OPEN MIND Takes CAM Software to the next level at MACH 2012

4 May 2012

AT MACH 2012, OPEN MIND Technologies gave a MACH debut to its new machining strategy for its award winning hyperMILL CAM package. Proving a resounding success among show visitors, the new 5-Axis Shape Offset Roughing and Finishing feature incorporated into hyperMILL saves an enormous amount of time when creating CAM programs for parts with curved surfaces.

This exciting new innovation combined with the addition of energetic and enthusiastic new engineers to the OPEN MIND team, enabled the company to record its highest ever number of sales leads from a MACH exhibition. Commenting upon the success of the event, OPEN MIND's Sales Manager, Mr Ken Baldwin said: "Our remarkable enquiry level came as a result of the cutting edge technologies that OPEN MIND are continually introducing to enhance the already award winning hyperMILL package. Many of our enquiries came from manufacturers dissilusioned by the capability of their current CAM systems or from businesses looking to make their first step into 5-axis machining."

With up to 90% of all CAM strategies traditionally based on the assumption of two main orientations, the tool axis (Z-axis) and the standard axis perpendicular to it; this means that most CAM vendors have a package suitable for a 'flat' world. OPEN MIND's innovative new Shape Offset Roughing module is ideal for curved parts such as aero engine or pump housing parts.
Whereas alternate CAM processes consist of multiple jobs or program steps that consequently create additional programmer input and a very high overall programming effort, OPEN MIND is the first CAM manufacturer to develop a strategy specifically for 5-axis shape offset machining. This innovative feature was extremely well received among MACH visitors.

The new machining strategy in hyperMILL simply turns the curved surface into the standard surface, allowing the tool to work at any point at an angle of 90 degrees. For programming times that have previously been two to three hours, end users can eliminate time consuming tasks to program the parts in a matter of minutes.

The new approach is ideally suited to the types of cavities frequently encountered in mould and die manufacture, as well as for the machining of turbine housings, structural aerospace parts, tyre negative moulds and side panels and furthermore synthetic wood models, roll dies, lenses, watch and jewellery components to name but a few. This potetial saving and process capability undoubtedly pleased visitors to the OPEN MIND stand at the show.

Moreover, this strategy can be combined with hyperMAXX, OPEN MIND's machining strategy for high-performance roughing. This module, fully integrated with hyperMILL, combines optimal milling paths and maximum material removal and thus minimises machining times significantly.

Also receiving its MACH debut, the hyperMAXX roughing module delivers optimal milling paths and maximum material removal to minimise machining times. Already proving a resounding success in the marketplace, hyperMAXX can improve productivity by up to 600% when machining 3-axis and 5-axis components.

Based on technology that enables dynamic feed rate adjustment to existing cutting conditions, hyperMAXX facilitates fast and gentle climb milling to deliver perfect cutting conditions that enhance surface finishes as well as productivity performance. Removing large volumes of material efficiently and reliably, hyperMAXX reduces the wear and tear on both the machine tool and cutting tools. Demonstrations of hyperMAXX at MACH were well received by manufacturers keen to reduce the cycle times of components with lengthy machining cycles.