How will STEP-NC impact CNC systems?
STEP-NC will allow CNC systems to become more intelligent. Today,
these systems are forced to be dumb because they are not given any
information about the product and process. With STEP-NC they can be
given much better information. In the near term, this change will make
CNC systems easier and safer to use. In the longer term, the
consequences may be dramatic because many new applications will be
enabled by the new information.
What will happen to Post Processors?
Post processors will no longer be of concern to end-users. If they
exist at all they will be buried inside the control as a way to
translate the working steps in a STEP-NC program into the instruction
codes understood by the CNC. No one will need to see these codes
except under special circumstances just like no one typically sees the
assembler code of a computer anymore.
How will STEP-NC impact CAM systems?
The change to STEP-NC represents an opportunity for CAM vendors to
embed some of their functionality in Smart CNC systems, and makes
their systems more flexible by allowing them to exchange data with
other CAM systems.
How will STEP-NC impact CAD systems?
If the CAD system includes CAM functionality, then AP-238 will be a
new output for creating data for CNC machines. If the CAD system does
not include CAM functionality, then AP-203 edition 2, AP-214 and
AP-224 will become more important outputs because downstream
manufacturing needs to receive geometry data with tolerances and if
possible with features as well.
How will STEP-NC impact planning systems?
AP-203 defines an interface for design. AP-238 defines an interface
for manufacturing. Planning is an activity that occurs between design
and manufacturing. Many enterprises use Computer Aided Process
Planning (CAPP) systems. As AP-238 becomes more popular these systems
will also become more popular and enterprises will want to define
their input and outputs using STEP Application Protocols. AP-224 (part
features) and AP-240 (process planning) are being defined to help with
this activity. In the long term a CAD system will write AP-203 edition
2 or AP-224. A process planning system will read AP-224 and write
AP-240. A CAM system will read AP-240 and write AP-238. A CNC system
will read AP-238.