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<img src="http://www.steptools.com/images/keeping_up_with_step.gif" width="430" height="47" alt="name"><br>
<b>The Premier STEP Quarterly Newsletter
Published by STEP Tools, Inc.</b>
</div>
<hr>
<p><b>Summary of Spring 2003 STEP News</b>
<ul>
<li><a href="#01">ISO STEP Meeting Produces Broad Agreement on Implementation Strategy for STEP-NC
<li><a href="#02">STEP - XML Workshop Held at STEP Tools on April 23 and 24, 2003
<li><a href="#03">NIST and STEP Tools to host STEP-NC Demonstration on June 4 and 5, 2003 at NIST Headquarters
<li><a href="#04">Dr. Hardwick Speaks at 2003 NTMA Technical Conference in Las Vegas, NV on June 2, 2003
<li><a href="#05">Next ISO-STEP Meeting Set for Stuttgart, Germany on June 22-28, 2003
<!--<li><a href="#06">STEP Tools Joins Parametric Technology's Enterprise Software Partners (ESP) Program-->
<li><a href="#07">STEP-NC demonstrated at Aerospace PDE 2003, April 7-10, 2003 in Gaithersburg, Maryland
<li><a href="#08">STEP Tools, Inc. Participates in Major Shipbuilding Industry Briefing
Hosted by the Integrated Shipbuilding Environment Consortium (ISEC)
<li><a href="#09">Sign Up for ST- Announce - a technical newsletter for the STEP Community
<li><a href="#10">Visit STEP Tools Online Pressroom for Late-breaking News Releases
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<h5><a name="01">
<font color="#0000cc">ISO STEP Meeting Produces Broad Agreement on Implementation Strategy for STEP-NC</font>
</a></h5>
<p>The ISO STEP meeting held in San Diego, CA on March 9, 2003 was the best-attended STEP-Manufacturing
event to date. STEP Manufacturing is one of the teams meeting under Working Group 3 to define integrated
information models for product data. The team meets three times a year at locations in the USA, Europe
and the Far East. Dr. Hardwick, president and CEO of STEP Tools, is the Team Leader ISO STEP-Manufacturing.</p>
<p>The meeting covered a broad spectrum of issues including the ISO 13399 tool definition project,
the AP-240 high level process planning project, the AP-219 inspection planning project, the AP-224
Edition 3 project, the ISO 14649 Turning and EDM projects, and the US Navy's new Integrated Steel
Processing Environment (ISPE) project. The presentations given at the meeting included the white
papers presented by two teams. </p>
<p>STEP Tools presented the STEP Index Library (STIX). This library gives the developers of Open
Architecture Controls and other applications easy access to the NC data defined by AP-238 (STEP-NC).
The STIX library is being released for testing and evaluation under a GNU Open Source code license
agreement, and will enable companies to test and evaluate STEP-NC in Open Architecture Controller
applications such as probing, closed loop control and dynamic optimization.</p>
<p>STEP Tools Inc. plans to show the STIX Library being used to control a probing application at
its next IRB meeting to be held at NIST headquarters in Maryland, on June 4th and 5th.</p>
<h5><a name="02"><font color="#0000cc">STEP - XML Workshop at STEP Tools on April 23 and 24, 2003</font></a></h5>
<p>STEP Tools will hold a two-day XML workshop on April 23 and 24, 2003 at STEP Tools headquarters in
Troy, NY on April 14, 2003. This class will focus on learning to use a configuration language to define
how STEP data should be mapped to an XML Schema. The course will include a number of sample XML schemas,
and explain how they work for specific applications. For further information, contact Paula Popson at
518-687-2848, Ext. 305. </p>
<h5><a name="03"><font color="#0000cc">NIST and STEP Tools to host STEP-NC Demonstration on June 4 and 5, 2003 at
NIST Headquarters</font></a></h5>
<p>NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) and STEP Tools will be hosting an IRB meeting at NIST
headquarters in Gaithersburg, MD on June 4 & 5, 2003. A STEP-NC demonstration will be conducted at NIST's
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL), where MEL researchers work closely with industry to develop
measurement methods, standards and technologies to improve U.S. manufacturing capabilities. NIST is a member
of the STEP-NC Phase One Implementers program. <b>Members of the press are invited to attend the event and
demonstration, and must register by June 2, 2003, as clearance passes must be issued. To register or for
more information, contact Belinda Jones, STEP Tools press agent, at 860-767-9506,
or </b><a href="mailto:belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com">belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com</a>.</p>
<p>Using a NIST CNC machine tool, industry representative parts will be machined and benchmarked in real time.
