Alphacam Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List

Alphacam shortcuts are keyboard key combinations that let CAD/CAM programmers run Alphacam commands like Undo, Zoom, Insert CAD, or Ghost Tools without reaching for the mouse. They speed up geometry creation, drawing cleanup, and general navigation, which matters when you’re programming CNC routers, mills, and wire-EDM machines for hours at a time.

Below is the complete, verified list of Alphacam’s default shortcuts, organized by function, plus how to build your own custom shortcuts for commands that don’t ship with a default key.

What Is Alphacam?

Alphacam is CAD/CAM software from Hexagon (formerly Vero Software) used to program CNC machines for turning, milling, profiling, routing, and wire EDM. It’s widely used in woodworking, metalworking, and stone-cutting shops as the software layer between a 2D/3D design and the G-code a CNC machine actually runs. Because programmers spend most of their day moving between drawing tools, layer edits, and toolpath checks, keyboard shortcuts are a meaningful time-saver Alphacam just doesn’t ship a printable cheat sheet by default, which is why references like this one exist.

Most Used Alphacam Shortcuts

These are the general-purpose commands you’ll use in almost every session file handling, editing, view control, and drawing cleanup.

Geometry Creation Shortcuts

These function-key shortcuts control snapping and drawing behavior while you’re building geometry.

How to Create Custom Alphacam Shortcuts

Alphacam doesn’t limit you to the 33 shortcuts above every command in the software can have a keyboard shortcut assigned to it. Here’s how:

1. Open Tools → Customize, then go to the Keyboard tab.
2. Use the Category filter to narrow commands down by the menu they belong to (this makes it much faster to find a specific toolpath or machining command).
3. Select the command you want from the Commands list.
4. Click into the Press new shortcut key box and type your desired key combination.
5. Click Assign to save it, or Remove to delete an existing shortcut from that command.
6. Repeat for any command you use often that doesn’t already have a default key.

This is especially useful for toolpath, simulation, and NC-output commands, which unlike the general and geometry commands above don’t ship with universal default shortcuts and vary by machine configuration and Alphacam version.

Free Alphacam Shortcuts PDF

Download a printable version of this shortcut list to keep next to your workstation.

Download the Alphacam Shortcuts PDF →

Alphacam Shortcuts by Version

Alphacam is updated annually by Hexagon, and command locations can shift slightly between versions (for example, category names inside the Customize → Keyboard menu). The 33 shortcuts listed above have stayed consistent across recent releases, but if you’re on an older or newer version and a shortcut doesn’t respond as expected, check Tools → Customize → Keyboard → Category to confirm the current key assignment for that command.

FAQs

What are the most important Alphacam shortcuts to learn first?

Ctrl + Z (Undo), Ctrl + S (Save), Ctrl + G (Ghost Tools), and the F2–F5 snap toggles cover the majority of daily work for most users.

How do I create a custom shortcut in Alphacam?

Go to Tools → Customize → Keyboard, select the command, enter a new key combination, and click Assign. See the full steps above.

Is there an official Alphacam shortcuts PDF from Hexagon?

Hexagon’s official documentation covers keyboard shortcuts inside its help center, but it requires an account login and isn’t offered as a standalone downloadable PDF. This page provides a free, no-login alternative.

Do Alphacam shortcuts change between versions?

The core 33 shortcuts have remained stable across recent Alphacam versions. Toolpath- and machining-specific shortcuts are more likely to vary, since many are user-assigned rather than default.

Does Alphacam work on Mac?

No. Alphacam is Windows-only, so all shortcuts use Ctrl-based combinations there’s no Cmd-key equivalent.

Are there shortcuts for toolpaths, simulation, or NC output?

Alphacam doesn’t ship universal default shortcuts for these categories they’re typically assigned per user or per shop through Tools → Customize → Keyboard. If you’ve set up shortcuts for these commands, share them in the comments and we’ll add verified ones to this list.

Conclusion

Alphacam’s default shortcuts won’t overhaul your workflow overnight, but they add up fast Ctrl + G to check your geometry before machining, Ctrl + Z when a snap point goes wrong, F2 through F5 to keep your drawing clean as you build it. Learn the 33 above first, then use Tools → Customize → Keyboard to assign your own shortcuts for the toolpath, simulation, and NC-output commands you use most, since those aren’t standardized across shops or versions.

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