Celeritive Technologies Releases VoluMill 3.5

By DE Editors

Celeritive Technologies, Inc. has released version 3.5 of its VoluMill toolpath software. VoluMill now includes improvements designed to speed part programming and machining cycle.

“The primary focus of version 3.5 is on reducing overall path length and machine cycle times,” says Joe McChesney, VoluMill product manager. “Although customers have consistently reported cycle time reductions of 70% or more with VoluMill, we realized that there was still room for improvement, particularly when repositioning the tool between cuts. VoluMill 3.5 has exceeded even our expectations.”

Testing of VoluMill 3.5 has shown reductions in overall toolpath length by up to a third over version 3.0, and reductions in retracts to the rapid plane by up to 90%, according to the company. Much of this improvement is due to Freeway Linking, a new technique that lifts the tool slightly off the floor of the part and detours it at high speed around obstacles along a smooth path. In addition, VoluMill 3.5 introduces improvements in toolpath sorting that minimize the length of linking moves between cutting passes.

Other enhancements include avoidance of fixtures or other obstacles,  improved cutting around islands, and better use of multiprocessor computers,  including reductions in processing time for quad-core processors. In addition,  VoluMill Universal, a version of VoluMill that can be used with CAD/CAM systems,  contains several new features that make part programming easier.

In related news, Celeritive Technologies, Inc. has signed a license agreement with OPEN MIND Technologies AG. Under terms of the agreement, OPEN MIND will integrate Celeritive’s VoluMill toolpath engine into OPEN MIND’s hyperMILL CAD/CAM product and offer it as an option upgrade. OPEN MIND will offer VoluMill for 2-axis and 3-axis hyperMILL applications.

For more information, visit Celeritive Technologies, Inc. and OPEN MIND Technologies AG.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.