Why the Best Results Come from the Right Experts — Not Just One Supplier

When it comes to modern manufacturing, few environments rely on a single discipline. Most successful teams work across design and manufacturing, using powerful tools like SOLIDWORKS for CAD and SolidCAM for CNC programming.
Trying to be excellent at both is a serious challenge — and that’s why specialist expertise matters. Rarely do you see a designer have a detailed knowledge optimising feeds and speeds, tooling strategies and how to hold tolerances consistently across a batch. This is the domain expertise of the skilled production engineer.

A common assumption we hear is:

“it’s best to work with one company that supports both?” 

It’s a reasonable question — but in practice, the best results come from having the right experts in each discipline, working together.

CAD and CAM Are Different Disciplines — By Design 

Although CAD and CAM are closely connected, they require very different skill sets:

• CAD expertise is about design intent, parametric modelling, assemblies, simulation, data management, and best practice workflows.
• CAM expertise is about real-world machining: toolpaths, post processors, machine kinematics, feeds and speeds, materials, fixtures, and proving code on actual machines.

Trying to be excellent at both is a serious challenge — and that’s why specialist expertise matters.

A Proven Partnership Model That Works 

This is where the partnership between SOLIDX Ltd and SolidCAM UK comes in.

• SOLIDX is a SOLIDWORKS Platinum Partner, recognised by Dassault Systèmes for delivering best-in-class CAD support, training, and consultancy.
• SolidCAM UK is the UK’s original and most technically proficient SolidCAM provider, offering full CAM support, training, post processor development — and uniquely, in-house machining centres to test and prove solutions.

Each company focuses entirely on what they do best — and customers benefit from depth, not compromise.

One Experience. Two Sets of Experts.

From a customer’s point of view, this doesn’t feel like dealing with “two suppliers”.

It feels like:

• CAD questions are answered by SOLIDWORKS specialists
• CAM challenges are solved by SolidCAM specialists
• Issues are resolved faster
• Advice is practical, proven, and grounded in real experience

Behind the scenes, the two teams work closely together — sharing knowledge, aligning on workflows, and ensuring that design and manufacturing work in harmony.

What About Working With a Single Company? 

Some providers offer to sell and support both SOLIDWORKS and SolidCAM under one roof. While that may sound simpler on paper, the reality is that CAM excellence is built on years of machining experience, dedicated infrastructure, and continuous real-world testing.

That’s why SolidCAM UK remains the go-to CAM authority in the UK — and why many customers continue to choose a partnership model that prioritises expertise over convenience.

Choose the Experts — Whichever Door You Walk Through

The most important thing to know is this:

Whether you engage first with SOLIDX or SolidCAM UK, you’ll always end up working with:

• A SOLIDWORKS expert for CAD
• A SolidCAM expert for CAM

No blurred lines. No diluted support. Just the right people, solving the right problems, at the right time.

How It Works in Practice 

Step 1: Design with Confidence

Customers develop their products in SOLIDWORKS, supported by SOLIDX Ltd — a Platinum Partner recognised for deep CAD expertise, best practices, and real-world consultancy.

Step 2: Manufacture with Certainty 

When the design moves into manufacturing, SolidCAM takes over — supported by SolidCAM UK, the UK’s most experienced SolidCAM provider.

This isn’t theoretical CAM support:

• Toolpaths are built by machining specialists
• Post processors are developed and proven
• Code is tested on real machines, in real conditions

That depth simply can’t be replicated without dedicated CAM focus and infrastructure.

 Step 3: Joined-Up Expertise

Although CAD and CAM support are handled by separate specialists, the customer experience is seamless.

The two teams:

• Communicate directly
• Align on workflows
• Resolve issues at the right level, first time

From the customer’s point of view, it feels like one coherent support ecosystem — just without the compromises.

Why This Model Delivers Better Results

• Faster problem resolution — questions go straight to the right expert
• Higher-quality outcomes — no diluted “jack-of-all-trades” support
• Lower risk — CAD and CAM decisions are made by people who live and breathe their discipline
• Future-proof workflows — built on best practice, not shortcuts

In short: specialisation beats consolidation.