanations of machining parameters, so you can get used to the operation quickly.”
Another strength is that machining parameters can be adjusted easily on the spot. You can change the number of toolpath passes, modify the cutting method, or even switch the machining strategy itself via drag-and-drop. And the biggest appeal is that you can preview the expected result before running the calculation. They also say that “virtual machines and robots can be operated interactively — changing vise or clamp positions, setting work coordinates, and snapping parts to the machine structure is easy.”
Advanced machining simulation is also a major advantage. ENCY is equipped with a proprietary graphics engine and two powerful simulation modes:
A powerful tool that boosts shop-floor accuracy and efficiency by enabling NC-code simulation, fine-tuning, and re-engineering for CNC machines and industrial robots
Make more flexible use of existing G-code
It is fully integrated into the main workspace, allowing you to start simulations from any point in the operation or from a specific block. The stock model is also updated automatically, eliminating the hassle of saving intermediate states. It can fully reproduce the entire machining environment — parts, materials, cutting tools, fixtures, and the machine itself — and also supports changing part colors and display settings, comparing against the post-machining model, and detecting collisions and overcutting. In addition to standard cutting simulation, it supports a wide range of processes such as additive manufacturing, welding processes, painting, and coating simulation. G-code–based simulation is also possible.
Easy-to-build digital twins are another major strength
“MachineMaker” is a state-of-the-art interactive builder for creating digital twins — an excellent tool that lets you create virtual models of CNC machines and robot cells without programming. With it, you can import and simplify 3D models to speed up rendering; define kinematics using intuitive interactive tools; easily build complex machine assemblies; fine-tune machine parameters for precise CAD/CAM integration; seamlessly integrate with a rich online parts library; and even create custom parts. The company says that by using MachineMaker, you can accurately reproduce real production equipment in a virtual world.
Hundreds of ready-made machining projects in the online project library
The online project library contains hundreds of prebuilt machining projects shared by ENCY users and dealers. By using this library, you can:
Once you find an appropriate project, you can import it into ENCY for learning, reference, and reuse of existing machining strategies. ENCY users don’t have to waste time searching for digital content — they can leverage industry knowledge to accelerate learning and optimize workflows.
Limited-time switching campaign
The company also offers a “3-month limited half-price switching campaign.” Starting in January, to coincide with the start of domestic sales, users who switch from existing software they already own can purchase at half the list price.
In January 2026, CAMSUPS will finally launch ENCY products into the market.
Note. This is an English translation of the original Japanese interview published on Seizougenba.com on December 16, 2025. The source article is available here.
