STEP-NC Based CAM Data Exchange
STEP-NC Based CAM Data Exchange

Author: Lampard Zhang

Publisher:

Published: 2014

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13:

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Many enterprises try to integrate product design, process planning, and manufacturing efficiently using systems based on computer-aided technologies (CAx), so that they, though maybe geographically separated, are able to collaborate with each other using the Internet. However, due to the lack of a standardlized form of data format, data exchange between CAx systems is still a critical research area. Data exchange between two computer-aided design (CAD) systems and data transferring from a CAD system to a computer-aided process planning (CAPP)/computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system have been partially achieved through neutral files such as STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP) or Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGES). However, no practical mechanism for data exchange between two CAM systems currently exists, and this gap in knowledge is the focus of this research. A CAM system contains two broad types of data: manufacturing information and geometry information. Manufacturing information contains parameters regards in the machining operations, including feed-rate, spindle speed and tooling data, etc., whereas geometry information is a machining feature that specifies the volume to be removed. It is not possible to use STEP or other currently used neutral file formats to represent or exchange CAM data because they only focus on the geometric information in a CAD system. STEP-compliant numerical control (STEP-NC) is the data model for the new generation of NC machining and it records both manufacturing information and geometry information in its machining-related entities. Therefore, this research considers and utilizes STEP-NC for CAM-CAM data exchange. The aim of this research is to investigate a method using STEP-NC as the neutral file format to realize data exchange between CAM systems. More specifically, this research enables two processes: (1) extracting information from a CAM system to populate a STEP-NC file; and (2) extracting information from a STEP-NC file to populate a model in a CAM system. Creo Parametric 2.0 is used as the CAM system and a plug-in named "CAM Data Exchanger" has been developed. The CAM Data Exchanger has two components: the Creo Parametric Data Processor and the STEP-NC Data Processor. The Creo Parametric Data Processor was developed using Visual Studio 2010.NET platform and was coded in C++. This component extracts data from Creo Parametric and populates data into the CAM system. The STEP-NC Data Processor was developed on the same platform but coded in C#. The STEP-NC Data Processor can read and write a STEP-NC Part 21 file. As a result, the CAM Data Exchanger is capable of exchanging data for some typical Creo Parametric features, e.g. workcell, NC-sequence, and design features. As the main entities encapsulating information in the CAM system, Creo Parametric features play an essential role and therefore they are focused in this research. Each of the Creo Parametric features should have a standardized STEP-NC entity as its counterpart. This research analyses and compares the data structures of some Creo Parametric features and the corresponding STEP-NC entities. Based on this analysis, the bi-directional mapping between the Creo Parametric features and the STEP-NC entities is established, which enables the CAM system to exchange data using a STEP-NC neutral file. The main contribution of the research is that it proposes a mechanism for data exchange between CAM tools and demonstrates the system development process via a Creo-based pilot.

Advanced Design and Manufacturing Based on STEP
Advanced Design and Manufacturing Based on STEP

Author: Xun Xu

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2009-09-29

Total Pages: 495

ISBN-13: 1848827393

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Design and manufacturing is the essential element in any product development lifecycle. Industry vendors and users have been seeking a common language to be used for the entire product development lifecycle that can describe design, manufacturing and other data pertaining to the product. Many solutions were proposed, the most successful being the Stadndard for Exchange of Product model (STEP). STEP provides a mechanism that is capable of describing product data, independent from any particular system. The nature of this description makes it suitable not only for neutral file exchange, but also as a basis for implementing, sharing and archiving product databases. ISO 10303-AP203 is the first and perhaps the most successful AP developed to exchange design data between different CAD systems. Going from geometric data (as in AP203) to features (as in AP224) represents an important step towards having the right type of data in a STEP-based CAD/CAM system. Of particular significance is the publication of STEP-NC, as an extension of STEP to NC, utilising feature-based concepts for CNC machining purposes. The aim of this book is to provide a snapshot of the recent research outcomes and implementation cases in the field of design and manufacturing where STEP is used as the primary data representation protocol. The 20 chapters are contributed by authors from most of the top research teams in the world. These research teams are based in national research institutes, industries as well as universities.

