Conformance checking of PMI representation in CAD model STEP data exchange files

Recommended practices supplement data exchange standards by providing common implementation guidance associated with specific requirements. ISO 10303 (STEP) product data exchange files that conform to recommended practices ensure interoperability between computer-aided design (CAD) systems and with downstream applications such as manufacturing and inspection. Correct implementation of product and manufacturing information (PMI)–annotations associated with a CAD model’s edges and faces such as geometric tolerances, dimensional tolerances, and datum features–in CAD authoring systems and translators is essential for interoperability. This paper discusses an approach implemented in a software tool for checking the conformance of STEP files to the recommended practice for PMI representation.     

网络化制造关键技术信息流的研究

动态联盟各盟员间信息的集成与共享是实现网络化制造的基础和核心,针对分布、异构、异质网络化制造环境的特点,该文提出实现网络化制造信息集成与共享的总体解决方案:基于STEP标准信息的表达和产品的建模;基于XML、VRML信息的传输;基于ASP技术信息的存取;基于CORBA规范信息系统的集成和软件的互操作性。最终实现信息流在分布、异构、异质网络化制造环境中高效的传输,动态联盟各盟员间信息的实时共享。     

STEP模型映射技术及其在开放环境中的应用

针对互操作所导致的异构系统间数据交换构造STEP模型映射算法,为基于不同STEP应用协议的CAx系统集成提出了一种方法论.首先对STEP/EXPRESS数据模型作出形式化定义,在此基础上提出了两种STEP模型映射技术--静态映射与动态映射,并阐述了基于EXPRESS-X的实现及其在开放式环境中的一种典型应用.提出了模型映射技术独立于具体系统,为异构系统提供透明的集成方式,从而降低了信息集成在系统开发中的开销.     

STEP一到性测试系统的开发

STEP AP 203（ISO10303－203－1994）是表达3D机械产品设计阶段的产品数据的国际标准,它提供了一种独立于任何特定系统的信息通信的中性机制,然而,如果不对应用系统进行确定其是否与标准相一致的测试,则产品数据交换的目标就不能完全达到,文中在给出STEP一致性测试的系统方法的基础上,通过已开发的STEP AP 203一致性测试系统,来说明如何实现STEP一致性测试。     

The emerging STEP standard for product-model data exchange

The International Organization for Standardization's (ISO's) standard for the exchange of product-model data (STEP) is discussed. The goal of this standard, officially named ISO 10303, is to facilitate the computer-readable exchange of the total information used to define an industrial product. As a standard method for digital product definition. STEP will support communications among heterogeneous computer environments. The standard will make it easier to integrate systems that perform various product life-cycle functions, such as design, manufacturing, and logistics support, and will help facilitate concurrent engineering. The current electronic domain standards are reviewed. The ways in which STEP differs from them are outlined     

Strategic advantages of interoperability for global manufacturing using CNC technology

In the domain of manufacturing, computer numerically controllers (CNC) technology is a major contributor to the production capacity of the enterprises. The advances in CNC technology coupled with enhancements in computing systems have provided the basis to re-examine the way in which computer-aided systems (CAx) can be used to enable global manufacturing. Interoperability of the various components of the CAx chain is therefore a major prerequisite for manufacturing enterprises for becoming strategically agile and consequently globally competitive. Being interoperable, resources can be utilized interchangeably in a plug-and-produce manner. Over the last 8 years the eminence of a STEP standard for machining entitled STEP-NC (numerical control) has become a well-known vehicle for research to improve the level of information availability at the CNC machine tool. In this paper, the authors introduce the background to the evolution of CNC manufacturing over the last 50 years and the current standards available for programming. A review of the literature in interoperable CNC manufacturing is then provided relating to milling, turn–mill and other NC processes. The major part of the paper provides a strategic view of how interoperability can be implemented across the CAx chain with a range of standards used to regulate the flow of information. Finally, the paper outlines the advantages and major issues for future developments in interoperability, identifying future key requirements and limiting factors.     

Building a portable data and information interoperability infrastructure-framework for a standard Taiwan Electronic Medical Record Template

Traditional electronic health record (EHR) data are produced from various hospital information systems. They could not have existed independently without an information system until the incarnation of XML technology. The interoperability of a healthcare system can be divided into two dimensions: functional interoperability and semantic interoperability. Currently, no single EHR standard exists that provides complete EHR interoperability. In order to establish a national EHR standard, we developed a set of local EHR templates. The Taiwan Electronic Medical Record Template (TMT) is a standard that aims to achieve semantic interoperability in EHR exchanges nationally. The TMT architecture is basically composed of forms, components, sections, and elements. Data stored in the elements which can be referenced by the code set, data type, and narrative block. The TMT was established with the following requirements in mind: (1) transformable to international standards; (2) having a minimal impact on the existing healthcare system; (3) easy to implement and deploy, and (4) compliant with Taiwan's current laws and regulations. The TMT provides a basis for building a portable, interoperable information infrastructure for EHR exchange in Taiwan.     

