The latest 2021.1 version of the hyperMILL® CAD/CAM suite is now available and it offers a wide range of new functions for even higher quality surface finishes. In mill/turning, OPEN MIND now offers an option for simultaneous turning and HPC machining. In addition, a new function is also available in hyperCAD®-S that allows users to easily align stock and model data, which is particularly useful before reworking additively manufactured stocks.

The latest ‘5-axis Radial Machining’ function now makes programming easier while delivering unparalleled surface finishes. This new strategy allows toolpaths for bottle, tube or exhaust shapes to be calculated even quicker by using a radial projection method. An indexed tilt per cut allows each step to achieve the best possible surface quality. Also, the standard integrated ‘High-precision surface mode’ for ultra-precise surfaces in the µm range and ‘Smooth overlap’ strategies are available to enhance surface finishes in transition areas.

Best possible surface quality

The new XY Optimisation feature in the ‘3D Profile Finishing’ function improves machining with X or Y-axis infeed strategies, hones the ‘Smooth overlap’ strategy to perfection. If an area cannot be optimally machined in the X-axis on a steep wall, it is automatically machined in the Y-orientation to maintain a constant infeed. The optimised blending in the overlap area makes changes to the machining direction that are not visible on the workpiece.

Edit toolpaths interactively

OPEN MIND’s hyperMILL® 2021.1 now provides a new, extremely convenient and intuitive option for subsequently editing toolpaths. The ‘Edit toolpath’ Interactive mode gives the user great flexibility to select and remove existing toolpaths at selected points and curves or entire toolpath sequences between two G0 movements.

hyperMILL® adds turning to its repertoire…

With the optional hyperMILL® MILL-TURN Machining module, OPEN MIND once again demonstrates that it is a leader in the field of multi-axis machining strategies, now applying its milling expertise to turning. By combining all the advantages of HPC turning and simultaneous turning, the high-performance mode has been integrated into ‘3-axis Simultaneous Roughing’.

This makes it very easy to use high-performance toolpaths with an optimised approach and retract movements during simultaneous turning. Simultaneous roughing is enhanced with the advantages of HPC turning at the push of a button. This combines both technologies with maximum user-friendliness. The benefits include shorter machining times, increased process reliability, extended tool life and the option to use shorter clamped tools.

The integrated hyperCAD®-S CAD software provides a new function, which is particularly helpful when the workpiece to be machined differs only slightly from the stock. In cases where a high-precision pre-cast part or an additively manufactured workpiece needs to be machined, the ‘Align Best Fit’ function ensures that the CAD model of the workpiece fits perfectly with the stock model.

CAD model data can be aligned with based on defined and matching points. An algorithm automatically calculates the best possible alignment and the user can use various parameters to control exactly how the alignment should look. Programmers can lock the translation and rotation axes as well as define a weighting between the individual matching points. This allows, for example, meshes of stock or welding areas to be optimally and quickly aligned with the actual CAD model.

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