Background‍

Evan Hayes is co-founder of Xeon NC, a fast-growing manufacturing business. Initially focused on precision sheet metal work, it expanded into CNC machining two years ago to meet increasing customer demand. It has established itself as a versatile and reliable machine shop.

The Challenge‍

Before discovering CAM Assist, Xeon NC faced the common challenge of time-intensive CNC programming. "Programming parts manually was a slow process—it could take up to an hour per part," Evan said. In an environment where efficiency is key to their competitive edge, this was a significant hurdle.

Even in a company with a focus on technology, there’s always a question of whether a tool like CAM Assist is necessary. Evan said, "At first, we weren’t sure if we needed something so specialized. But as soon as we saw what it could do, it was clear that it would be a game-changer."

The Solution‍

CAM Assist quickly proved its value, transforming the programming process from a lengthy, manual task to a streamlined operation. "CAM Assist gets you 90% of the way there," Evan said. "What used to take an hour now takes just 12 minutes, and that’s with better results."

Evan was able to make his machining processes faster without sacrificing quality:

"I love the feature where it finds the best speeds and feeds for your materials, based on the workholding. It takes all the guesswork out of setting the right cutting parameters."

For a business focused on maintaining high standards and quick turnaround times, the ability to cut programming time so dramatically made an immediate impact. "It’s not just about saving time—it’s about doing more with the time we have." 

Impact and Results

Since adding CAM Assist to its workflow, the company has enjoyed substantial improvements:

‍Increased Productivity

With programming time reduced by 60-80%, the team has been able to redirect its efforts toward other critical tasks. Evan highlighted how the tool has significantly lightened his workload:

"Without CAM Assist, I’d be at the shop until 10 p.m. and still not getting enough done. Now, I can finish my CAM programming much faster and focus on other parts of the business."

Cost Efficiency

"Hiring another programmer would have been a major expense," Evan said. "CAM Assist allowed us to achieve the same efficiency without the additional overhead or training." This gain helped fuel the company’s growth without compromising on quality.

Advice for Shop Owners

Evan has a clear message for other business owners who might be on the fence about adopting CAM Assist: "I get it—investing in new technology can feel like a leap, especially when you’re managing a lot with limited resources. But CAM Assist isn’t just another tool—it’s a way to free up time, reduce costs, and focus on growing your business. If you’re serious about efficiency and staying competitive, this is something you should definitely try."

For Evan and his growing manufacturing operation, CAM Assist wasn’t just a nice-to-have—it became a critical tool for maintaining their competitive edge.

By drastically reducing programming time and enhancing efficiency, CAM Assist has helped the company to scale effectively without needing to expand their team. As Evan put it, "CAM Assist has made our operation more efficient, and that efficiency is exactly what we need to keep growing."