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OPEN MIND

SoftwareWessling, Bavaria, GermanyFounded 1994· One of 352 Software companies tracked by AMPulse

German CAM software developer whose hyperMILL platform provides 5-axis CNC machining, mill-turn, and additive manufacturing post-processing toolpaths for precision manufacturing across aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors.

CEO / Founder
Volker Nesenhöner
Team Size
201-500
Stage
Subsidiary
Total Funding
Undisclosed
Latest Round
Acquired
Key Investors
Mensch und Maschine Software SE (parent company, XETRA: MUM)

Technology & Products

Key Products

hyperMILL® (CAM software for 2.5D through 5-axis CNC machining, mill-turn, and additive manufacturing finishing toolpaths)

Technological Advantage

Controller-independent NC code output supporting 200+ machine types; BEST FIT adaptive machining for AM components; Virtual Machining digital twin with collision avoidance; 90%+ reduction in programming time for complex 5-axis parts; 30+ years of CAM algorithm R&D with 90+ dedicated R&D engineers.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Single CAM software platform (hyperMILL) covering 2.5D through 5-axis CNC machining, mill-turn, and additive manufacturing finishing toolpaths, reducing programming time by up to 90% and enabling shops to machine complex AM near-net-shape parts without multiple software tools.

How They Differentiate

Single vendor covering complete manufacturing from AM design through 5-axis finishing and virtual verification in one platform, vs. competitors requiring multiple software tools and data translations for hybrid AM+machining workflows.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

CNC machine shops, aerospace and automotive Tier-1 and Tier-2 manufacturers, precision medical device manufacturers, and job shops machining AM near-net-shape parts requiring complex 5-axis toolpaths.

Industry Verticals

Aerospace/Defense; Automotive; Medical Devices; Toolmaking & Mold Making; Energy; General Manufacturing

Competitors

SolidCAM, CNC Software, SprutCAM

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

400+ employees; 90+ R&D engineers; 17 international offices; 10,000+ customers; 20,000+ software installations; global presence across 30+ countries

Major Milestones

Founded 1994 in Wessling, Germany by Volker Nesenhöner; developed hyperMILL platform; joined Mensch und Maschine group; expanded to 17 international offices across Europe, Americas, and Asia; reached 10,000+ customers and 20,000+ installations; launched BEST FIT for AM adaptive machining; 2026 TISAX information security certification

Notable Customers

Over 10,000 customers globally across aerospace, automotive, and medical sectors.

https://www.openmind-tech.com

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
3
Granted
0
Families
3

Leading domains: material (3), process (3), software (3)

Filings by year: 2020: 3

  1. METHOD FOR GENERATING A TOOL PATH, AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF A WORKPIECE USING SUCH A TOOL PATH04104026 · EP
  2. METHOD FOR GENERATING A TOOL PATH AS WELL AS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING OF A WORKPIECE USING SUCH A TOOL PATH20230060941 · US
  3. METHOD FOR GENERATING A TOOL PATH, AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF A WORKPIECE USING SUCH A TOOL PATH2021160530 · WO

Funding rounds

  • Acquisition€6.9M2002-04Lead: Mensch und Maschine Software AG · Source: GSC Research, Mensch und Maschine Annual Report 2002

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

OPEN MIND Technologies AG occupies a distinctive position in the CAM software market by offering a single platform that spans conventional CNC machining and additive manufacturing finishing. While most shops use separate tools for 2.5D through 5-axis milling, mill-turn, and AM post-processing, hyperMILL consolidates these workflows into one environment. This eliminates the data translations and software fragmentation that typically slow down hybrid manufacturing of AM near-net-shape parts.

The core product, hyperMILL, generates controller-independent NC code for over 200 machine types. Its BEST FIT module uses in-machine probing data to adaptively machine AM components, compensating for dimensional variation inherent in additive processes. Virtual Machining provides a full digital twin simulation specific to each CNC controller, enabling collision avoidance and cycle-time verification before cutting begins. The company employs over 90 R&D engineers and has accumulated more than 30 years of CAM algorithm development.

Customers include over 10,000 CNC machine shops, aerospace and automotive Tier-1 and Tier-2 manufacturers, and precision medical device makers. The platform is used to finish complex parts from Inconel 718, Ti-6Al-4V, and other metals produced via LPBF or DED. Key machine tool integrations include DMG Mori, Hermle, Mazak, FANUC, and Siemens. The company is owned by Mensch und Maschine Software SE and operates 17 international offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

OPEN MIND's main competitive risk is the growing tendency of CAM rivals such as SolidCAM and CNC Software to add AM finishing modules, potentially eroding the differentiation of a unified platform. However, the depth of BEST FIT's adaptive machining logic and the breadth of controller-specific simulation remain difficult to replicate. The company's TISAX certification for information security also supports its position in aerospace supply chains.