Originally developed by Delcam, ArtCAM was the gold standard for converting 2D raster images and vector drawings into 3D CNC toolpaths. But in 2018, the software world shifted dramatically. Autodesk, who acquired ArtCAM in 2016, announced the of the standalone product.

ArtCAM 2018 is a classic muscle car—beautiful, powerful, and exactly what you remember. But finding a "license" for it today is like finding a cassette tape for a new car. It is time to move to Carveco or Fusion 360. Do you still have your original ArtCAM 2018 dongle running on an old Dell in the corner of your shop? Tell us about your setup in the comments below.

Only if you already own it. An unregistered "ArtCAM 2018 license" from a third party is a red flag. You cannot get replacement dongles, and you cannot get support.

If you have spent any time in the world of CNC routing, relief carving, or jewelry design, you know one name that stood above the rest for decades: ArtCAM .