The parts will contain five-axis surfaces and other complex geometry. Companies interested in attending
the meeting should contact Paula Popson at 518-687-2848, ext. 305.</p>
<h5><a name="04"><font color="#0000cc">Dr. Hardwick Presents Paper at 2003 NTMA Technical Conference in
Las Vegas, NV on June 2, 2003</font></a></h5>
<p>During the 2003 National Tooling and Manufacturing Association (NTMA) Technical Conference, Dr. Martin Hardwick
will present a paper "Reducing CNC Programming Cost using STEP-NC." The presentation will be held during the first
session of the event from 10:15 - 11:15am, on Monday, June 2 at Mandalay Bay Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.</p>
<p>This Technology Conference is NTMA's newest event and is designed to give precision manufacturers an
understanding of various technologies and how they can be used to hold a competitive edge in a global economy.
The conference will provide an interactive environment for companies looking to develop a stronger relationship
with suppliers, industry peers, and potential customers. For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.ntma.org/">
http://www.ntma.org</a></p>
<h5><a name="05"><font color="#0000cc">Next ISO-STEP Meeting Set for Germany on June 22-28, 2003</font></a></h5>
<p>The ISO-STEP community of more than 200 data structure experts will be heading for Stuttgart, Germany on June 22 - 28, 2003
for their second meeting of the year. The international STEP (Standard for Product Data Exchange) standard is being
maintained and advanced by this international team. STEP-NC is now moving toward draft standard status. The STEP
Manufacturing team is comprised of highly technical industry professionals who deliberate top implementation issues
such as the harmonization of Application Protocols. The meeting will refine the definitions of the new STEP
standards for CNC control, inspection and process planning. </p>
<!--<h5><a name="06"><font color="#0000cc">STEP Tools Joins Parametric Technology's Enterprise Software Partners (ESP) Program</font></a></h5>
<p>*****STEP Tools has joined Parametric Technology's Enterprise Software Partners (ESP) program, an initiative developed to
build relationships with third-party software companies interested in developing and marketing products that integrate
with PTC's full range of product offerings. STEP Tools is developing an industrial-strength
data vehicle to convert Pro/ENGINEER product data into full fidelity STEP-NC data for manufacturing.
STEP Tools plans to introduce an ST-Machine plug-in for Pro/ENGINEER in 2003.*****</p>-->
<h5><a name="07"><font color="#0000cc">STEP-NC Demonstrated at Aerospace PDE 2003, April 7-10, 2003 in Gaithersburg, Maryland</font></a></h5>
<p>Aerospace PDE 2003, the fifth annual International Workshop for Aerospace Product Data Exchange, was held on April 7-10, 2003,
in Gaithersburg, MD. STEP Tools recently participated in the event that was hosted by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Aerospace engineers and IT professionals gathered at NIST headquarters to join a forum for the discussion of methods
and technology for reliable exchange and long term archival of aerospace product data. Dr. Martin Hardwick presented
a paper on "Model Driven Intelligent Control of Manufacturing" on Monday, April 7, 2003. </p>
<h5><a name="08"><font color="#0000cc">STEP Tools Participates in Major Shipbuilding Industry Briefing Hosted by
the Integrated Shipbuilding Environment Consortium (ISEC) </font></a></h5>
<p>On April 10, 2003, STEP Tools participated in a milestone Industry Briefing hosted by the Integrated Shipbuilding
Environment Consortium (ISEC). The event was held at the Electric Boat Washington Engineering Office (EB-WEO). The
ISE project was a three-year project led by Electric Boat and Northrup Grumman Newport News. The team consists of
major shipbuilders, including NG-SS Ingalls, Bath Iron Works, NG-SS Avondale, NASSCO, and Kverner, as well as CAD
vendors and systems integrators, including Intergraph, NIIIP/IBM, STEP Tools, and others. </p>
<p>The ISE team conducted their Year Three Demonstration and a full technical briefing of the results of the
NSRP - and industry-funded ISE project. The ISE team has developed and deployed an interoperability infrastructure
and toolset that supports the integration of shipbuilding system technologies through the synthesis of STEP product
data standards and Web technologies. The demonstration will show data exchange and application systems integration
for the design, analysis, manufacture and disclosure of a real (but unclassified) Navy ship. STEP Tools is a member
of this consortium, and will demonstrate STEP/CATIA translators developed by the company for this project.</p>
<h5><a name="09"><font color="#0000cc">Sign Up for ST- Announce - a technical newsletter for the STEP Community</font></a></h5>
<p>Dr. Martin Hardwick provides the STEP community with updates on late-breaking STEP and STEP Tools News from a technical viewpoint.