Integration of CAD/CAPP/CAM
Integration of CAD/CAPP/CAM

Author: Jianbin Xue

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2018-07-23

Total Pages: 186

ISBN-13: 3110573091

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The book introduces the fundamentals and development of Computer aided design, Computer aided process planning, and Computer aided manufacturing. The integration of CAD/CAPP/CAM, product data management and Concurrent engineering and collaborative design etc. are also illustrated in detail, which make this book be an essential reference for graduate students, scientists and practitioner in the research fields of computer sciences and engineering.

Collaborative Design and Planning for Digital Manufacturing
Collaborative Design and Planning for Digital Manufacturing

Author: Lihui Wang

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2009-01-27

Total Pages: 427

ISBN-13: 1848822871

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Collaborative design has attracted much attention in the research community in recent years. With increasingly decentralized manufacturing systems and processes, more collaborative approaches and systems are needed to support distributed manufacturing operations. "Collaborative Design and Planning for Digital Manufacturing" presents a focused collection of quality chapters on the state-of-the-art research efforts in the area of collaborative design and planning, as well as their practical applications towards digital manufacturing. "Collaborative Design and Planning for Digital Manufacturing" provides both a broad-based review of the key areas of research in digital manufacturing, and an in-depth treatment of particular methodologies and systems, from collaborative design to distributed planning, monitoring and control. Recent development and innovations in this area provide a pool of focused research efforts, relevant to a wide readership from academic researchers to practicing engineers.

Digital Product and Process Development Systems
Digital Product and Process Development Systems

Author: George L. Kovacs

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2013-10-07

Total Pages: 442

ISBN-13: 3642413293

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This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the IFIP TC 5 International Conference on Digital Product and Process Development Systems, NEW PROLAMAT 2013, held in Dresden, Germany, in October 2013. The conference succeeds the International Conference on Programming Languages for Machine Tools, PROLAMAT 2006, held in Shanghai, China in 2006. In order to demonstrate the new orientation toward IT innovations, the acronym PROLAMAT has been changed into NEW PROLAMAT and is now interpreted as Project Research on Leading-Edge Applications and Methods for Applied Technology. The 42 revised papers were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the volume. They have been organized in the following topical sections: digital product and process development; additive manufacturing; quality management; standardization and knowledge management developments; and simulation of procedures and processes.

STEP-NC Feature Based EMCO Mill
STEP-NC Feature Based EMCO Mill

Author: Bins Jo Pappachan

Publisher:

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 302

ISBN-13:

