What is STEP?
The Standard for Product Model Data Exchange (STEP) is a data standard
created by an international team of more than 500 CAD, CAM and CAE
experts. STEP gives an explicit and complete representation of product
data throughout its entire life cycle. STEP first became an ISO
standard in 1994 and over the last five years all of the leading CAD
software vendors have implemented STEP data translation. It is
estimated that more than two million CAD stations now contain STEP
data translators.
What is STEP-NC?
STEP-NC is an extension of STEP that defines a machine independent
bi-directional data standard for Computerized Numerical Control (CNC)
systems. Using STEP-NC, an external system such as a CAM or CAD/CAM
system can create machine independent CNC control instructions for
making a part. Any CNC machine tool that has the necessary resources
should be able to process the STEP-NC data.
What is the relationship between
STEP and STEP-NC?
STEP defines a standard for CAD design data. STEP-NC is an extension
of STEP that enhances this design information with manufacturing
information. It includes information about the stock, its
manufacturing features, inspection quality tolerances, the tool
requirements, manufacturing process sequence, speeds, feeds, and many
other process parameters.
Why is STEP-NC important to Manufacturers?
The rich 3D modeling information in STEP-NC makes CNC systems easier
to program and safer to use. The project that developed STEP-NC has
estimated that it can reduce the time required to program a CNC by
about 35%, reduce the number of drawings that have to be sent from
design to manufacturing by about 75% and decrease the time required to
machine parts on CNC tools by about 50% for small to mid-sized job
lots.
How Does STEP-NC Work?
STEP-NC replaces the RS274D M and G code standard as the primary
interface between CAM and CNC systems. With STEP-NC, a CNC system is
given a full description of the part and the manufacturing
process. This description allows the CNC to perform complete safety
checking before it begins to make the part, and it allows the CNC to
optimize the manufacturing process for its current operating
conditions.