Sign up for this free newsletter delivered to your desktop by visiting their home page at <a href="http://www.steptools.com">
www.steptools.com</a>.</p>
<h5><a name="10"><font color="#0000cc">Visit STEP Tools Online Pressroom for Late-breaking News Releases</font></a></h5>
<p>STEP Tools has a comprehensive Pressroom accessible from their Home page. The online Pressroom has four
easy-to-navigate areas: corporate information, press releases, media coverage, and an image section that
hosts high-resolution graphics. Company location and directions can also be found at the site.
We cordially invite you to visit our new cyber pressroom at <a href="http://www.steptools.com/pressroom/">
www.steptools.com/pressroom</a>.<p>
<h5><font color="#0000cc">FREE Web Translation Service Summary</font></h5>
<p>Summary: 18, 918 translations have occurred to date<br>
Period Covered: January 1, 2003 - April 1, 2003<br>
Total usage: <b>904</b><br>
Successful usage: <b>881 (97%)</b><br>
Errors: <b>23 (2%)</b><br></p>
<p>The service includes the following translators:<br>
ACIS to STEP<br>
STEP to ACIS<br>
AP203 Checker<br>
CEB XML Writer<br>
OSEB XML Writer<br>
Parasolid to STEP<br>
STEP to Parasolid<br>
<h5><font color="#0000cc">Tools From STEP Tools, Inc.</font></h5>
<p>The STEP Tools product line is used by the world's foremost firms to leverage STEP technology to
facilitate the sharing of engineering product information. Over <b>one and a half million end users</b> utilize product data
applications built with ST-Developer, the company's flagship product.</p>
<p><b>Manufacturing Tools:</b>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/v_tour/stnc/">ST-Plan</a> - Interactive software to create machine independent
CNC control data from design data</li>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/v_tour/stnc/">ST-Machine</a> - Plug-in to dynamically generate machine
specific tool path data from machine independent CNC control data
<p><b>Programming Tools:</b>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/stdev/index.html">ST-Developer</a> - programming tools for writing STEP applications,
translators and databases.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/stacis/index.html">ST-ACIS Library</a> - programming functions to convert STEP data to
and from ACIS models and SAT files.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/stpara/index.html">ST-Parasolid Library</a> - programming functions to convert STEP data to
and from Parasolid models.</li>
<p><b>Desktop Tools:</b>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/stacis/index.html">ST-ACIS Translator</a> - desktop tool for translating STEP data to
ACIS and vice versa.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/stpara/index.html">ST-Parasolid Translator</a> - desktop tool for translating STEP data to
Parasolid and vice versa.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/products/stviewer/index.html">ST-Viewer</a> - desktop tool to view, analyze and check the
accuracy of STEP databases.</li>
<p><b>Other STEP Tools Services:</b>
<li>ST-Consulting - consulting services ranging from developing data translators for
engineering and business systems, to STEP-NC implementation, to using the latest
information technology to define and implement enterprise databases.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.steptools.com/training/index.html">ST-Training</a> - training courses designed to get manager(s) up to speed on
the business and technical advantages of STEP, and programmer(s) up to speed
on STEP applications and products</li>
<h5><font color="#0000cc">STEP Tools Resellers From Around the World</font></h5>
<p>Resellers for STEP Tools products are available in the following
geographical areas. Please contact us if you would like further
information.</p>
<li>France<br>
Simulog, Sophia Antipolis Cedex
<li>United Kingdom<br>
CADDETC, Leeds</li>
<li>Japan<br>
Open Systems, Inc., Tokyo</li>
<li>Korea<br>
Mani Information Systems, Inc.</li>
<li>Taiwan<br>
Exartech International Corp., Taipei<br>
Axon Technology, Taipei<br>
INTEXS International, Virginia Beach VA<br></li>
<li>Australia<br>
Logistics Pty Ltd., Victoria</li>
<p>
<hr>
<b><u>ST-News Administrative Notes</u></b><br>
Questions or requests can be sent to <a href="mailto:info@steptools.com">info@steptools.com</a>.
If you wish to be removed from the list, please reply to this email with the word
REMOVE in the subject line. For editorial questions,
contact Belinda Jones, HiTech Marketing llc, STEP Tools Press Agent at 860-767-9506 (EST)
or via email: <a href="mailto:belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com">belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com</a>.
<hr>
<center>
<p class="locationbarlink">
ST-NC, ST-Repository, ST-Plan and ST-Machine are trademarks or
registered trademarks of STEP Tools, Inc.
All other brand and product names are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.</p></font>
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