STEP Tools News for Monday October 18

Mon Oct 18 18:05:50 EDT 1999

Since 1991 STEP Tools has been developing tools and databases for
product data. This weekly newsletter is a brief update of what is
going on in STEP and at STEP Tools, Inc.  If you want to know more,
try the STEP Tools web site (http://www.steptools.com).

--------------------------------------------
ST-Repository installed at 4th Customer Site

The ST-Repository product data manager has been installed at its
fourth customer site. ST-Repository includes Translation,
Visualization and Mappping services

The key innovative technology in ST-Repository is an EXPRESS-X
mapping engine that maps product data into object models for SUN
Java gadgets, the Microsoft suite of office products (Excel,
Access etc) and IBM Websphere JavaBeans. 

We have demonstrations that show CAD data being translated to STEP,
visualized using an Internet browser and mapped into:

1. Java in a Netscape browser.
2. Macros in a Microsoft Access database.

In both cases an EXPRESS-X mapping is used to map product information
into an object model. After mapping the tool (Java or Access) is used
to add contact (ownership) information to the product information
and the result is mapped back into the repository database using
EXPRESS-X.

The key benefits of ST-Repository include built-in translators for
most of the CAD systems used by suppliers, low cost Internet based
visualization, and rapid customization for enterprise specific design
and manufacturing processes.

-------------------------------------------
ST-Repository and the "Super Model" Project

ST-Repository will be used by the "Super Model" project to define
the manufacturing features and the manufacturing working steps needed
to define a database for a machine tool controller.

This is the current plan:

1. The geometry of a product will be defined using a CAD tool and
   saved in an AP-203 or AP-214 file.

2. The ST-Viewer and an MS Excel spreadsheet will be used to identify
   the surface elements in each feature. Macros in the spread sheet
   will be used to define the parameters of each type of feature 
   (hole, slot, etc) and give the feature an identity. 

3. An Access database containing tooling and machining information will
   be used to define one or more manufacturing working steps for each
   feature.

The data produced by the spreadsheet and database will be mapped into
the STEP integrated resources using EXPRESS-X mappings. As part of this
process ST-Repository will first convert the original AP-203 file into
an AP-224 file and then convert it into an ISO 14649 file. 

In subsequent iterations of the project we will replace the manual
feature recognition process with automatic feature recognition using 
the FBMach and FBTol software developed by DOE Allied Signal. Then
we will map the information into Product Data Components and use the
data in the components to drive a milling machine controller.

--------------
Upcoming Dates

December 2-3, 1999 -- Information and Organization Meetings for
	MDICM "Super Model" Project

MDICM is the $2.9M Model Driven Intelligent Control of Manufacturing
project awarded to STEP Tools and a team of sub-contractors by the ATP
program. We will have an organizational meeting for the Industrial
Review Board of this project.

	http://www.atp.nist.gov/www/comps/index99.htm

November 15, 1999 -- Introduction to STEP

A one day hands-on workshop for professionals that need to know what STEP
is and how it can be a key element in solving your product data exchange
problems.

	http://www.steptools.com/training/introstep.html

November 16-18, 1999 -- Programming STEP Applications 

Learn how our most popular programming tool, ST-Developer, can help reduce
development time of your in-house STEP applications by 75%. Taught by a
STEP Tools developer with over eight years experience. Dr. Dave Loffredo
will show you how to use and implement the wide variety of case tools
during this intensive hands-on class. Opportunities will be available to
discuss all aspects of how to program with the ISO 10303 STEP standard
and to gain experience with ST-Developer.

	http://www.steptools.com/training/apstep.html

-------------------
Translation Service

Summary:
Period Covered: Sun Oct 10 03:25:02 1999 -- Sun Oct 17 03:25:02 1999
Total usage: 78
Successful usage: 72 (92%)
Errors: 6 (7%)

Translator	total	errors	success rate

acis-ap203	14	0	100%
ap203-acis	27	3	88%
ap203-stl	2	0	100%
ap203-vrml	1	1	0%
ap203check	25	0	100%
express2html	1	0	100%
gifviz		5	2	60%
step2xml	2	0	100%
xml2step	1	0	100%

=======================================
All-Time stats

------------------------------------
Summary:
Period Covered: Wed Dec 31 19:00:00 1969 -- Sun Oct 17 03:25:24 1999
Total usage: 6275
Successful usage: 5348 (85%)
Errors: 927 (14%)

Translator	total	errors	success rate

acis-ap203	1179	52	95%
ap203-acis	2228	235	89%
ap203-stl	137	48	64%
ap203-vrml	638	192	69%
ap203-xml	87	18	79%
ap203check	365	35	90%
expfront	124	17	86%
expfront2	141	1	99%
express2html	285	2	99%
expxfront	11	1	90%
gifviz		217	59	72%
iges-ap202	10	0	100%
para-step	146	80	45%
sp203-xml	13	2	84%
step-para	159	92	42%
step2xml	177	18	89%
steptoimage	313	59	81%
xml2step	45	16	64%

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