Reduced cycle time in aerospace manufacturing

The integrated hyperMILL MAXX Machining finishing module, a performance package of the hyperMILL CAM software suite, is the CAM programming source enabling the use of conical barrel cutter technology to reduce cycle times over 90%. It is well suited for planar, ruled and curved surfaces often found in complex five-axis components. hyperMILL MAXX Machining offers three powerful modules for finishing, roughing and drilling.

"On a recent aerospace project, the hyperMILL MAXX Machining finishing process allowed us to increase our step down between tool paths by 12x when compared with traditional machining methods using ball nose cutting tools. This saved us five hours per part in finishing operations while reducing cusp height," said Chris Nunn, President of Concept Reality. "We were able to deliver a higher quality part in less time, a great benefit to our customer."

The hyperMILL MAXX Machining finishing module makes efficient use of machine and tool options in relation to surface quality and speed, by applying an innovative five-axis tangent plane machining strategy and conical barrel cutters that use the functions of a barrel cutter and a ball mill simultaneously.

A conical barrel cutter features a very large radius, ranging from 250 to 1,500mm. The large radius of the conical barrel cutter makes step-over distances of 6 mm and 8 mm a reality. It does not require switching cutters in order to finish adjacent areas such as rounded interior corners, and hard-to-reach areas can be machined in a highly efficient, secure manner. In addition to surface quality, the hyperMILL MAXX Machining finishing process enables short production times, increased tool life, the use of fewer tools and it offers the highest degree of process reliability.