The latest version of the HyperMill CAM system from Open Mind Technologies (www.openmind-tech.com) now incorporates more-powerful basic features, improved automation options, new tools and automatic re-work machining. The improved 3-D rest machining allows for the automatic detection of rest material areas where additional roughing is required; it then calc-ulates additional roughing passes for these areas.

Five-axis re-work machining has also been improved; when converting from three-axis tool-paths to five-axis ones, different tool types can be used (these include ‘barrel’ and woodruff cutters).

Meanwhile, HyperCAD (the CAD system for CAM programmers) has been supplemented with the Deformation module for the customised deforming
of geometries. This allows the global or local modification of component areas, which is otherwise only possible with ‘elaborate’ modelling techniques.

Furthermore, HyperMill is now fully compatible with Autodesk Inventor 2015. Autodesk helps users to design, visualise and simulate parts; the seamless integration with HyperMill allows users to directly access the optimal machining strategy, thereby ensuring a seamless process from the design stage through to manufacturing. Moreover, it is possible to have CAM operations automatically updated if changes are made to the CAD model.