[step-manufacturing] Minutes of last conference call and next demonstration announcement

[Martin Hardwick]

All,

The next meeting will be on March 10 and 11. See the STEP Tools home 
page for details.

Martin Hardwick
Team Leader

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Minutes of STEP-Manufacturing conference call on Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Attendees
---------------
Alain Brail, Airbus, France
Philippe Darnis, PTAU, France
David Odendahl, Boeing
Leon Xu, Boeing
Fred Proctor, NIST
Matthew Lloyd, CCAT
Don Galway, AIAG
Larry Maggiano, Mitutoyo
Bengt Olsson, Sandvik, Sweden
Magnus Lundgren, KTH, Sweden
Julio Garrido, University of Vigo, Spain
Xia Li, RPI
Martin Hardwick, STEP Tools, Inc.


Apologies for absence
--------------------------------
Xun Xu, New Zealand
Partick Marchard, CETIM, France


There was a discussion on the group and individual goals for the next 
meeting and the location for the next meeting. The group goals are as follows:

1. Data exchange of tolerances using AP-203 edition 2

In Dallas we showed simulated AP-203 e2 data exchange using an AP-224 
file. In this round we will show data exchange using a native AP-203 
e2 file. The file should have the tolerance data already described 
for the Dallas demonstration. The required tolerances are shown in 
FishHeadToleranceSuggestionsIssueC.ppt. These are part tolerances NOT 
presentation tolerances. Alain Brail will contact Lothar Klein and 
Fred Proctor will contact Simon Frechette to see if they can supply 
the necessary AP-203 e2 file using one of the prototype translators 
being developed for the major CAD systems.


2. Feed and speed optimization using STEP-NC AP-238.

We will add the attributes described in 
Boeing_cross_section_proposal.ppt to the STEP-NC data model and show 
that these attributes enable dynamic computation of speeds and feeds. 
At Sandvik we will demonstrate just in time calculation of speeds and 
feeds for fast machining. In a latter demonstration we will 
demonstrate just in time calculation of speeds and feeds to optimize tool life.

Optimization code already written by Boeing uses Vericut to compute 
information about the cross-section area of the cutter contact for a 
given tool and tool path. A new process to be written by STEP Tools, 
Inc. will combine this cross section data with the other machining 
data already in the AP-238 file for the fish head. The modified 
AP-238 file will then contain a complete description of the cutting 
process that can be used to compute optimal speeds and feeds for a 
chosen machine at run time.

The dynamic computation of the speeds and feeds will be demonstrated 
using another application written by Boeing. This application will be 
adapted so that it can read the part program data including the cross 
section information from the AP-238 part program using the STEP-NC 
DLL. The application will combine this data with machining 
characteristic data for the demonstration machine. The application 
will then compute the optimal feeds and speeds for this program on 
this machine.

In addition to these group goals the individual goals of the 
different sites are as follows:

a. Sandvik - Host the demonstration
b. Boeing - Complete the machining of the fish head and implement 
on-machine probing for any orientation of the X and Y axes.
c. Airbus/CETM/PTAU - Demonstrate machining and measurement of a more 
complex and challenging version of the Fish head part
d. NIST/U.Vigo - Demonstrate the traceability model and the run time 
monitoring of attributes such as spindle power, machining time, and servo lag
e. Universities of Auckland and Harbin - Demonstrate 4-axis machining 
of the fish head
f.  KTH - ??
g. CCAT - ??
h. AIAG - Demonstrate product life cycle management using AP-238 and 
the Siemens UGS PLM system.

Others are encouraged to join the demonstration. Those who wish to 
evaluate whether to participate may install the STEP-NC Explorer by 
downloading the file stepnc_3_59.msi from the ftp directory (see below).

The meeting will be hosted by Sandvik in Sweden on March 10 and 11. 
These dates have been chosen to be immediately after the SC4 meeting 
in Louisville so that those who wish can travel directly from the SC4 
meeting to the T24 meeting. See STEP_ 
Mfg_meeting_proposal_by_Sandvik(March_10-11_2008)1.ppt for details on 
the meeting facilities and the available machining and measuring 
equipment. The following ftp directory has been created with all the 
information referenced in these minutes.

ftp://www.steptools.com/private/Sweden


Action Items
------------------
Fred Proctor, Martin Hardwick and Bengt Olsson to prepare materials 
describing the demonstration
Fred Proctor to contact Simon Frechette about obtaining an AP-203 e2 
file for the fish head.
Alain Brail to contact Lothar Klein about obtaining an AP-203 e2 file 
for the fish head (done).
Bengt Olsson to send Vericut files for the roughing operations to 
Sandvik (done).
Leon Xu to send CVS file with the optimization parameters for the 
fishhead part to Martin Hardwick
Leon Xu to send requirements for machining characteristic data to Bengt Olsson
Bengt Olsson to send machining characteristic data for the 
demonstration machine to Leon Xu
David Loffredo to update the AP-238 model for the new attributes 
required for speed/feed, traceability and spindle monitoring
Martin Hardwick to update the STEP-NC Explorer and DLL with the 
functionality required for speed/feed, traceability and spindle monitoring
Martin Hardwick and Leon Xu to integrate the STEP-NC Explorer with 
the Boeing optimization code to demonstrate just in time computation 
of speeds and feeds


The next conference call will be held on Wednesday November 21st at 
the same time 4:30PM France, 10:30 AM Eastern USA, 9:30AM Central 
USA, 7:30AM Western USA.
As recorded by Martin Hardwick