STEP-NC Workshop

[Martin Hardwick]

April 9, 1998

RE: STEP-NC Workshop Announcement

Dear Colleague:

On behalf of the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in
Automation we would like to invite you to a workshop on a new standard for
machine tool controllers that will make manufacturing processes more
intelligent and consequently more efficient.

The enclosed abstract describes the new standard and the program planned
for our workshop. We want to use the workshop to discuss the new standard
with you and gather requirements for future work.

The new standard is being pursued aggressively in Europe and the Far East.
We think United States enterprises needed to be similarly aggressive
because the new wave of automation will be as significant as the one
unleashed by APT and RS272 in the 1950's. 

We want to find organizations to work with us as we start to use the
standard. An early implementation will be shown at the workshop. We are
looking for advice and we are looking to start a dialogue with
organizations that want the advantage of being amongst the first to use the
new standard. We hope you can join us at the workshop, a registration form
is included at the end of this email, and please feel free to forward this
information to colleagues who would be interested in attending.

Best regards,


Martin Hardwick
STEP Tools, Inc. and RPI

Marv Kreithen
Bridgeport Controls

Harry Stephanou
New York State Center for Automation Technologies at RPI

**********************************************************************
 
STEP-NC WORKSHOP

First Demonstration of ISO 14649 in the United States


The workshop will discuss a STEP compliant data interface for machine tool
controllers that will vastly improve the content of data available to the
machine. The new interface enables a two-way integrated information flow
from design to planning to shop floor providing the basis for a responsive
and cost-effective manufacturing environment.

Ongoing work on a STEP Compliant Data Model for CNC Controllers in Europe
(ISO 14649) is focused on improving the programming interface between
planning and the shop floor.  The new standard divides shop floor
controller data into three parts: 

1. A main program that lists the sequence of work steps to make a part.
2. Process data that describes the work steps, machine features, tools,
associated functions and 
    other machining information; 
3. Definition of the geometric elements that describe the work part.  

ISO 14649 provides a framework for the process of transporting product
description data into the machine. In current practice, the planner is
responsible for decomposing the process plan into the axis movements needed
to cut the part shape. ISO 14649 assumes the core competency of the machine
controller and includes means for determining the axis motion from the
geometry of the machining features described in the part program input
data. Because there is a rich amount of data available about the part at
the shop floor machine controller, the controller can participate in smart
machining of the part and making modifications to the process plan if
warranted by circumstances unforeseen by the planner.

The STEP defined data that underlies all aspects of ISO 14649 is the result
of a worldwide effort to standardize the methods for exchanging product
description data. Incorporating STEP standard design data into the
machining processes provides a high level of dispersion of such data. This
means that even the smallest of job-shops can have access to the data and
the means for using the data to make parts. Mass participation in the
expanded buyer-vendor supply chain that will result can drive lower costs
through increased competitiveness and ultimately foster higher productivity
as a survival mechanism. Weeks from product design to finished part can be
reduced to days as a result of aggressive use of STEP data throughout the
extended supply chain.

The workshop will focus on a project of Bridgeport Machines and STEP Tools,
Inc. to implement ISO 14649. The first demonstration of ISO 14649 in the
United States will be part of the workshop. 

****************************************************************************
 
AGENDA

STEP-NC Workshop

New York State Center for Automation Technologies
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12180

April 29, 1998
2:00pm to 5:00pm


2:00pm		Welcome and Introduction to the workshop
			Mike Kutcher, former Chair IBM Automation Council

2:15pm		The STEP data exchange standard for product data
			Martin Hardwick, President STEP Tools, Inc.

2:45pm		Demonstration of ISO 14649
			Dayal Nagasinu, Bridgeport Controls

3:15pm		Manufacture of a part in wax
			Bart Stater, Bridgeport Controls

3:45pm		Break

4:00pm		Overview of ISO 14649
			Marv Kreithen, Bridgeport Controls

4:30pm		Group discussion

5:00pm		Adjourn

*************************************************************

REGISTRATION

STEP-NC WORKSHOP 

CAT SPRING FORUM 1998
Accelerating the Change

Name:

Title:

Company:

Address:

City, State, Zip

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Please register by contacting:

Tamara Hansen
Center for Automation Technologies
CII 8015
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, New York 12180-3590
Telephone: 518-276-8652
Fax: 518-276-4897
Email: tamara at cat.rpi.edu