[step-manufacturing] New Explorer and Data for next conference call

[Martin Hardwick]

All,

Two new items have been posted to the ftp site in preparation for the 
next conference call.

1. The first is a discussion of some options for traceability by 
Julio Garrido ftp://www.steptools.com/private/Sweden/Traceability_Comments.pdf
2. The second is an AP-238 data set containing the new feed-speed 
parameters: 
ftp://www.steptools.com/private/Sweden/feed_speed_data/Sweden_test_20081202.238

If you want to view the new parameters you will need to load the new 
version of the STEP-NC Explorer v4.0. This version is new and still 
has many bugs. The major new features of the version are listed below.

Changes in release 4.0 (2007-12-03)

* Reimplemented Explorer display as .NET application using new OpenGL 
graphics interface provided by the STEP-NC DLL.
* Added new click to move tool functionality.
* Added display window for toolpath cross-section information.

In order to view the new data you may have to load or update your 
.NET configuration using the tool provided by Microsoft.
ftp://www.steptools.com/private/Sweden/feed_speed_data/dotnetfx.exe

You can then load the new explorer (and continue to use the old one) 
using the msi:
ftp://www.steptools.com/private/Sweden/feed_speed_data/stepnc_4_0.msi

The new explorer has a whole new display system that is much faster 
and is going to let us implement many new geometry operations.  With 
it you can pick a tool path and it will show you the feed speed 
parameters. For the Sweden_test data set these parameters have been 
defined for the two roughing operations in the first workplan. Your 
current keys will be valid for the new Explorer. The raw data for the 
feed speed computation is also on the ftp site.

Martin Hardwick
Team Leader
STEP-Manufacturing