Upgraded Milling Software Suite

In addition to powerful 3D and 5-axis machining enhancements for complex part manufacturing, the latest version of Open Mind Technologies AG’s (Needham MA) CAD/CAM software suite is easy-to-use, increases programming performance, and includes new automation and additive manufacturing strategies.

For highly productive rest material machining, hyperMILL 2020.1’s corner rest machining strategies for 3D and 5-axis techniques provide significant benefits in complex machining applications like mold and die. Enabled by a simple instruction, corners can be machined largely by vertical stroking motions. Then, traditional z-level steps can be used to blend the vertical section and lower floor area. The top section’s automatic surface extension enables production of sharp edges.

A 5-axis blade tangent milling strategy increases efficiency and improves surface quality when milling with conical barrel cutters that have a large primary angle. As a result, higher feed rates are possible while avoiding center cutting. Large stepovers provide an excellent surface finish.

Contour feature splitting capability in the mill-turn module enables the software to automatically determine the area to be machined based on the turning contour. The grooving job will automatically recognize if a contour is a groove, making it faster and easier to program certain areas.

An automation center allows users to automate the job list creation processes in hyperCAD-S, serving as both a development and runtime environment. New features also include the ability to select and position the clamping device and define a uniform process for all programmers.

ADDITIVE Manufacturing option enables efficient hybrid processing with simultaneous additive manufacturing and subtractive machining on one machine. Additive applications include filling strategies for planes and free-form shapes in 2D and 3D sections as well as hybrid machining to fix damaged parts and additive machining of an existing component.

For highly complex 5-axis simultaneous processing, ADDITIVE manufacturing enables directed energy deposition (DED) processes and wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Both laser-based powder nozzle machining heads and WAAM can be controlled for selective material deposition as well as programmed and automatically simulated for collision avoidance. Using powder bed fusion (PBF) and any necessary rework, hyperMILL supports additive manufacturing’s full potential.

hyperMILL now also enables users to program the cladding and milling together. Additive and subtractive simulation, as well as stock tracking between the individual process, guarantee reliability.

Key additive applications include repair of damaged components, cladding of additional surface skins, or creating new components from a substrate. This also creates new options for combining different materials, such as when high-quality material layers have to be applied to carrier materials.

Improving probing, the software includes slot-rib probing to measure slots and ribs using familiar technology parameters. For high-stock removal rates, 3D machining strategies now include 3D-optimized roughing in high-performance MAXX Machining mode. The roughing process also offers improved area sorting, resulting in fewer retractions and improved collision checking.

In addition, automatic face extension and free tool geometry are now available for 3D profile finishing. Automatic face extension can be used during programming to extend the circumference of selected milling surfaces, eliminating the need to modify the milling faces in the CAD system. Free tool geometry enables the use of any tool type for highly detailed programming and collision control.

Open Mind Technologies USA Inc., 1492 Highland Ave., Unit 3, Needham, MA 02492, 888-516-1232, info.americas@openmind-tech.com, www.openmind-tech.com.