CAM software adds high-speed machining
An
Open Mind (Learning/HR) product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Sep 27, 2002
Improved machining cycles, better surface finishes, increased tool life and significantly upgraded graphics manipulation and program simulation feature in Hypermill version 7.
Improved machining cycles, better surface finishes, increased tool life and significantly upgraded graphics manipulation and program simulation are notable features of Open Mind's latest release of its Hypermill computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software for Catia CAD systems.
In particular, version 7 includes an "equidistant finishing strategy" that results in equal spaces between cutter paths on both steep and flat sections of the component geometry.
The technique is said to produce especially good results when machining at high feed rates.
Automatic stock tracking in Hypermill 7 leads to significant time savings and increased security for 3D z-level roughing as it takes account of the constantly changing profile of the workpiece at the same time as calculating and generating the milling paths.
This strategy enables collision checks for all rapid traverse and milling movements, not just against the finished part but also against the changing dimensions of the workpiece as it is being machined.
Automatic stock tracking additionally ensures that tool approach movements take the shortest paths, thus drastically cutting machining times.
New tool definitions bring users extra security as they enable full descriptions and collision checks for all tools.
By defining tool holders and cutters, it is possible to carry out a complete check for collisions with the component.
This gives plenty of advance warning at the calculation stage to avoid any damage.
For 3D finishing, equidistant finishing, and 3D free path milling cycles, Hypermill 7 allows the user to specify tapered tools, leading to more stable cutting ratios and hence higher machining speeds.
In addition to its new user interface functions, Hypermill 7 offers a range of powerful cycles such as: different stock allowances in x, y and z, spiral infeed for 3D free path milling, 3D z-level scallop height control and plane machining, optimised approach strategies for z-level finishing, optimised machining sequence for z-level roughing, and multiple allowances for surface approximation.
As a consequence of being able to set different x, y and z allowances in 3D roughing and 3D z-level finishing cycles, it is possible to machine pocket floors independently of the sidewalls.
The spiral function in 3D free path milling results in improved surface quality, as time-consuming retract and infeed movements are replaced by machining a continuous tool path with spiral vertical stepdown.
Scallop height control also brings improved surface quality in z-level finishing.
These functions let users control surface quality directly via parameter settings, as the distances between paths are calculated specifically for the selected ball end mill to result in the desired surface quality.
For 3D z-level plane machining, Hypermill 7 automatically detects planar surfaces.
The advantage is that horizontal edges can be finished automatically and it is now also possible to rest-machine planar levels exactly.
Optimised approach strategies additionally guarantee smooth surface stepdown in z-level finishing and reduce the risk of gouge marks.
Hypermill is fully integrated into Catia, functioning as though it were the resident CAM system.
Other CAD systems similarly served by Open Mind are Autodesk MDT and Thinkdesign.
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