OPEN MIND

The aerospace sector, one of the most demanding industries.

The hyperMILL® CAM software helps manufacturing companies in the aerospace sector gain a critical edge in the face of tough competition.

Complex workpieces, difficult-to-machine materials, and tight time windows are constant companions in the aerospace sector, one of the most demanding industries when it comes to technology. Perfect NC pro­gram­ming across all machining processes is therefore a key prerequisite for companies if they wish to remain competitive in the complex environment of structural, engine, and non-structural aerospace parts.

Innovative Solutions Designed to Meet Tough Challenges

Be it aluminum structural parts, engine components, or non-structural parts for actuation and flight control systems: The hyperMILL® CAM software can solve the challenges of the aerospace industry with ease. hyperMILL® is a comprehensive solution that features intelligent methods and strategies ideally suited to typical aerospace tasks. OPEN MIND is a true innovator and has developed numerous functions that result in perfect component surfaces while also accelerating programming and machining. Complex workpieces, free-form surfaces, deep cavities, and the like can be reliably programmed in the shortest possible time using the HPC, HSC, and 5-axis solutions provided in hyperMILL®. Even difficult cast and forged parts made of titanium, Inconel and other super-alloys can be machined efficiently and in a tool-friendly manner based on proven HSC and HPC strategies.

 
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Industry Challenges

  • Decreasing setup times

    Complete and multi-axis machining using mill-turn and 5-axis technologies

  • Reduced programming times

    Automated NC programming for pockets and holes thanks to feature and macro technology

  • Reduced machining times of material-intense machining jobs

    Innovative HSC and HPC strategies for faster roughing and finishing

  • Improved process reliability and safety

    Collision-tested toolpaths and state-of-the-art simulation technology

  • Better quality

    Blending cycles minimize additional finishing processes

  • Demanding materials

    Milling that goes easy on tools and machines thanks to HSC and HPC strategies

hyperMILL® MILL-TURN Machining: Aerospace – Engine Case

This video shows the machining of an engine case for the aerospace industry on a Hermle C42 MT U dynamic. It was programmed using hyperMILL® MILL-TURN Machining strategies combined with high-performance strategies from the hyperMILL® MAXX Machining package such as High-Performance Turning and High-Performance Milling.

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The Right Strategy for any Application

hyperMILL® offers a comprehensive range of high-performance machining strategies for every application. The name says it all: The hyperMILL® MAXX Machining performance package offers the perfect strategies for high-performance roughing, finishing, and drilling. For example, exceptionally high metal removal rates can be achieved when roughing thin-walled structural parts. hyperMILL® provides specially developed applications for the efficient manufacture of special aerospace components such as impellers, blisks, and turbine blades.

Complete Machining Is the Baseline

5-axis machining centers and hybrid machines are the accepted standard for manufacturing companies in the aerospace industry. In addition to other components, a powerful and versatile CAM solution is required to fully exploit the potential of these machines. hyperMILL® combines powerful milling and turning strategies in a single user interface to ensure efficient programming and machining. Required setups are reduced to a minimum, setup times are shortened, and at the same time accuracy is increased.

Fast, Reliable, and Automated Programming

OPEN MIND’s feature and macro technology lays the foundation for automated NC programming. Feature technology can automatically recognize standard geometries such as bores, grooves, and pockets together with all their machining properties. The information obtained is then reused for manual or automated programming by means of stored machining sequences – so-called machining macros. Feature and macro technology not only significantly reduces programming times; this type of standardization also helps to avoid operating errors. If required, programming projects can be executed in a fully automated manner.

Would you like to learn more about our complete CAM solution for the Aerospace Industry?

If so, please contact OPEN MIND Technologies UK Ltd.
Unit 3, Bicester Business Park, Telford Road
Bicester, Oxfordshire OX26 4LN

CAM Strategies for Industry-specific Components

hyperMILL® MAXX Machining
High-Feed-Cutting
Special Applications
2.5d pocket roughing (hpc) | structure part | aerospace industry –

HPC roughing
High-performance roughing with trochoidal toolpaths enables very high material removal rates. This is highly useful, for example, for roughing structural parts as quickly as possible.

5-axis helical drilling | structure part | aerospace industry –

5-axis helical drilling
Using this strategy, the material is milled from a circular pocket based on helical tilt milling in a 5-axis simultaneous movement, which is particularly efficient and tool friendly, even when handling high-strength materials.

5-axis tangent plane machining | structure part | aerospace industry –

5-axis tangent plane machining
This method allows users to achieve time savings of up to 90 percent during tangent plane machining. The use of conical barrel cutters allows for larger line increments while delivering a better surface quality at the same time, compared to conventional finishing methods.

5-axis shape offset roughing | aerospace industry –

5-axis shape offset roughing
This function enables the roughing of curved surfaces with a con­sis­tent allowance. The roughing job is completed even faster when used together with the High-Performance-Cutting (HPC) option.

