Open Mind release 'CAD For CAM Users' package at MACH 2014

In hyperCAD-S, Open Mind has developed its own CAD system that is matched to the company's CAM system hyperMILL. Designed specifically to address the requirements of NC programmers, hyperCAD-S Version 2013.2 has been improved in a number of ways. Tool and mould making, in particular, is always associated with geometries from a variety of sources. With this in mind, HyperCAD-S incorporates a series of interfaces that have been enhanced for the import of 2D entities, 3D meshes and dimensions as vector graphics (by adding a DXF/DWG interface). This allows layers, colours, line types and work-planes to be imported, providing they are defined in the origin system. If parts are stored in hyperCAD-S, they can be analysed thoroughly, says Open Mind. A new feature with this product is the recognition of double entities. Regardless of whether this involves curves or faces, as soon as they occur twice, they will be recognised and displayed. First, the component is displayed as transparent; the double parts found are then highlighted in the selection colour. According to Open Mind, the advantage of this new function is the reliable removal of double entities already in the CAD part of the system, which saves a lot of time during CAM programming. It is also helpful to now have the option to reverse the current selection. Through the inversion, it is said that the user can quickly isolate certain entities by selecting, inverting and rendering invisible surrounding entities. What remains are the entities of interest. To some degree, CAM users must also be able to make constructive changes to imported parts to prepare them for NC machining. This often includes the filleting of faces. Using hyperMILL 2013.2, Open Mind says it is now possible to generate constant fillet faces between two faces or tangential chains that are trimmed and extended automatically. Advanced edge curve recognition has also been added. According to Open Mind, this is a fully integrated function that facilitates the user's work. The new command creates the topology of the faces, 'sews' them together and generates a clean edge boundary. Finally, Open Mind has developed a new data format for hyperCAD-S called hyperMILL CAD Template. This is said to allow users to create, save and reuse templates in a meaningful manner. This new 'CAD for CAM users' solution will be introduced at MACH 2014 with extensive demonstrations available. MACH 2014 - Birmingham NEC, 7-11 April