Check it Out: HSMXpress

By Anthony J. Lockwood

Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:

I have a no brainer for you to check out today, and it’ll cost you nothing but could change everything.

HSMWorks has made the HSMXpress CAM system yours for the download. Before I get to the nitty-gritty, here’s the cool part: HSMXpress is a real 2D/2.5D CAM application, not a dumbed-down version of the company’s flagship product HSMWorks. These guys sold HSMXpress for $5,000. So, why have they made it a freebie? Frankly, after speaking with my contact, the basic answer is that they can, they believe they offer the next generation CAM system, and they hope your experience with HSMXpress will inspire you to go check out an evaluation unit of HSMWorks for high-end CAM.

Now, HSMXpress was designed from the ground up not only to integrate with SolidWorks, but be natural to the SolidWorks user (Gold Partner and all that). You know how many analysis applications work inside SolidWork? Same idea. In other words, the developers have recognized that the lines between CAD jocks and CAM mavens can blur. This realization is especially important for people who thought that you could extend your design business by getting an in-house CNC system and doing short-run production, only to learn that programming toolpaths are tough to create—and many CAM systems are a mystery to CAD users. HSMXpress is engineered to make the design-to-manufacture process more natural and more integrated.

For example, HSMXpress provides full associativity between the SolidWorks model and machining operations, meaning that model changes reflect in the toolpath automatically. Associativity, of course, makes HSMXpress interesting to you CAM vets—no translation errors, easier on-the-floor changes, etc. Something else that might interest CAM mavens is that the software can generate toolpaths in a couple of minutes rather than dozens. Oh, and it feels like CAM to you while it feels like SolidWorks to the CAD guys.

So, here’s the nickel tour: HSMXpress is a full-featured CAM system for licensed SolidWorks 2010 or newer users. It supports 64-bit and multicore technology (a 32-bit version is also available), which means it’s fast. It provides all the expected milling machining operations such as 2D roughing and pocketing, drilling, facing, and contouring. HSMXpress can automatically import SolidWorks part files as form tools. It has integrated multicore simulation with toolpath/solid forward and reverse material removal, a JavaScript-based post-processor system, and a CNC program editor with file compare. In short, HSMXpress should provide 90% of you with full control over all the aspects of 2D machining, including lead in/out and transitions between passes, that you’ll ever need.

You can check out HSMXpress from this link. To download it, registration is required. This sounds to me like a no brainer. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose, but maybe something better to gain.

Thanks, Pal.” Lockwood

Anthony J. Lockwood
Editor at Large, Desktop Engineering

Download the HSMXpress 2D/2.5D CAM System