CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
9 July 2008
Product News
hyperMILL® Certified and Seamlessly Integrated in Autodesk® Inventor™ 2009
Autodesk® certifies the compatibility of hyperMILL® with Autodesk® Inventor™ 2009. The software provider also confirms that hyperMILL® provides full integration and data associativity with the newest version of its CAD suite.
hyperMILL® offers Autodesk® Inventor™ 2009 users the advantage of integrated processes with uniform data models and enhanced security and transparency throughout the entire production process. These features have now been officially certified by Autodesk®. Integration included adapting the user interface of the hyperMILL® CAM application to match the CAD interface of Autodesk®. Autodesk® 2009 users, as well as users of the 2008, 11 and 10 versions of Autodesk®, can thus continue to operate in the working environment they are familiar with. The certification process of Autodesk® also ensures the integration of hyperMILL® with Inventor™ 2009. Thanks to full associativity with Autodesk® construction data, it is now possible to have CAM operations automatically updated when changes are made to the CAD models. By accessing a single database and opening hyperMILL® in the CAD interface, software integration improves speed and efficiency, prevents errors and reduces the workload of the user.
For continuous processing
OPEN MIND Technologies AG’s hyperMILL® CAM software is used worldwide by companies in the mechanical engineering, automotive and aerospace industries as well as by tool and mould manufacturers. Users appreciate the versatile machining strategies, the user-friendliness and the intuitive graphics-based user interface, as well as the ease of programming. Integrated automated functions reduce programming complexity and help prevent incorrect data entry. By means of new feature technology, OPEN MIND has succeeded in reliably transferring geometric information from a design and converting it into hyperMILL®. Pre-existing machining know-how can thus be efficiently re-used, reducing programming complexity. Continuous processing thanks to CAD integration. Integrated processes with universal data models guarantee security and transparency in the production process. Familiar user interfaces reduce the potential for human error and increase acceptance amongst users.
This is why hyperMILL® in Autodesk® Inventor™ can offer Autodesk® users a number of significant advantages. The CAD integrations of the hyperMILL® CAM software facilitate reliable and continuous processing that is on a par with single-system solutions. A uniform data model can be used throughout the entire process, from design through programming and up to the simulation stage. Both the CAD system and the CAM system access the same database. It is thus possible to do design work and calculations in parallel. With CAD integration, the “look and feel” of the CAM product fits in with the CAD interface and users of Autodesk® Inventor™ continue to operate within a familiar working environment.
Flexibility thanks to comprehensive feature definition
Based on the new hyperMILL® V9, hyperMILL® in Autodesk® Inventor™ boasts fully developed feature technology. Feature recognition takes place across the entire model, detecting holes as well as many other geometries such pockets and plane levels, which are then stored by hyperMILL® in a feature list. Complex machining sequences, in the form of technology macros, can then be assigned to these features. This provides a range of intelligent and automated functions to support programmers. Another important feature is the bidirectionality between the CAD model and the feature list, enabling features to be identified both in this list and in the CAD model. Sorting and filter functions, including type, orientation, colour, layer or parameters such as the drilling depth and the diameter, make it possible to precisely search for the geometries to be processed. A particular highlight is the way in which the current status of the model, including visible elements, orientation and zoom, can be saved and activated for any feature and at any time. All in all, feature technology provides the ideal way to process existing machining and geometry data efficiently, thus significantly reducing the amount of programming required in the CAM system.
All strategies under one interface
With the hyperMILL® in Autodesk® Inventor™, users have access to a wide range of strategies for 2D, 3D and multi-axis machining, as well as 5-axis simultaneous milling and mill-turning. These include 2D cycles for face and contour milling, for milling various pocket geometries, as well as drilling and helical drilling. Profile roughing and finishing, free-path milling, ISO machining, Z-level roughing with automatic stock tracking, roughing of any stock, Z-level finishing and multiple-job stock tracking offer numerous possibilities for 3D machining.
hyperMILL® 5AXIS is known worldwide for its easy-to-use and reliable 5-axis technology. Depending on the machining task and the machine kinematics, users can choose the optimal type of 5-axis machining from a variety of tilt strategies including milling with fixed tool angle 3+2, automatic indexing and 5-axis simultaneous machining. hyperMILL® 5AXIS offers all the 3D strategies of hyperMILL® in addition to 5-axis tool positions. A whole range of special 5-axis strategies are available such as 5-axis top milling, 5-axis swarf cutting, 5-axis contouring and 5-axis cutting edge machining.
The mill/turn module millTURN is fully integrated in hyperMILL® and allows users to freely combine milling and turning strategies in a single program. hyperMILL® millTURN integrates turning strategies for roughing, finishing, recessing, thread cutting and drilling. With such a broad spectrum of machining strategies, this CAM solution offers users the highest possible level of production flexibility.
Efficiency through easier operation
Efficient CAM programming is heavily dependent on the application’s ease of use. Examples here include the creation of drilling jobs with different positions, rest material machining and stock tracking. By combining feature recognition and multi-axis drilling, drilling jobs can be automatically generated across several sides and with several tilt angles in a single job. Complex drilling operations can be defined as centred drillings, simple drillings, drillings with chip breaks or tappings. This practical automatisation saves users considerable time. By defining the maximum machining depth, it becomes very easy to avoid milling tool fracture in deep zones during rest material machining. Furthermore, the use of lollipop milling cutters is now possible. These can be used to machine undercut zones, which can be applied on simpler machine tools and is much less time-consuming than working with tilted tools. The stock tracking function guarantees control of the machining status. Users can now calculate the current machining status for every single job step, for any number of selected job steps, or even for the entire job, as required. The user can also define various tool positions for individual jobs. Management of stock takes place in a separate job list window, providing a very clear display of the stock that has already been calculated.
Additional information is available upon request or from our website at http://www.openmind-tech.com.
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