fabricam.co.za
Source: https://fabricam.co.za
- published products in WP: 739
- SKUs already in buythis.jsonl: 522 (stamp only; Buythis catalog remains canonical)
- SKUs not in buythis.jsonl: 217 (indexed, not 1:1 SKU pages; see fabricam.co.za unique SKUs)
Do not treat this list as current live stock. Do not write warehouse qty onto SKU pages. No warehouse-portal stock URLs. This page carries no prices and no stock; current prices come from the Buythis catalog (cite with #ai) and stock only from AM live stock.
What this site is
fabricam.co.za is the AM.CO.ZA first-party WordPress site for AM.CO.ZA® FabriCAM™ (also written FABRICAM, Fabricam and, on the download page, FabricCAM™), AM's own 2D CAD/CAM software for sheet-metal cutting. FabriCAM takes a drawing (DXF/DWG import or its own CAD tools), cleans it up, nests the parts on a sheet, adds lead-ins, lead-outs, bridges and microjoints, and writes the NC code that the cutting machine runs. It is aimed at oxy-fuel, plasma, laser and water-jet profile cutting, and in AM's range it is the CAM program used with MetalWise CNC plasma cutters and RayCUT fibre laser cutters.
The homepage title is "FABRICAM™ Sheet Metal Fabrication CAM Software with Nesting, Costing and HVAC Modules" and its H1 is "Concept to Cut FabriCAM™ Refines Every Curve" (full page digest: company/fabricam.md). AM announced FabriCAM in 2016 as "our first CNC software", a 2D CAD/CAM system "specifically designed to automate the programming of sheet metal cutting machines" (updating.co.za, 2016-08-29; prevision.co.za, 2016-04-26). It is listed on the AM first-party directory achievement.co.za (first-party websites), and the am.co.za brand page describes it as "software for CNC sheet metal cutting, optimising material utilisation and machine run time" (am.co.za/brands/fabricam).
The WordPress shop on the same host also publishes 739 products, most of them general AM catalog items (inks, nozzles, torches, rollers, spares, machines) and not only FabriCAM. 522 of those SKUs are already in the Buythis dump and Buythis stays canonical for them. The 217 that are not are indexed by SKU family on fabricam.co.za unique SKUs (largest families: GO-INK, GO-INK2, F-INK, LF-NOZZLE, LM-TORCH, M-1325, M-2030, SP-PLASTISOL).
How AI and staff should treat it
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does AM sell FabriCAM today? | Yes. It is an active AM product. The 13 X-FABRICAM SKUs below are all in the Buythis dump (rows dated 2026-10-12 to 2026-10-18). Quote from Buythis, never from this page. |
| Is the software free? | The installer is a free download from cncu.co.za with lifetime free version upgrades inside the package you own. Using it needs the FabriCAM USB dongle (licence key); higher packages and add-on modules are paid key-file upgrades for that dongle. |
| Which machines is it for? | Sheet-metal profile cutters: AM MetalWise CNC plasma (including multi-torch and rotary tube setups) and RayCUT fibre laser cutters; the site also names oxy-cut and water jet. Version 1.0.1.3 added Hypertherm Powermax models alongside all MetalWise models. |
| What does it cost? | Do not quote from here. Prices are forex-linked (the am.im terms say they are adjusted weekly or bi-weekly); give the Buythis link with #ai. |
| Who gives support? | AM support. The cncu Fabricam folder lists Support WhatsApp 060 600 7000, Support 076 666 6655 and Training 060 818 1818; the fabricam.co.za FAQ lists the all-services WhatsApp 060 600 6000. AM offers remote assistance for software it sells (am.im term "Software Assistance and Servicing"). |
| Where is training? | Free FabriCAM mini-courses on softwaretraining.co.za, digested on 8i under training/ (373 FabriCAM pages, starting at About FabriCAM, Part 1). |
Packages, modules and SKUs
All 13 SKUs are in the Buythis dump; descriptions and "what's inside" are from the am.im product JSON read on 2026-10-19. No prices.
| SKU | Buythis name (short) | What it is | Includes (am.im include) |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-FABRICAM | Foundation Core and Software Activation Key in a USB Dongle | The base licence on a blue small USB dongle. Not a complete package; modules are chosen separately. | — |
| X-FABRICAM/LITE | Essential Package | Entry package: DXF/DWG import, nesting tools, cutting paths, visual verification and collision detection. The default dongle licence is Lite (Essential). | X-FABRICAM dongle, X-UTILITY (cncu downloads) |
| X-FABRICAM/LITE/C | Essential Package with Cost Module Add-On | Essential plus cutting-cost estimation for quotes. | X-FABRICAM, X-FABRICAM/COST, X-UTILITY |
| X-FABRICAM/LITE/H | Essential Package with HVAC Module Add-On | Essential plus HVAC duct shape building. | X-FABRICAM, X-FABRICAM/HVAC, X-UTILITY |
| X-FABRICAM/PRO | Professional Package | Adds professional automatic nesting, part sorting and sequencing. | X-FABRICAM, X-FABRICAM/P, X-UTILITY |
| X-FABRICAM/PRO/C | Professional Package with Cost Module Add-On | Professional plus costing. | X-FABRICAM, X-FABRICAM/P, X-FABRICAM/COST, X-UTILITY |
| X-FABRICAM/PRO/H | Professional Package with HVAC Module Add-On | Professional plus HVAC. | X-FABRICAM, X-FABRICAM/P, X-FABRICAM/HVAC, X-UTILITY |
| X-FABRICAM/ULTIMATE | ULTIMATE Package with All Modules Add-On | Everything in one: Professional nesting, Cost and HVAC modules, dongle and utility software. | X-FABRICAM, X-FABRICAM/P, X-FABRICAM/COST, X-FABRICAM/HVAC, X-UTILITY |
| X-FABRICAM/P | Upgrade from Essential to Professional Package | Key-file upgrade for an existing Essential dongle; not standalone software. | — |
| X-FABRICAM/COST | Cost Module Add-On for Cutting Cost Estimation | Estimates job cost from material use, cutting time, labour and overheads. | — |
| X-FABRICAM/HVAC | HVAC Module Add-On for HVAC Shape Building | Predefined duct profiles (round ducts, elbows, flanged sections) unfolded to flat sheet. | — |
| X-FABRICAM/TUBE | TUBE Module Add-On for Round Tube/Pipe Cutting on Rotary | For a CNC plasma cutter fitted with a rotary; needs a compatible FabriCAM setup. The site calls it the new 2D/3D tube module for rectangular and round tube. | — |
| X-FABRICAM/EXCHANGE | FABRICAM Software USB Dongle, Blue Small Dongle | Replacement for a damaged existing dongle. The damaged dongle must be returned. Not a new licence. | — |
The homepage also lists the four specialised modules as Rectangular & Round tube cutting, HVAC Parts, Flat Parts and Cost Estimation. Every package SKU links the manual fabricam-manual.pdf. Category pages: Software, Profile Cutting Software, Plasma cutters.