High Speed Cutting (HSC) / High Feed Cutting (HFC)

hyperMILL® offers a large number of functions for HSC and HFC machining. Using a freely definable tool geometry makes it possible, for example, to precisely map high feed cutters, which are then taken fully into account during collision checks and rest material com­pu­ta­ti­on. Machining times can be reduced in connection with the ‘a­dap­ti­ve pocket’ function, whereby circular or rectangular pocket ge­o­met­ri­es are automatically adapted in the area to be machined.

impeller blisk | aerospace industry –

Multi-blade package
Automated functions as part of the special strategies as well as a simple user interface with graphic support ensure rapid programming of blisks and impellers.

single blade | aerospace industry –

Blade package
Optimized milling strategies for turbine blade and hub machining enable complete machining. Simple definition thanks to automated functions ensures short programming times.

What our customers say

Customers of OPEN MIND Technologies UK Ltd.

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R E Thompson & Co.

"We looked at five or six systems, but we wanted the flexibility to create really good tool paths. It was a very short review of these systems, as we quickly narrowed it down to two packages. hyperMILL® is very well supported in the UK, lots of prestigious companies and subcontractors use it and there is local support.”

Mr Thompson, Company Owner

R E Thompson & Co. Ltd
Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Takumi Precision Engineering

“The team did their due diligence, taking in hyperMILL® demos and then asking our existing CAM vendor if the barrel tool feature and the mirroring package were available. Our CAM supplier and other vendors all said ‘it’s on its way’ or ‘it’s in development’ regarding more than just these two features in hyperMILL®.
That told us all we needed to know about the various vendors in the market, but it told us a lot more about hyperMILL®.”

Gerry Reynolds, Managing Director

Takumi Precision Engineering Ltd
Limerick, Ireland
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Tml Precision Engineering

“We preferred hyperMILL® particularly for its ease-of-use and superior support, but at the time had to concentrate our investment efforts on machine tools.“

Nell Dyer, Managing Director

Tml Precision Engineering Ltd
Norfolk, United Kingdom
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Reliable Simulations Ensure Error-free Processing

‘Safety first’ is of particular importance when producing for the aerospace industry. The hyperMILL® CAM software comes with a powerful NC simulation to ensure that everything will run safely on the machine tool. Collisions are detected in advance and avoided. The advantages are obvious: improved process reliability and fast set-up processes.
The NC code-based simulation of hyperMILL® VIRTUAL Machining allows for the virtual mapping of real machining situations, including the programmable logic controller (PLC) and the machine environment. The simulation already captures and shows users the exact machine movements that will be later performed on the machine tool. The user interface is based on the familiar machine control and is thus very easy to o­pe­ra­te. The solution also supports quick familiarization with the simulation. Based on the NC code, hyperMILL® VIRTUAL Machining offers numerous options not only for simulations, but also for analyzing and optimizing the machining processes. CAM software that is tightly integrated with the machine tools is an important prerequisite for realizing Industry 4.0-grade production.

Seamless hyperMILL® PLM Integrations

For aerospace companies that want to combine all product and process data (including NC manufacturing data) into a central PLM environment, hyperMILL® offers corresponding interfaces to leading PLM systems such as Teamcenter, Windchill, or SAP PLM. The CAM system thus enables the networking of the relevant manufacturing disciplines as well as the integration of all CAD, CAM, and NC processes.

OPEN MIND – A Long-standing CAM Partner of the Aviation Industry

In numerous successful projects, OPEN MIND has proven its extensive know-how and shown how components in the aerospace industry can be programmed and processed efficiently. hyperMILL® has also established itself as a CAM system that stands for programming the most complex parts with unprecedented ease, such as impellers and blisks, turbine blades made of high-strength nickel-based alloys, engine housings, and structural parts.

More Videos: CAM software for Aerospace

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5-axis Machining: Turbine Blade on GROB
5-axis Machining: Aerospace – Structural Part
5-axis Machining: Turbine Blade on GROB

This video shows a machining example of a turbine blade on a GROB G550 machine programmed with the CAM software hyperMILL®.
For more information: turbine blade package

5-axis Machining: Aerospace – Structural Part

This video shows the machining of a structural part for the aerospace industry on a GROB G352. It was machined in one setup using highly efficient roughing and finishing strategies from hyperMILL® MAXX Machining.

 
 

References

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Automatic Industrial Machines Ltd

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Copsey Engineering

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HEGGEMANN AG

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Midland Aerospace

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Free OPEN MIND Webinars!

Advantage through knowledge – benefit from our webinar recording and increase your productivity!

Interested in our White Paper for the Aerospace Industry?

PDF: CAM software for Aerospace | 2 MB
Aerospace Solutions
Innovative Solutions Designed to Meet Tough Challenges

 

Advantages at a Glance

  • Optimum roughing and finishing strategies

    That are particularly efficient and ensure tool- and machine-friendly machining, even when handling materials that are difficult to machine

  • Comprehensive best-in-class 5-axis technology

    That enables the safe machining of complex components and deep cavities using short, stable tools

  • Tight dimensional tolerances

    To achieve top quality thanks to single clamping made possible by 5-axis and mill-turning technology

  • Complete machining

    All machining strategies integrated in a single user interface

  • High degree of automation

    From feature and macro technology through to fully automated NC programming (API)

  • Convenient user interface

    CAM solution operated using a single user interface. Intelligent automated functions facilitate intuitive handling.

  • High process reliability

    Simulation and collision avoidance for safe machine-based processes

  • High-end postprocessors

    Optimally tailored to the customer’s requirements

  • Complete documentation

    Simple and well-structured documentation workflow when programming certifiable processes with hyperMILL®

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