What is IGEMS? 5-Axis Water Jet Cutting Software

In these blogs, we often focus on the hardware behind water jet cutting, pumps, cutting heads, orifices, and more. However, today, the most advanced machine is only as powerful as the software that guides it.

Think of it like putting low-octane fuel in a Ferrari. The car has been obsessively engineered for performance, but without the right fuel, it can’t deliver on the promise of its design. The same applies to water jet systems: without powerful software, you won't achieve the full precision, efficiency, or flexibility that your hardware is capable of delivering, especially in 5-axis applications.

Why Software Matters in Water Jet Cutting

Water jet cutting software is what unlocks the full potential of your machine. It begins by importing a CAD design or 3D model and then moves into cut planning, where you begin to unleash its real power.

During this process, you define key parameters, such as material type, thickness, kerf width, and cut paths. You also specify piercing conditions and determine whether the cut is straight, beveled, or follows a more complex contour. Just as important, the software helps optimize material usage, minimizing waste to provide a critical advantage as material costs continue to rise.

Effective cut planning involves a range of tasks, including:

Nesting
Sequencing
Cut type selection
Beveling

The right software simplifies this complexity. A well-designed interface and intelligent automation can make the difference between a smooth workflow and a frustrating one. That’s why ease of use is such a critical factor when evaluating cutting software.

And it’s also why Jet Edge relies on IGEMS, an advanced CAD/CAM platform specifically built for water jet cutting by a company solely focused on developing water jet applications. IGEMS software transforms your designs into optimized, high-performance cuts, handling everything from material specs and kerf width to nesting, beveling, and sequencing.

So, what makes IGEMS different, and why did we choose it as our standard? (Spoiler alert, they’re our standard because they are the best water jet software available.) Let’s take a closer look.

What is IGEMS Software?

IGEMS is specialized software designed exclusively for water jet cutting systems. Unlike other do-it-all CAD/CAM software packages, IGEMS is specifically tailored to address the unique requirements and capabilities of water jet technology, ensuring users can maximize the benefits of their machines.

Here’s how IGEMS describes their mission:

IGEMS was born from a vision of providing a perfectly tuned CAD/CAM software for the water jet cutting industry. Being 100 percent focused on one single innovation area creates opportunities for our customers to get the very best.

How IGEMS Powers Precision Water Jet Cutting

Using IGEMS software to take full advantage of your water jet cutting system capabilities begins by importing your part designs, whether they’re CAD files or 3D models. IGEMS supports major industry-standard formats out of the box, including but not limited to:

.dxf
.dwg
.acd
.dig

For more information on supported file types in IGEMS – click here.

Once your models are imported, IGEMS displays them alongside your chosen raw material, letting you plan and execute precise cuts with your water jet. While this might sound straightforward, planning complex cuts presents significant challenges, something IGEMS addresses with intelligent automation. The software streamlines the process by offering automated cut planning that minimizes manual input.

Key Automation Features:

Automatic nesting for optimal material usage
Programming directly on 3D models
Simulation of different cutting scenarios before actual execution
Support for both 2D and 3D cutting
Capability for 5-axis cutting systems

With these tools, IGEMS makes it easier to tackle intricate cutting tasks, allowing you to achieve efficiency and precision with minimal hassle.

The IGEMS Advantage

The software you choose for your water jet cutting system plays a crucial role in maximizing both the tool’s capabilities and your workflow flexibility. IGEMS stands out because its advanced 5-axis features and nesting capabilities are built directly into the application’s core.

As engineers and designers continue to push the boundaries of part complexity, the demand for 5-axis cutting capabilities is growing fast. Shops that can meet these advanced requirements are well-positioned to win new business and expand their offerings. Fortunately, keeping up doesn’t require a complete overhaul; it just needs a cutting system and software that support true 5-axis functionality.

