Do any of you experienced HyperMILL users also have expereince with Cimatron? We just purchased a Mikron HSM-600U and are looking for a good software to support it. Our palnned 5 axis work is with miniature cryogenic turbomachinery, and we are also new to 5-axis machining. Any software pros/cons would be very much appreciated.

We are also looking for an experienced programmer/operator. Check out our website if you might know someone that is interested www.creare.com.

Contact Chris in this thread. http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19487

He posted at the bottom of the thread and works with micro machining at a level you could relate to.

Turbo blades, impellers, single and multi blade with or without splitters can easily be programmed in hyperMILL. I would be happy to look at one of your files.

Thanks for the response Blowby. Due to proprietary issues, I cannot send you a solid model of our components without an NDA. I can, however, show pictures. The small turbine was cut with a 0.0045 in. dia. endmill, and the compressor impeller shown was cut with a 0.017 in. dia. endmill.

I generated the program for the small turbine myself without software. The compressor impeller was cut using 3-D surfacing, and programmed with EdgeCAM.

Since we are just now getting a 5-axis machine, Cimatron and Hypermill are the two software packages we were considereing. Cimatron has a "special" micromilling addition to their software that is supposed to be well suited for very small geometries.

During the Hypermill demo that Al gave last week, there were potentially some problems with the very small radii (.0005 in.) at the turbine blade tips. Al is looking further into the software settings to determine if that was the problem.

Let me start by stating clearly who I am Bart Simpson the Marketing Director at Delcam.

If you want a supplier with experience both of Blades & Blisks I though this info might be of interest.

PowerMILl used of Micro Machining at the West Midlands Micro-Machining Centre (www.micromachining.co.uk),

http://www.delcam.com/news/cstudy_article.asp?releaseId=18

PowerMILL in this months Modern Machine Shop and our experiences of Blade and Blisk Machining

http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/020704.html

Bart
bjs@delcam.com

Josh

With some advice from our help desk, we've got the desired toolpaths on the turbine. John will send you a video shortly.

-AL