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Ever since its advent, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines have evolved into increasingly sophisticated systems that are capable of machining very complex shapes. However, the data model developed to control the early CNC machines, i.e. G-code, has largely remained unchanged. The development of STandard of Exchange of Product model data (STEP) allowed data being transferred between CAD/CAM systems, leaving CAD/CAM to CNC data transfer the weakest link in achieving total interoperable manufacturing. The endeavour to achieve interoperability between CAD/CAM and CNC systems led to the development of STEP-NC. Unlike G-code STEP-NC does not hold axis location commands, rather it holds information on machining features which may be used by an intelligent controller to create tool-paths based on the machine tool and cutting tools parameters available. Since tool-paths are generated by the controller, the STEP-NC data becomes transferrable across different systems. Researchers have identified three levels of achieving STEP-NC enabled CNC machining, (i) indirect, (ii) interpreted and (iii) adaptive method. In the indirect STEP-NC programming environment, a software tool is used to interpret a STEP-NC file to create a G-code program that is used to control a CNC machine. This level of programming has little advantage over G-code. The indirect STEP-NC programming method integrates the STEP-NC data with the controller at a deeper level. This genre of controller does not take G-codes; instead it sends cutter location (CL) data directly to the machine tool. Adaptive STEP-NC programming is the ultimate paradigm of STEP-NC enabled machining. In this case, the controller is intelligent enough to evaluate process data and optimise machining parameters and generate CL data in real-time. The interpretted STEP-NC programming method showcases true benefits of STEP-NC data. It would also increase the rate of adoption of STEP-NC by the manufacturing industry. This research aims to develop such a CNC controller. The CNC machine used for this research is EMCO concept Mill 105 with a remote programming station, which is a Windows XP PC running WinNC program. The CNC machine uses a Fanuc based controller. The remote programming station is connected to the CNC machine using an Ethernet cable. The network protocol used in communication was identified as Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). To achieve a deeper level of integration, the data packets sent by the WinNC program was investigated and a method was developed to purposely manage the communication between the CNC and programming station. The result of this research is a program called "PappachanNC", which is capable of generating tool-paths for machining some of the STEP-NC features, e.g. planar_face, closed_pocket and round_hole. PappachanNC is capable of connecting to EMCO Concept Mill 105, engaging the drivers, referencing, Jogging the machine and creating and sending axis locations from the details provided. It can create a program similar to the G-code program, with which a part can be machined. It is also capable of generating a bidirectional tool-path for planar_face feature. It is also capable of machining pocket feature using two machining scenarios; bidirectional and contour parallel. It can also machine round_hole feature of different diameter using the same tool. A few machining_features were machined up using the software to test its capability. The future work includes improving this software to handle the rest of the STEP-NC features and to provide a more user-friendly interface. The ability to handle feedback from the controller to create and optimise tool-path also needs to be investigated.

Advances in Production Management Systems: Innovative and Knowledge-Based Production Management in a Global-Local World
Advances in Production Management Systems: Innovative and Knowledge-Based Production Management in a Global-Local World

Author: Bernard Grabot

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-08-26

Total Pages: 612

ISBN-13: 3662447339

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The three volumes IFIP AICT 438, 439, and 440 constitute the refereed proceedings of the International IFIP WG 5.7 Conference on Advances in Production Management Systems, APMS 2014, held in Ajaccio, France, in September 2014. The 233 revised full papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 271 submissions. They are organized in 6 parts: knowledge discovery and sharing; knowledge-based planning and scheduling; knowledge-based sustainability; knowledge-based services; knowledge-based performance improvement, and case studies.

Rapid One-of-a-kind Product Development
Rapid One-of-a-kind Product Development

Author: Shane (Shengquan) Xie

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2011-02-18

Total Pages: 453

ISBN-13: 184996341X

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Rapid One-of-a-kind Product Development discusses research in the development of new enabling technologies for small and medium companies. Scientific advancements presented include a novel product data modelling scheme to model product design, manufacturability and knowledge under a common data object; customised product development in a distributed environment; and new adaptive scheduling methods for the optimal production of a wide variety of customised products, taking into consideration all of the possible changes from customers and the uncertainties in manufacturing. The book also includes research towards a computer aided customer interface, which allows customer requirements and changes to be processed and integrated with technical designs in real time; adaptive and concurrent CAD methods and algorithms; and product modelling and system integration technologies. The reader will learn how to: • translate customer requirements to technical attributes; • develop new and innovative products to meet customer requirements and expectations; • evaluate and optimise a project design; • design production systems and use them efficiently; and • manage a variety of customised products. Rapid One-of-a-kind Product Development demonstrates how to develop new methods, tools and algorithms to address the problems in a mass customisation environment. It is a valuable source of information for researchers and engineers in the fields of design and manufacturing.

Global Product Development
Global Product Development

Author: Alain Bernard

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2011-05-05

Total Pages: 716

ISBN-13: 3642159737

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This book of proceedings is the synthesis of all the papers, including keynotes presented during the 20th CIRP Design conference. The book is structured with respect to several topics, in fact the main topics that serve at structuring the program. For each of them, high quality papers are provided. The main topic of the conference was Global Product Development. This includes technical, organizational, informational, theoretical, environmental, performance evaluation, knowledge management, and collaborative aspects. Special sessions were related to innovation, in particular extraction of knowledge from patents.