[step-manufacturing] Minutes of February 26 conference call

[Martin Hardwick]

Attendees
--------------
Martin Hardwick, STEP Tools, USA
David Loffredo, STEP Tools, USA
Magnus Lundgren, KTH, Sweden
Yujiang Li, KTH, Sweden
Mikael Hedlind, Scania, Sweden
Bengt Olsson, Sandvik, Sweden
Julie Huang, Sandvik, Sweden
Mike Restall, Sandvik, USA
David Odendahl, Boeing, USA
Leon Xu, Boeing, USA
Bob Erickson, Pratt & Whitney, USA
Fred Proctor, NIST USA
Vincent Marchetti, Ameritech, USA
Thomas Raun, ISCAR, USA
Yin Lampard Zhang, University of Auckland, New Zealand
Ian Sroud, EPFL, Switzerland

We reviewed the new simulator in the STEP-NC Explorer. The product is 
far from complete but has reached a stage where repeated operations can 
be executed so external testing has become possible.

In order to run a simulation you must
1. Select a model by picking a workingstep and displaying its rawpiece.
2. Generate the initial state by selecting Simulate/Initialize Process 
Model on the Main Menu (Crtl F7 short cut).
3. Move the cutting tool a simulation position using the slider in the 
position gadget or the step forward button.
4. Remove a volume by selecting Simulate/Intersect Current Position (F7 
shortcut)
5. You can remove volumes in sequence by repeatedly selecting the F7 button

The most serious current bug is sensitive to the number of facets so the 
simulation quality will decrease as the number of removals increases. 
There are many optimizations still to be completed. The most significant 
being to remove complete tool sweeps instead of individual tools steps.

We reviewed the results of the OMAC workshop. We decided to plan a 
5-axis cutting compensation demonstration for IMTS. The first step is to 
solicit the participation of one or more machine tool vendors. We will 
hold an information meeting in Chicago or Cypress.

We reviewed the REST Architecture for additive and subtractive 
manufacturing. The next steps are to discuss the architecture with the 
PDES/LOTAR community on March 6th, the MT Connect community on April 10, 
and the Additive manufacturing (AMF) community on April 24.
ftp://www.steptools.com/private/CAM_exchange/Cycle_3/v2_REST_architecture_for_in_process_manufacturing_models.pptx

There was no progress on the tool optimization project because of the 
OMAC meetings, but the meeting did determine that the OEM toolpaths for 
the simulation results for the male and female components of the mold 
should be stored as "simulation" models. The new models will show the 
results of a simulation made by the OEM but document that they are only 
guidelines showing one possible solution. The formal requirements that 
must be met by an optimization solution will then be documented by a 
TO-BE model with generous tolerances.

A recording of the call is on the ftp site.
ftp://www.steptools.com/private/CAM_exchange/Cycle_3/stepmanuf_telecon_20140226.wmv

The next conference call will be held at the regular times on Wednesday 
March 12th