Automation: Fast, Reliable NC Data
Volkswagen AG – Component Tool Engineering | Braunschweig (Lower Saxony), Germany
Top performance in tool engineering: The extensive range of machinery at Volkswagen’s component tool engineering operation in Braunschweig is successfully programmed with the hyperMILL® CAD/CAM system from OPEN MIND. Standardisation and automation are top priorities.
Two premises apply in order to achieve maximum efficiency in planning and manufacturing processes: On the one hand, company-specific manufacturing expertise should be used in planning so that only secured NC programs, equipment and tools reach the machine. On the other hand, standardisation and automation should be promoted continuously.
Efficient transfer of manufacturing information
Volkswagen uses colour conventions assigned to specific types of machining to manufacture mould and pocket geometries without drawings. As a result, the sealing surfaces of a tool are displayed in blue, for example. This supports a faster, error-free flow of information from CAD to CAM to the workshop. hyperMILL® detects the colour codes thanks to feature and macro technology and automatically assigns the faces to the appropriate machining mode.
In the case of drill holes, the system goes beyond conventional automatic feature recognition and automatically generates machining features to any degree of complexity. When it comes to these generic features, hyperMILL® evaluates the technological parameters as well as the geometry of a CAD model. Intelligent macros link complex feature definitions with tool information in automatically generated job sequences. Programming highly complex 2D machining operations is achieved in no time with minimal user interaction.
“Every job step is transparent and easily reproduced with hyperMILL®.”
Jörg Wenserski, Head of Engineering at the Machine Centre at the Volkswagen plant in Braunschweig.
Collaborative partnership
Both companies benefit from the partnership. “Volkswagen is one of our largest key accounts in the automotive sector, and we have been able to demonstrate our strengths in 5‑axis machining and automation,” says Volker Nesenhöner, CEO of OPEN MIND. “As a result of the close cooperation, it has been possible to implement fascinating technical solutions that make a sustained contribution to the success of Volkswagen.” Jörg Wenserski also highlights the positive outcomes of the long-term partnership with the CAM provider: “The innovative strength of OPEN MIND greatly contributes to the fact that our standardisation and automation strategy is being further advanced in mechanical engineering.”
Customer Story
Volkswagen AG | Component Tool Engineering
Braunschweig, Germany