While many water jet cutting machines are technically capable of performing 5-axis cuts, not every software solution makes planning and executing these operations easily accessible to your designers and operators. IGEMS, however, equips your staff and water jets with comprehensive 5-axis cutting capabilities. These include beveling, taper compensation, and other precision techniques that give you the confidence to tackle the most sophisticated projects.

CAD/CAM Integration

IGEMS simplifies your workflow by allowing you to import existing CAD and 3D model files directly into the software. Once your designs are loaded, you can easily plan and execute your cuts, ensuring that your project moves seamlessly from design to finished product within a single application.

In addition to broad file type support, IGEMS also lets you design parts from scratch, allowing you to work within a single software environment from the initial idea to the final cut.

Among its many features, IGEMS provides robust tools such as:

2D & 3D CAD/CAM with auto toolpath functionality
Industry-leading nesting
Part & sheet database
Stone & tile-specific commands
Tools for repairing bad geometry
3D simulation with crash control
Taper angle compensation for straight edges

5-Axis Cutting Precision

In IGEMS, 5-axis cutting isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a defining characteristic. With this software powering your water jets, our systems can tackle complex geometries that others struggle to achieve or consider impossible.

5-axis cutting allows the cutting head to move with 2 angular axes, enabling production of complex geometries that aren’t possible with 2D or 3-axis systems. For industries such as aerospace, defense, or high-spec industrial manufacturing, this flexibility opens doors to near-net shapes, faster prototyping, tighter tolerances, and reduced part finishing costs.

While many water jet machines claim to support 5-axis functionality, executing those cuts precisely and consistently depends on both the hardware capability and an easy-to-use software that’s been purpose-built for the task. And that’s where IGEMS stands out.

IGEMS 5-Axis Advantage

Rather than adding 5-axis capability onto software built on a 3-axis base, IGEMS starts with 5-axis as its foundation. This is more than a technical distinction; it’s a strategic advantage. Because the platform was engineered with full-axis control from the beginning, there are no workarounds or compromises.

Some highlights:

5-axis-specific features are included in the base IGEMS package, so no expensive add-ons are required.
IGEMS developed its own 5X kinematic mechanism for precise bevel and taper control.
Auto toolpathing helps simplify complex nesting and beveling operations, increasing stock utilization and minimizing secondary finishing steps.

From start to finish, IGEMS delivers a tightly integrated workflow that keeps your team in a single software environment, from design to final inspection, without requiring them to bounce between multiple software tools. This means operators and designers can learn one package thoroughly and minimize the possibility of error when transferring data between applications. See a sample of the IGEMS capabilities in this video.

5-Axis Applications

Advanced industries depend on complex parts with beveled edges, angled contours, and multi-faceted geometries. Here are just a few use cases where 5-axis cutting shines:

Aerospace brackets and fuselage components
Custom machine parts with variable thicknesses
Stone or tile inlays with angular cuts
Precision beveling for weld prep in heavy industries

Even if your current jobs don't demand full 5-axis capability, having the functionality ready gives your shop a competitive edge and room to grow. Additionally, IGEMS handles 3-axis work just as easily as 5-axis work.

Precision in Practice

Nesting is one area where IGEMS truly excels. With the thinnest kerf width of any major cutting technology, water jet cutting is uniquely positioned to minimize material waste. But precise nesting demands both robust hardware capability as well as a dynamic software platform to effectively enable it. IGEMS not only automates optimal nesting layouts but also defines the cutting tool path with enough precision to execute them reliably, even on tricky bevels or compound shapes.

Talk to Jet Edge

Ready to see IGEMS water jet software in action? Talk to Jet Edge today and discover how we harness its full power across our water jet cutting systems, including advanced 5-axis applications that push the limits of what’s possible and expand your opportunities.

Contact us today to learn how to increase the services you offer your customers and reduce costs through enhanced productivity. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-JET-EDGE (538-3343), internationally at +1-763-497-8700 or visit our website jetedgewaterjets.com to learn more.

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