I have only evaluated the low to mid tier priced CAM packages to date, and frankly I'm not sure if there are any CAM packages that have evolved to this point yet, but I would be surprised if none of the higher tier packages had this type of automation yet, at least to a certain degree.
What I find most time consuming is testing different cutting and tool path strategies and the combinations of them to find the most optimal strategy. This is even more evident when it is a part requiring 3 or more tools to make the part because it has features that can only be cut by certain sized cutters.
What I am looking for, because it would be a game changer for me personally because I do a lot of one-off, would be where you input your tool library like most CAM packages so it knows what tooling you have available. Then, you load in your model and the size of your stock and it will create an automated strategy that would be most ideal based on the quality of the finish/accuracy, which can be tuned.
To be able to load up a part, and the software automatically selects the best tools to cut the part based on the tools I have available, using fairly optimal roughing and finishing for the part... wow, that would speed things up a ton for me at least. Perhaps the issues I have with the cheaper solutions aren't as evident in the higher end packages, but I always find myself having to define specific regions for cutters because it has medium and small slots and pockets and it just can add up to a big strategy list and a lot of time. It is a breeze for simpler parts that just need a rough and finish pass using 1 or 2 tools for the entire part, but the parts that need multiple end mills for different features on the part is when it would be nice to have the PC do the work for me.
So I guess the question is are there are CAM packages that have these "Smart" or automated features that can make a pretty good tool path just by knowing what tools are in the library, the model and stock/material? Which, if any, seem to be the most advanced in this regard?