CloudNC Raises $20 Million to Expand AI Tools for Precision Machining
UK manufacturing technology company CloudNC has raised $20 million in new funding to expand its AI-powered tools for precision machining and reach more machine shops globally. The investment is led by US venture firm Nimble Ventures, with participation from Calculus Venture Capital, Entrepreneur First and LM Ventures, the venture arm of Lockheed Martin.
CloudNC plans to use the funding to accelerate adoption of its CAM Assist software, strengthen its commercial operations in existing and new markets, and develop additional AI products. The company currently says its technology is used by more than 1,000 machine shops worldwide, including hundreds in the United States.
CAM Assist Targets CNC Programming
CloudNC's main product, CAM Assist, is designed to reduce the time needed to create machining strategies and toolpaths for computer numerical control (CNC) machines. These machines are used to cut and shape materials into precise components for industries including aerospace, defence, automotive and industrial manufacturing.
Instead of requiring programmers to manually determine how a component should be machined, the software can generate a first-pass machining strategy, including suitable tools, approach directions and cutting parameters. Machinists can then review, modify and approve the output before it is used for production.
The company says the approach is intended to increase the productivity of skilled machinists rather than remove human oversight. CloudNC's existing customers include Lockheed Martin and Major Tool and Machine, while its customer base has expanded significantly as CAM Assist has moved from early adoption toward broader commercial use.
New AI Tool Will Automate Quoting
The new funding will also support Quote Agent, an AI product aimed at one of the earliest stages of the machining process: deciding whether to accept a job and how much to charge for it.
Machine shops typically need to review a customer's design, estimate machining requirements and calculate costs before providing a quote. CloudNC says this process can become a bottleneck because slow responses can cost shops potential work, while inaccurate estimates can reduce margins once production begins. Quote Agent is designed to use AI to make that assessment faster and more consistent.
CloudNC plans to make Quote Agent available later in 2026. The product extends the company's AI strategy beyond programming machines and into the commercial decisions that take place before a component reaches the factory floor.
CloudNC Expands Beyond Its Core Market
The new capital comes as manufacturers face pressure to increase output without proportionally expanding their workforce or replacing existing equipment. CloudNC argues that AI can help machine shops make better use of their existing machines and skilled employees, particularly as manufacturers deal with shortages of experienced machining professionals.
The company is also working with Knox Systems toward FedRAMP certification for CAM Assist. If achieved, the certification would help CloudNC target US government agencies, defence contractors and other organisations with strict security requirements for sensitive manufacturing workloads.
CloudNC was founded in 2015 and operates from London as well as its own manufacturing facility in Chelmsford. The company says its factory gives its engineering team a direct environment for developing and testing its manufacturing software alongside physical machining operations.
The $20 million round gives CloudNC additional capital to move from AI-assisted CNC programming toward a broader software platform covering more stages of the manufacturing workflow. Its immediate focus will be expanding CAM Assist, launching Quote Agent and building a larger commercial presence in the US and other manufacturing markets.