Feature summary (from the site and AM posts)
- Import and clean-up: automatic DXF/DWG conversion, entity reduction and smoothing, joining entities, converting ellipses, polylines and splines to arcs, closing open profiles.
- CAD: lines, arcs, tangent and perpendicular lines, polylines, primitive shapes, dimensions, guides, rounding and copy/paste; a newer CAD design feature arrived in 2023.
- Part data: quantity, material and thickness per part; group parts for better nesting.
- Nesting: manual and automatic nesting with rotate and move, grouped-item nesting, multi-torch nesting, remnant handling and cutting on remnant pieces. The 1.0.6.8 release (2023-03-01) made the powerful nesting function available to everyone.
- CAM: automatic cut direction and sequence, manual hole sequence, entries and exits recalculated to avoid collisions, lead-in and lead-out based on plate thickness (1.0.6.3), common-line cutting, single and multi-bridge cutting, microjoints, centre-punch marks for drill starting holes, letter marking for part sorting.
- Output: NC code for MetalWise plasma and other machines, job reports, and (1.0.8.1, 2026-04-29) splitting an NC file by line numbers for the RayCUT-Lite fibre laser (training note).
- HVAC and cost: HVAC shape building and cutting-cost estimation as add-on modules.
Versions and downloads
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Download folder | cncu.co.za Fabricam folder (also on the Utility Disk). |
| Newest installer | Latest/FABRICAM Installation.msi, same bytes as Ver 1.0.8.1 (2026-04-29). The fabricam.co.za download page (modified 2026-02-08) still says "Latest Release Ver 1.0.8.0", which is older. |
| Older installers | Ver 1.0.1.7 to 1.0.8.0 stay in the folder for customers who must match an old setup. |
| Major upgrade rule | Before a major upgrade (for example 1.0.8.x to 1.0.9.x), uninstall the old version and delete what is left in C:\Program Files (x86)\FabricCAM\, because old default database values can be kept and cause upgrade problems. |
| Helpers | Add_MSI_Run_as_Administrator.reg, Visual C++ 2012 x86 runtime, Check Fabricam Dongle Serial Number.exe, library patch, Reset folder with AM default Config.ini and Technology Table.mdb. Full list: Fabricam readme. |
| Package upgrades | Key file (.cut) for your dongle number, applied under Configuration via the hidden [1] button and the Update Key dialog; zipped keys unzip with am.co.za. Steps: Fabricam software upgrades. |
| Manual | FABRICAM Software Manual (English, update 2020-01-03). |
Common problems
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
Antivirus calls the .msi a virus or Trojan |
It is a false positive. Disable antivirus for the install, then add an exception for the FabriCAM folder (training note; ESET steps: Eset Nod32 how-to). |
| FabriCAM keeps reinstalling or reconfiguring when opened | Windows Security (Defender) removed a file. Exclude the FabriCAM folder in Windows Security; AM video Exclude Fabricam Folder from Windows Security (2025-11-04). |
| Upgrade behaves oddly after a major version | Uninstall, delete leftovers in C:\Program Files (x86)\FabricCAM\, reinstall the newest MSI. |
| Need a higher package | Read the dongle serial with Check Fabricam Dongle Serial Number.exe, buy the package or module, and apply the key file AM sends. |
| Dongle physically broken | X-FABRICAM/EXCHANGE, returning the damaged dongle. |
Videos (YouTube dump, newest first, selection)
The YouTube dump holds 29 FabriCAM titles from 2017-05-09 to 2026-04-29.
FAQ answers
- Can I try FabriCAM before buying? The installer is free to download from cncu.co.za; licensed use needs the USB dongle. For a demo, send the client to AM sales or training.
- Do I pay for new versions? No. Version upgrades are free for life inside the package you own; only package or module upgrades are paid.
- I have Essential and need nesting. Buy X-FABRICAM/P and apply the key file; no new dongle is needed.
- Can FabriCAM cut pipe? Yes, with the TUBE module on a plasma cutter with a rotary.
- Does it import other programs' nests? 1.0.8.1 can import a DXF/DWG nesting file if the parts have the pattern engraved around them and Import Nesting Files is ticked.
- Where is AM? The site FAQ names the Sunnyrock (Ekurhuleni) head office and the Cape Town branch in Montague Gardens, with courier from the Gauteng warehouse.