[step-manufacturing] Minutes of fourth conference call

[Martin Hardwick]

Attendees
---------------
Matthew Lloyd, CCAT
Martin Hardwick, STEP Tools, Inc.
Mikael Hedlind, KTH
Magnus Lundgren, KTH
Bengt Olsson, Sandvik
Fred Proctor, NIST
Xun Xu, University of Auckland/TU Aachen
Leon Xu, Boeing
Sid Venkatesh, Boeing
Larry Maggiano, Mitutoyo
Aydin Nassehi, University of Bath
Stephen Newman, University of Bath
John Callen, Autodesk
Bob Erickson, Pratt and Whitney


Apologies for absence
--------------------------------
Gary Hargreaves, Mastercam
Ian Stroud, EPFL


The machine tool model was discussed. A brief demonstration was given 
of the different simulation modes currently supported in the STEP-NC 
Explorer. There was agreement that the next goal for implementation 
should be to attach the geometry components of the machine to the 
axes of movement. A five axis machine tool model has been sent to 
STEP Tools by KTH. A model of a DMU machine will be made available to 
us by the University of Bath. John Callen of Autodesk showed us a web 
site of machine tool models used by GibbsCAM and other vendors. We 
may be able to have some of these models converted to STEP.

The translation of the large Mastercam model to STEP was discussed. 
The model is an order of magnitude larger than any other model 
previously translated to STEP-NC. The model is divided into 21 
operations and they have been translated into four STEP files- 
operations 1 to 13, operation 14, operation 15 and operations 16 to 
21. Operations 14 and 15 are very large (more than 50M each). AP-203 
Edition 2 has an external file construct that allows large assembly 
components to be stored in external files. STEP-Manufacturing should 
consider using a similar mechanism for very large operations.

Curve measurement was briefly discussed. If the demonstration part is 
the Sandvik "mushroom" then we can investigate testing the new curve 
probing entity by using it to measure the quality of the finishing 
tool paths for this part.

The next conference call will be on Wednesday December 10.

Action items
------------------
1.   STEP Tools to extend the simulation prototype to include the 
machine tool supplied by KTH
2.   University of Bath to share the EXPRESS schema for the STEP-NC 
Machine tool model
3.   University of Bath to investigate sharing its DMU machine tool 
model as STEP data
4.   Xun Xu to share document describing how Siemens resolves 
kinematics for alternate machine tool configurations
5.   Bengt Olsson to get permission to share machining and solid 
model data for the mushroom part.
6.   Fred Proctor to get permission to share geometry model data for 
the NIST DMU machine.