STEP-NC New data interface for NC programming

Newsletter
Issue 5, September 2003

STEP-NC is funded by the EC Growth Programme
Page 1/5


Dear Reader,

This is the fifth issue of the STEP-NC Newsletter, informing you about the developments in the context of the
European GROWTH project IMS STEP-NC. The STEP-NC project contributes to the establishment of a new
data interface for NC-Programming (ISO 14649) in replacement of the ISO 6983 Programming Code.
Should you want to become a member of the Step-NC Interest Group, then please let us know and e-mail us at
step-nc@cecimo.be. You will then receive the STEP-NC Newsletter directly as an e-mail attachment and you
will be kept informed about future information and dissemination activities.
More information and the previous STEP-NC Newsletters can be found on http://www.step-nc.org/.
In this issue you will find information on the development of the data model and the prototype process chain for
turning applications. The Newsletter discusses turning-specific characteristics of STEP-NC and presents first
realisation results. The first public presentation of turning applications will take place on the FTK in Stuttgart,
Germany on October 14
th
, 2003.










Page 2/5
Newsletter
Issue 5, September 2003
Introduction
Todays CAD/NC process chains have a major lack. They require a number of data conversions. These
conversions are time-consuming, often irreversible and afflicted with information loss. The major bottleneck of this
process chain is at its end. Actual, NCs mostly require ISO 6983 as input format. This data format was suited in
the beginning of computerized machining when only simple data formats were processable. But as a
consequence of the progresses in production engineering, the higher complexity of machine tools and proceeding
information integration within and between facilities as well as modern forms of labor organization the limited,
machine-dependant data format of ISO 6983 is not appropriate anymore since it necessitates a number of post
processors and inhibits the feedback of worker know-how (Figure 1).
STEP-NC is the backbone of the counterpart scenario for CAD/NC process chains. Since it allows direct use of
CAD data and will form the direct input format for the NC, no conversion operations are necessary. All
components of the process chain are working on the same data format enabling a closed-loop process chain. Its
object-oriented information model eases the development of graphical NC editors with read-in and modifying
functionality as well as the development of more sophisticated applications.
Due to its high information content the STEP-NC standard is divided in one general and several technology-
specific parts. The corresponding division of the STEP-NC information model in several modules allows
applications to support distinct technologies being in full conformance to the standard. The first workings on
STEP-NC covered milling and drilling technology. Milling and drilling applications and machining tests already
showed major benefits of STEP-NC compared to the existing ISO 6983 standard. The development of the turning
data model and applications forms the next step on STEP-NCs way to a comprehensive standard data interface
for manufacturing.





















Figure 1: Comparison of process chains based on G-/M-Code (ISO 6983) and STEP-NC (ISO 14649)

actual process chain
NC
G-/M-Code
(ISO 6983)
post processor
CAM tool
- path planning
- cutting conditions
CLDATA / APT
Like Language
CAD tool CAM tool
- workplan
- operations
- technology
- strategies
STEP-NC
database
Planning Level
Shop Floor
Integrated process chain
without information loss
Bidirectionality : Feedback
of process information, use
of worker know-how
High information content
for sophisticated applications
Advantages :
STEP-NC process chain
NC
CAD tool
geometry data
file, e.g. IGES
information loss
no portability
no reconversion
her0d010a.dsf, 25.09.2001
ISW
CAD:
CAP:
NC:
Computer Aided Design
Computer Aided Planning
Numerical Control
data flow
file transfer by ISO 10303- 21
or binary
common database
data file



Page 3/5
Newsletter
Issue 5, September 2003
Data Model for Turning
To extend the usage of STEP-NC to turning processes a STEP-NC sub model for turning has been built. The ISO
document defining the STEP-NC interface for turning currently achieved its Draft International Standard (DIS)
status and thus forms a stable base for turning applications.
The data model for turning extends the general process model of STEP-NC with turning-specific feature and
technology information. Like any STEP-NC process model the STEP-NC model uses the feature description of
the CAD standard STEP defined in STEP - Mechanical Product Definition for Process Planning using Machining
Features (ISO 10303-224) and the STEP-NC - General Process Data (ISO 14649-10).
Turning features and operations are defined in the STEP-NC - Process Data for Turning (ISO 14649-12). The
features for turning represent work piece geometry attained by conventional turning. Turning operations are
structured similar to the milling and drilling operations following the consistent STEP-NC modelling approach.
They also reference technology data and strategies for machining, approach and retract movements. Since
milling, drilling and turning features as well as operations are based on the General Process Data of STEP-NC, all
can be referenced in a combined STEP-NC program. Thus complete machining processes are also possible with
STEP-NC.
Also contours consisting of straight and rounded segments used in common CAM editors for turning are part of
the turning model. Moreover, STEP-NC uses the STEP description and implementation methods, which allows
use of various STEP software tools. Thus migration of turning applications to process STEP-NC data is eased.

Prototype process chain for turning
To show the benefits of STEP-NC for turning, the STEP-NC partners are implementing a prototypical STEP-NC
process chain. Because commercial STEP-NC based CAD and CAM systems are not available up to now,
existing systems were equipped with coupling modules with respect to the requirements on the process chain
(Figure 2).






























Figure 2: Process chain for turning

Design
Process Planning / NC programming
Shop floor / machine tool
AP:
CAD:
CAM:
Application Protocol
Computer Aided Design
Computer Aided Manufacturing
NC:
STEP:
STEP-NC:
Numerical Control
STandard for the Exchange of Product model data
STEP compliant data interface for Numerical Controls
data flow
* modification of read-in STEP-NC data file
* conversion to Siemens ShopTurn
* manufacturing of the work piece
* input of STEP AP203 data file
* feature recognition
* definition of machining operations,
strategies, technologies, etc.
* output of STEP-NC data file
* input of existing STEP-NC data files
* 3D design of the work piece with the
STEP-enabled CAD tool CATIA V5
* output of geometry data
as STEP AP 203 data file
STEP, AP203
geometry data file
CAD tool
CATIA V5
CAM tool
STEPTurn
STEP-NC-file
NC programme
conversion tool
STEP-NC -> ShopTurn
NC with ShopTurn



Page 4/5
Newsletter
Issue 5, September 2003
The test part is designed in CATIA V5 (Figure 3) and output as STEP AP203 data file (ISO 10303-203). The
software prototype STEPTurn, providing CAM functionality, reads in this data file and displays the part (Figure 4).
Feature recognition and assignment of machining operation as well as selection and input of technology
parameters and strategies is done by use of STEPTurn. At last, a STEP-NC data file is generated for output. The
STEP-NC file is read in a conversion module to the Siemens ShopTurn data format, which is the input format to
generate tool paths for the Siemens 840D NC. The conversion of STEP-NC data files is necessary since no
STEP-NC-compliant NC is available. Additionally to the conversion editing of the STEP-NC program directly on
the machine tool is provided by the conversion module (Figure 5).


Figure 3: Test part designed in CATIA V5


Figure 4: Process Planning with STEPTurn


Figure 5: Conversion module to Siemens ShopTurn



Page 5/5
Newsletter
Issue 5, September 2003


Having completed these steps the NC programs are available in the data format to be executed on a machine
tool. For its execution the turning machine tool Boehringer NG200 is applied (Figure 6).




Figure 6: Applied Boehringer turning machine tool



Figure 7: Turned work piece



Conclusion
In this newsletter the first STEP-NC implementation results up to the machining of turning work pieces were
presented.
STEP-NC enables CAD/NC process chains to close the loop from manufacturing devices to product and process
planning department. Due to its object-orientation and its high information content it eases graphical user
interaction direct on the NC and reuse of worker-know mirrored by modifications on NC programs.
The prototypical process chain presented in this newsletter is still unidirectional since there are still conversions to
todays NC input format. In near future, the generation of machine-dependant tool paths will traverse to where it
should be done to the NC of the deployed machine tool.









More Information? Specific Questions?
Connect to: http://www.step-nc.org/ or e-mail to: step-nc@cecimo.be.
Project Co-ordinator: Peter Mller, Siemens AG, Germany
Telephone ++49 / 9131 / 98-3752, Fax ++49 / 9131 / 98-2057, E-mail petermueller@siemens.com