IKOCADCAM Plasma Cutting Software

CAD/CAM software for turning drawings, vector artwork, bitmap silhouettes, and text designs into clean G-code toolpaths for CNC cutting.

IKOCADCAM helps plasma, oxyfuel, waterjet, and laser cutting users turn drawings into clean G-code toolpaths. It combines CAD drawing tools, CAM setup, file conversion, kerf compensation, lead-in control, nesting, and post-processing in one Windows application.

Download IKOCADCAM Basic documentation Intro video

Intro video for IKOCADCAM plasma cutting CAD/CAM software.

What IKOCADCAM does

IKOCADCAM is built for preparing CNC cutting jobs from common drawing and image formats. Users can import DXF, SVG, and BMP files, convert them into IKOCADCAM job files, arrange parts on material, apply kerf offset, set lead-ins and lead-outs, reorder cuts, and generate G-code for supported machine controllers.

Key features

CAD drawing tools for creating and editing parts.
CAM tools for generating cutting paths.
DXF, SVG, and BMP import.
Native IKOCADCAM job files using the .jb format.
True-shape nesting for arranging parts on material.
Rotate, scale, mirror, duplicate, array, and move tools.
Manual and automatic lead-in placement.
Lead-out and start-point control.
Kerf width compensation, calculated as half of the cut width.
Automatic cut ordering so inside contours can be cut before outside contours.
Manual cut ordering for inside cutouts and complete parts.
Bitmap tracing for turning silhouette images into toolpaths.
Cleanup tools for traced or complex drawings.
DXF export for sharing drawings with other CAD programs.
Customizable post processors for machines such as Mach3, TinyG, and GRBL.
Saved cutting parameters by material thickness and plasma unit.
Job statistics that can be copied into a spreadsheet for pricing.

Recommended workflow

Create or prepare the part in CAD, Inkscape, or another drawing tool.
Import the file into IKOCADCAM as DXF, SVG, or BMP.
Convert the file to the native .jb job format.
Clean and simplify the geometry when needed.
Set material size, kerf offset, and lead-in distance.
Arrange parts manually or use nesting.
Recalculate lead-in positions and check for possible overlaps.
Order cuts so inside contours are handled before outside contours.
Generate the G-code with the correct post processor.
Preview the G-code in a viewer before running the job on the CNC machine.

System requirements

Requirement	Recommendation
Operating system	Windows 7, 8, or 10, 32-bit or 64-bit
Processor	Intel i5 or equivalent, or better
Memory	At least 4 GB RAM
Graphics	A separate graphics card is preferred for larger files

Installation notes

After installation, IKOCADCAM creates a folder at C:\IKOCAM. Keeping the program in this location makes future updates and backups easier. A full folder copy can be used as a backup because the application is designed to stay self-contained.

The main program file is C:\IKOCAM\ikocam.exe. The installation also includes demo files and support folders, including sample DXF, SVG, BMP, G-code definition, and post-processor files.

Supported file types

File type	Use
`.jb`	Native IKOCADCAM job format
`.dxf`	CAD drawing import and export
`.svg`	Vector artwork import
`.bmp`	Bitmap image import for tracing

Converting DXF, SVG, and BMP files

Use the Import-Export conversion dialog to convert source files into the .jb format. DXF files are useful for CAD interoperability, SVG files are useful for vector artwork from tools such as Inkscape, and BMP files are useful when converting a black-and-white silhouette or bitmap image into a cutting path.

DXF conversion

Open the DXF tab.
Choose a DXF file.
Check the file units.
If the drawing units do not match the table units, review the scale factor.
Convert the DXF file to a .jb job file.

SVG conversion

Open the SVG tab.
Choose an SVG file.
Convert the SVG file to a .jb job file.

BMP conversion

Open the BMP tab.
Choose a clean bitmap image.
Convert the bitmap into vector geometry.
Clean the result before creating the final toolpath.

Turning images into toolpaths

IKOCADCAM can convert a black-and-white bitmap silhouette into vector geometry. For best results, start with a simple high-contrast image, resize it so it is practical for the table and screen, save it as a 24-bit black-and-white BMP file, then review the generated vector paths before cutting.

Cleanup tools

Use cleanup tools after tracing an image or importing complex artwork. These tools help reduce unnecessary geometry and improve the quality of the final toolpath.

Remove small polylines.
Remove short line segments.
Remove almost collinear line segments.
Remove very sharp corners.
Recalculate lead-in positions.
Turn offset preview on and inspect the result.

Drawing colors and cut direction

Color	Meaning
Light blue	Inside cuts, usually counterclockwise
Blue	Outside cuts or part outlines, usually clockwise
White	Open polylines
Yellow	Selected parts, nodes, or icons
Large green rectangle	Machine table
Smaller green rectangle	Material sheet

Inside cuts are typically processed before outside cuts so holes and interior contours are completed while the part is still stable.

Moving, scaling, and arranging parts

IKOCADCAM includes tools for moving, duplicating, rotating, mirroring, arraying, scaling, selecting, deleting, zooming, and positioning parts on the table. Selected parts can also be moved with the keyboard arrow keys and rotated with PgUp and PgDn.

Kerf offset and lead-in distance

Kerf is the width of material removed during cutting. Offset is calculated as offset = kerf / 2. Set the offset and lead-in distance based on the material, cutting process, and machine setup.

Cutting process	Example kerf width	Example offset
Plasma	0.150 in	0.075 in
Oxy-fuel	0.045 in	0.0225 in
Waterjet	0.035 in	0.0175 in
Laser	0.025 in	0.0125 in

Nesting and cut ordering

Nesting helps place multiple parts efficiently on the available material. Open the job file, duplicate the required parts, set the material size, run the nesting tool, confirm the result, recalculate lead-in positions, and apply automatic part ordering when appropriate.

IKOCADCAM supports both manual and automatic ordering. Use inside-cut ordering to control the sequence of cutouts inside a single part, and use part ordering to control the sequence of complete parts across the sheet.

Font, text, and pricing tools

The font tools generate text geometry for cutting. Choose a font, generate the text, position and shape the geometry, close drawn polylines, clean the resulting nodes, and combine the text with other parts.

The statistics tool copies job information to the clipboard so it can be pasted into a spreadsheet to help calculate cutting prices.

Safety and license notes

CNC cutting equipment can be dangerous. Users are responsible for safe installation, safe machine operation, and verifying all generated code before running a job.

The software is licensed, not sold. The documentation describes a 90-day evaluation period, registration requirements for unlocking functionality, no warranty, no general refund policy, privacy terms for registration data, and restrictions against reverse engineering, decompiling, or disassembling the software.

Resources

Best fit: cutting shops that need CAD drawing, import cleanup, nesting, kerf compensation, and controller-specific G-code in one Windows workflow.