STEP Tools, Inc. Introduces New-to-the Market STEP-NC Explorer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Belinda Jones, 860-767-9506
HiTech Marketing LLC
belinda.jones@hitechmarketing.com
New Viewer Allows Manufacturers to Sample Full Fidelity STEP-NC Manufacturing data
Troy, New York - July 09, 2003 -
STEP Tools, Inc. announced today the introduction of
STEP-NC ExplorerTM, the first-to-market viewing software for examining machining workplans
and features, tool requirements, geometric dimensions and tolerances, and other information
for STEP-NC feature based machining. STEP-NC Explorer incorporates ST-Viewer technology for
integrated graphics and rich visualization features. To sample the program's capabilities,
STEP Tools provides a virtual tour at
http://www.steptools.com/products/stncexplorer. For a
limited time only, the program can be downloaded free of charge, and includes several sample
test-drive data sets.
STEP-NC Explorer is not an ordinary run-of-the-mill CAD viewer. This program is a full
bore interactive tool for dynamic viewing of full fidelity 3D manufacturing data compliant
with ISO STEP standards. STEP-NC Explorer stages STEP-NC data produced with ST-Machine,
STEP Tools' software program used to convert STEP-NC Machine independent data to machine
specific tool paths. STEP-NC Explorer also works in tandem with ST-Plan, STEP Tools'
software for creating machine independent, STEP-NC control files from STEP data. The new
STEP-NC viewing program is compatible with wide variety of CAD/CAE/CAM systems, and can
be used as a World Wide Web browser "plug in".
Manufacturers new to STEP-NC data and feature based machining will be able to thoroughly
explore the machining process. STEP-NC Explorer gives users the ability to view all operations
of a workpiece, each individual operation of the workpiece, and each individual operation of
the machining operation. Users will be able to examine the Workplan of the job, as well as the
individual Workplan and the Workingstep(s) of any machining operation. STEP-NC Explorer also
gives the user the ability to inspect the tools for each workpiece and each individual machining
operation. The program also views both the features and tolerances of the workpiece and
each individual machining operation.
About STEP and STEP-NC Standards
STEP (STandard for Exchange of Product model data) is a comprehensive ISO standard for
CAD design data. STEP-NC, the manufacturing extension of this standard, annotates the design
information with manufacturing data. STEP became a full ISO standard in 1994, and since then,
all of the leading CAD software vendors have implemented STEP data translation. It is estimated
that more than one and a half million CAD stations now contain STEP data translators. STEP-NC is
on its way to becoming a Draft International Standard in 2004.
About STEP Tools, Inc.
STEP Tools, Inc. is a leading international supplier of professional
STEP software toolsets (based on ISO standards) for application
software developers, design firms and manufacturing companies in
diverse industries. The STEP Tools product line is used by the world's
foremost firms to leverage STEP and STEP-NC technology to facilitate
the sharing of engineering product information. Over one million end
users utilize product data applications built with ST-Developer, the
company's flagship product. The company offers a suite of software
solutions in several languages that integrate with existing tools and
database systems, and also provide cross-platform compatibility and
ease-of-use for streamlined development. The emerging STEP-NC
technology is yielding process improvements including a 35% reduction
in path planning time, a 75% reduction in paper drawings generated for
the shop-floor, and a 50% improvement in machining time for small to
mid-sized job lots. For late-breaking information, contact STEP
Tools, Inc. by calling (518) 687-2848, email: info@steptools.com or visit www.steptools.com.
|
