Azimut, Europe’s largest yacht manufacturer and the worldwide number three

The shipbuilders chose hyperMILL^® because of: its simple operation, the high number of available milling strategies, the system’s considerable flexibility in regard to different applications and the very good import function for the CAD data via IGES.
 

Ocean-going yachts are highly emotional products similar to sports cars. Anyone ready to pay their price gets not just outstanding technology but also aesthetics, design and functionality. Another important criterion is the length of the boat. Although 50 metre-long boats were still considered impressive at the end of the 90s, trade journals are reporting that they may soon be 100 metres longer. The Italian group, Azimut-Benetti, has been active in this world for years.

Azimut Yachts builds yachts with lengths of between 39 and 116 feet and has an Open range with models between 43 and 103 feet. Production is centred on two sites in Italy, Avigliana (close to Turin) and Viareggio. Today, the most important boat parts are made of fibre glass materials. Construction with a 3D CAD system (Unigraphics), ever increasing quality requirements and cost pressures have been leading towards the employment of CNC machines for many years. To supply these machines with optimal NC programs, the company sought out the best possible CAM system. After extensive market analysis, they chose hyperMILL^® from OPEN MIND.

Amongst other things, hyperMILL^® Expert was installed, the most comprehensive version of the CAM software, with 2D and 3D functions, as well as feature technology. In addition to this, Azimut also uses multi-axis machining, the 5-axis reworking cycle, 5-axis profile finishing, 5-axis contour-machining, 5-axis ISO top milling and Z-level finishing, to name just the most important. Overall, the introduction of the CAM system is being judged very positively: not only has the quality of the boats improved, but also the financial side in the form of shorter production times and quicker development. This is because this process chain also allows development models to be completed more quickly.