Zeltwanger Maschinenbau GmbH specializes as a service provider in highly complex machining and serves customers from the semiconductor and automotive industries, medical technology, and microautomation with high-quality components and assemblies. With the CAD/CAM technologies hyperMILL MAXX Machining, hyperMILL TURNING Solutions, and hyperMILL VIRTUAL Machining, the company fully exploits the capabilities of OPEN MIND's software and also acts as a beta tester.
Zeltwanger's customers are demanding. For a semiconductor industry company specializing in laser technology, the contract manufacturer supplies various components that all require the highest precision – from pin-sized stainless steel parts to workpieces weighing 250 kg that are machined from three-ton aluminum blocks. 'µm tolerances are part of our daily business,' says Wolfgang Pfeiffer, head of CAM programming at Zeltwanger Maschinenbau.
'Since the batch sizes range from single pieces to small series of about 500 pieces, we have to produce between 20 and 60 runnable, safe NC programs per week on average, depending on the complexity. To manage this workload, we program in two shifts and need a CAM software that supports us simply, quickly, and reliably.' Zeltwanger has been using hyperMILL since 2008, and the ten-member CAM programming team has expanded its capabilities with optional modules of the software such as TURNING Solutions or VIRTUAL Machining.
Turning-Milling for economical complete machining
Zeltwanger is now also relying on turning-milling centers. Wolfgang Pfeiffer explains the advantages: 'By combining turning and milling on one machine, many parts can be completely machined in a single operation. This eliminates downtime during machine changes, and clamping errors are avoided.' Programming such hybrid machines poses high demands, but with hyperMILL TURNING Solutions and the available TURN-MILL Machining, reliable implementation is achieved.
'The operation of the turning functions is largely analogous to milling, making it almost self-explanatory for our experienced colleagues,' Wolfgang Pfeiffer continues. The programmers thus receive reliable tool paths and a dependable simulation for these collision-prone machines. hyperMILL also offers perfect support for milling-turning centers with the MILL-TURN Machining module. This allows powerful milling strategies to be combined with turning operations, enabling complete machining with high efficiency, precise manufacturing results, and maximum safety.
Accuracy secured
With hyperMILL VIRTUAL Machining, the NC code can be generated, optimized, and simulated securely. This allows Zeltwanger to achieve the highest level of safety in milling, turning, or hybrid machining. Wolfgang Pfeiffer states: 'Only successfully tested, meaning safe, collision-free programs are released by the software.'
Zeltwanger uses the software module intensively and now acts as a beta tester for hyperMILL VIRTUAL Machining, particularly in the area of milling-turning, a field that OPEN MIND is further developing in the use of virtual machines.
Contact:
