STEP-NC to Complete Product Development Chain

Abstract

This chapter addresses the issue of product development chain from the perspective of data modeling and streamlining. The focus is on an emerging ISO standard, informally known as STEP-NC, and how it may close the gap between design and manufacturing for a complete, integrated product development environment. This new standard defines a new generation of NC programming language and is fully compliant with STEP. There is a whole suite of implementation methods one may utilize for development purposes. STEP-NC brings richer information to the numerically-controlled machine tools; hence, intelligent machining and control are made possible. Its Web-enabled feature gives an additional dimension in that e-manufacturing can be readily supported. A case study toward the end demonstrates a STEP compliant, Web-enabled manufacturing system.