Working in cooperation with the French company, TFTLabs SAS, OPEN MIND Technologies AG has developed a CAD conversion interface that converts CATIA V5 data to hyperCAD-S data both quickly and flexibly.

The new CAD conversion portal is especially designed for users who only need to transfer models occasionally and companies that are not yet in a position to assess their future conversion volume. The interface is a ‘Service-on-Demand’ that is called only when it is actually required. Costs are therefore only incurred when the service is used and users are charged on an appealing pay-per-use basis.

The conversion portal is fast and simple to use. Clicking the ‘CAD Conversion Portal’ tab in hyperCAD-S opens a menu window for selecting the CATIA V5 models. Before the model data is converted the user is shown a 3D preview. If everything is correct, the conversion can start. The data is immediately available for processing in hyperCAD-S. The interface is a cloud service that downloads the conversion software. This means that the actual transfer of data always takes place on the user’s local computer. The user can be certain that no CAD models are transferred. In addition, the web-based ‘Transfer-on-Demand’ always ensures that the latest conversion software is used.

“There is always enormous pressure to adapt CAD data conversion software. Our new on-demand interface allows us to offer hyperCAD-S users, who only need to convert CATIA V5 models occasionally, a flexible solution with no up-front licensing costs,” explains Hagen Rühlich, Technical Director at OPEN MIND. And François Chrétien, Chief Scientist at TFTLabs SAS, adds: “We are pleased to have been able to convince OPEN MIND – one of the world’s leading CAM/CAD manufacturers – of the benefits of our ‘Open 3D solution for the Web’. OPEN MIND can rely on our over 20 years of experience in the area of interoperability.”

The partners’ plan for the future is to expand their offering and support other CAD formats in addition to CATIA V5.

Working in cooperation with the French company, TFTLabs SAS, OPEN MIND Technologies AG has developed a CAD conversion interface that converts CATIA V5 data to hyperCAD®-S data both quickly and flexibly. The new CAD conversion portal is especially designed for users who only need to transfer models occasionally and companies that are not yet in a position to assess their future conversion volume. The interface is a ‘Service-on-Demand’ that is called only when it is actually required. Costs are therefore only incurred when the service is used and users are charged on an appealing pay-per-use basis.

The conversion portal is fast and simple to use. Clicking the ‘CAD Conversion Portal’ tab in hyperCAD®-S opens a menu window for selecting the CATIA V5 models. Before the model data is converted the user is shown a 3D preview. If everything is correct, the conversion can start. The data is immediately available for processing in hyperCAD®-S. The interface is a cloud service that downloads the conversion software. This means that the actual transfer of data always takes place on the user’s local computer. The user can be certain that no CAD models are transferred. In addition, the web-based ‘Transfer-on-Demand’ always ensures that the latest conversion software is used.

“There is always enormous pressure to adapt CAD data conversion software. Our new on-demand interface allows us to offer hyperCAD®-S users, who only need to convert CATIA V5 models occasionally, a flexible solution with no up-front licensing costs,” explains Hagen Rühlich, Technical Director at OPEN MIND. And François Chrétien, Chief Scientist at TFTLabs SAS, adds: “We are pleased to have been able to convince OPEN MIND – one of the world’s leading CAM/CAD manufacturers – of the benefits of our ‘Open 3D solution for the Web’. OPEN MIND can rely on our over 20 years of experience in the area of interoperability.” The partners’ plan for the future is to expand their offering and support other CAD formats in addition to CATIA V5.

With hyperCAD®-S, OPEN MIND Technologies AG has created a CAD solution that is optimally matched to the tasks of an NC programmer. hyperCAD®-S was extended to include the ‘Solids’ module in the new 2014.2 version of hyperMILL®. The module makes it possible to import and create solid models and modify them quickly with direct modelling.

hyperCAD®-S, the CAD system from OPEN MIND Technologies AG, is a proprietary development. Even the core of the system was developed in-house. “This allows us to quickly respond to market demands as well as requirements resulting from the further development of hyperMILL®,” says Wolfgang Weiss, product manager for CAD at OPEN MIND.

Up to now, hyperCAD®-S has worked with surfaces. The software has now received a solid extension. This results in total consistency between surfaces and solids. Everything is now one part, one view on the solid model.

Data import and geometry selection

NC programmers frequently have to work with external data. To import this data reliably, NC programmers require high-performance interfaces. The interface package in hyperCAD®-S includes IGES, STEP, DXF/ DWG, CATIA V4® and V5®, Parasolid®, Siemens NX, PTC® Creo and SOLIDWORKS. It is also possible to import point clouds.

The selection of individual geometry parts is very important for subsequent machining. To this end, the new version features comprehensive selection options for faces and curves:

Limited faces

• Tangential faces
• Chamfer
• Fillets
• Coaxial faces
• Coplanar faces
• Optimised chain selection

“Smart selector technology enables the simple, combined selection of surface areas and curves. Users can now select and use the required milling areas for hyperMILL® much faster,” explains Wolfgang Weiss.

Working with solids

CAM programmers do not require geometry or feature history for solid modelling. This is particularly advantageous when it comes to processing external data. Users can now use direct modelling in hyperCAD®-S to modify geometries or surfaces. The model geometry can be machined directly. Simply select the desired features or surfaces and modify them by dragging the handles and manipulators. The user does not have to consider the construction history or any constraints. This significantly shortens machining times, as users do not have to take any parametric dependencies into account.

The functions presented here can be used on native and imported geometries.

Creating solids can take place in the traditional manner by linearly extruding a contour or by rotating a contour. This makes it possible to create linear slots and rotational slots.

There are also holes, patterns, fillets and chamfers as basic entities.

Users that frequently work with the same, recurring features are sure to take advantage of the new zone feature. This enables users to create user-specific features. Zones can be transformed, copied, deleted or stored as a user-defined selection.

It is possible to modify everything that has been created. There are also Boolean operations such as union, difference, intersection and split.

Features can also be changed through deletion, new definition, mirroring, extraction, generation of patterns etc.

All of these options enable CAM programmers to make necessary changes to CAD models, such as when creating mean tolerances or additions as well as when constructing clamping tools or fixtures.

The software is designed for 64-bit multi-application and well suited for running on modern multi-core processors.