Beechwood invests in HyperMaxx software

The success of Beechwood Engineering, Poulton-le-Fylde, is based on its 2007 decision to invest in advanced machine tool technology complemented by the latest software.

After purchasing a five-axis DMU 80 MonoBlock from DMG, the company also installed HyperMill from Open Mind Technologies (www.openmind-tech.com). This enabled it to come through the recession and expand its customer base in the aerospace, Formula 1 and medical markets.

Company director Stewart Churchill says: “With HyperMill, our engineers are able to take a customer’s 3-D model and apply tool-paths that remove material not only in an efficient manner but also with full control over the finishing process. Several of our older products have been ‘migrated across’ from multiple-set-up operations on three-axis milling machines and re-engineered for the five-axis machine, using HyperMill. This has improved productivity by more than 20% and cut set-ups by 15%, while delivering cost reductions and surface-finish improvements that have been well received by our customers.

“Last year, we had a visit from Open Mind sales manager Craig Walsh, who advised us to look at the latest HyperMaxx software module. It was immediately clear that the strategies for removing material were generating completely new tool-paths that delivered staggering results. We added a second seat of HyperMill and invested in the HyperMaxx module. We have now standardised on this software for program generation for all our milling requirements.”


Senior programmer Andy Whitney says: “Within hours of installing HyperMaxx, we were able to reduce complex programming times from hours to minutes, and our machining times were cut by around 90%. For some of our parts with steep walls, HyperMaxx removes large volumes of material very quickly. “It provides additional Z-level passes that take the roughing on three, four and five-axis applications even closer to the finished size, which further reduces finish-machining times.”