Thomas Industrial Library

ENABLING e-MANUFACTURING for

MECHANICAL PARTS

Manufacturing organizations need to be able to seamlessly share information over the Internet. The Super Model Project estimates that machine shops can reduce setup times by 37%, if they can seamlessly read the 3D product geometry and manufacturing instructions of their customers. Original equipment manufacturers can reduce the time spent preparing data for suppliers by up to 75%, if they can seamlessly share the design, and manufacturing data in their databases.

THE 3-YEAR PLAN

In three end-of-year demonstrations, the Super Model Project will demonstrate that machine shops can read 3D design and manufacturing data into machine tool controllers. They can use this information to manufacture a part more quickly, safely, and intelligently.

First Year: Demonstrate three kinds of manufacturing features being cut on a milling machine.

Second year: Demonstrate the milling of a complete product.

Third Year: Demonstrate the flexibility of the Super Model by applying it to manufacturing using a turning machine.

TECHNICAL BARRIERS

To achieve its goals, the Super Model Project must overcome some key technical partners. The STEP standard for product data exchange, has already enabled seamless sharing of product geometry between Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems. For example, more than one million CAD stations read and write STEP geometry, using libraries written by STEP Tools, Inc. However, to make the Super Model Project a success, STEP Tools must extend its libraries for Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) systems and Numerical Machine Tool Controller systems. These systems need to read and write all the information required, including information about the design, the manufacturing features, the manufacturing strategy, and the cutting tools.

TECHNICAL GOALS

The technical goals are being met by making the following enhancements to the STEP Tools software:

Developing an XML encoding for STEP data sharing that will make STEP information easier to understand, and process on the Internet.

Designing and implementing operations that will allow CAD, CAM, and NC Controller systems to incrementally add and extract information from a STEP-NC database.

Proving and patenting algorithms to maintain the performance of a STEP-NC database as its data volume grows.

FROM PRINT TO DIGITAL

Common to all manufacturers of durable goods, whether large or small, or whether the product is simple or complex, is the need to build things to print. Progress has been made in replacing the print with a digital product description, Fig. 10-8-14. Comparable progress has not been made in the Numeric Controllers, used to drive production machinery and fabricate parts. These controllers are still driven by G and M codes, dating back to the 1950s that do not adequately describe the end product, but merely specify a path of a cutting tool. The Super Model Project will replace these codes with complete, unambiguous product models that allow organizations to build parts to print rapidly and safely.

Fig. 10-8-14 The evolution of physical models to intelligent product data over the past 200 years. (STEP Tools, Inc.)

ENGINEERING AND STEP FOR A DOT COM

WORLD

STEP information models are long lived, and adapt readily to new technologies. There has been a great deal of industry interest in Application Service Providers (ASP). It is not yet clear whether this Web-based model will gain acceptance for engineering applications, but if it does, STEP could prove to be a crucial element. An ASP can simplify system management and provide automatic updates, but companies may be reluctant to outsource crucial applications to an ASP, unless they can be sure they can retain control of their data. Without STEP as a common exchange form, companies may fear being tied to the ASP by proprietary formats.

STEP could also play a role in business-to-business electronic commerce. Many suppliers now publish a catalog of goods online; they could use STEP data files to add detailed technical specifications to the catalog. Today, many purchasers distribute technical data packages, containing paper drawings and specifications for required parts. A STEP application protocol is under development for electronic exchange of data packages; in the future, companies interested in bidding on projects could get their requirements using STEP.

Internet transport technologies enable wide area access to information, and the Web grew, because HTML made it possible to describe distributed documents. STEP can provide the same common basis for describing CAD data and other technical design information.

The Super Model demonstration at STEP Tools in May 2000 used an emerging Internet language called XML to add information about machining strategy, tool path planning, and tool selection. Essentially, the XML language makes the resultant database Internet ready for global e-Manufacturing.

Whether the information models are translated to XML tags, Java Object Streams, or tomorrow’s newest advances, widespread access to engineering data will fundamentally change the way products are designed and manufactured. The massive collaboration of the Web will extend to design and manufacturing. STEP provides the key that will make this possible.

For more information on STEP NC AND INTERNET MANUFACTURING see the Websites:

www.steptools.com

www.mmsonline.com