基于IFC 与gbXML 标准的建筑信息模型与绿色建筑分析软件互操作性测试与评估

绿色建筑和建筑节能是建筑行业可持续发展的重要因素,然而建筑信息模型(BIM) 软件种类繁多、数据标准各异、软件之间的数据传递经常丢失信息。为解决不同软件之间的“信 息孤岛”问题和互操作性问题,分析了基于工业基础类标准(IFC)和gbXML 标准的绿色建筑模型 的结构框架,选取BIM 建模软件ArchiCAD 和绿色建筑性能分析软件Ecotec,对基于IFC 和 gbXML 标准的软件之间的互操作性进行了测试和评估,确定了建筑信息模型在交互过程中的问 题。针对相关问题本文提出了减少IFC 标准中的信息冗余、提高IFC 标准领域层对绿色建筑信 息的支持、提高资源层对相关信息定义的针对性等建议。     

Knowledge framework for intelligent manufacturing systems

Nowadays, competition is experienced not only among companies but among global supply chains and business networks. There is a demand for intelligent world-class solutions capable of reinforcing partnerships and collaborations with an improved cross-cultural understanding. However due to the proliferation of terminology, organizations from similar business environments have trouble cooperating, and are experiencing difficulties exchanging electronically vital information, such as product and manufacturing data, even when using international standards. To address similar interoperability problems, the Intelligent manufacturing systems program () is providing an opportunity to develop industry-led R&D initiatives, building common semantics and integrated solutions. The SMART-fm project was one of those initiatives. It led to the development of the international standard for product data representation and exchange in the furniture sector (ISO 10303-236) and identified the challenge of semantic interoperability which is today a major challenge in modern enterprise integration. This paper presents a knowledge framework to address that challenge and make interoperable intelligent manufacturing systems a reality. It proposes to use semantically enriched international product data standards, and knowledge representation elements as a basis for achieving seamless enterprise interoperability.     

Design of a STEP compliant system for turning operations

The changing economic climate has made global manufacturing a growing necessity over the last decade, forcing companies from East and West to collaborate beyond geographic boundaries in the design, manufacture and assembly of products. The ISO 10303 and ISO 14649 Standards (STEP and STEP-NC) have been developed to introduce interoperability into manufacturing enterprises so as to meet the challenges of responding to production on demand. This paper describes and illustrates a STEP compliant CAD/CAPP/CAM System for the manufacture of rotational parts on CNC turning centers. The information models to support the proposed system together with the data models defined in the ISO 14649 standard used to create the NC programs are also described. A structured view of a STEP compliant CAD/CAPP/CAM system framework supporting the next generation of intelligent CNC controllers for turn/mill component manufacture is provided. Finally a proposed computational environment for a STEP-NC compliant system for turning operations (SCSTO) is described. SCSTO is the experimental aspect of the research and is supported by information models that and have been constructed using a structured methodology and object-oriented methods. SCSTO was developed to generate a Part 21 file based on machining features to support the interactive generation of process plans utilizing feature extraction. A case study component has been developed to prove the concept of using the milling and turning parts of ISO 14649 to provide a turn-mill CAD/CAPP/CAM environment.     

基于STEP的三维CAD和PDM系统集成方法研究

研究了基于STEP标准的产品信息模型、CAD数据交换接口、产品数据交换接口,提出了基于STEP中性机制和产品信息模型的三维CAD和PDM系统集成框架,该框架有助于实现广义CAD功能CAD/CAE/CAPP/CAM/CAQ/PDM/ERP之间的系统集成,异地、异构系统在企业间的集成,能够为企业设计和管理信息化提供一体化解决方案.     

Interoperability and neutral data formats in multibody system simulation

Data standardization is still an open research field in multibody system (MBS) dynamics, and the lack of a standard neutral data format to encode information about MBS models (topology, geometry, rigid and flexible body data, applied forces, type of analysis, …) hinders the exchange and share of models between users of MBS software. Therefore, the MBS research community should start to address the interoperability needs in this field as soon as possible. This article presents some foundations for that task: the requirements for a neutral data format are presented, the current interoperability state in MBS dynamics is evaluated, and two data modeling technologies (STEP and XML) are compared in order to develop a robust yet easy-to-use neutral data format for multibody systems. An XML-based prototype implementation of such a format is proposed, demonstrating the excellent aptitudes of XML for this task. Finally, guidelines for future standardization of multibody system data are given. In conclusion, both STEP and XML should be combined in the future to solve the interoperability problems in multibody system dynamics in an effective way. Commemorative Contribution.     

A generic interoperability testing framework and a systematic development process for automated interoperability testing

Interoperability is a prerequisite to allow users to access systems implemented by different vendors seamlessly. A good baseline to achieve interoperability is the implementation of a common set of standards. However, this is often not sufficient as different implementations of a standard are not necessarily interoperable. Therefore, different implementations of systems need to be assessed for interoperability by applying interoperability testing. In this article, we present a generic framework that enables automated interoperability testing with message checks, which assess the compliance of messages exchanged between systems. The goal of this framework is the provision of a basic functionality of interoperability test entities, the definition of a generic interoperability test environment, and guidelines for the specification of automated interoperability tests. The framework also considers aspects related to interoperability testing including verdicts, automation, and limitations of the system under test. Through the application of the framework, interoperability of systems can be assessed, systems can be validated, and standards can be improved. In addition, we present a systematic development process for automated interoperability tests to formalize the development and specification of an interoperability test system. We also consider aspects and critical issues, which are important for the development of a complete interoperability test system. The framework and the process are language and system technology independent. We present their application in a case study that includes interoperability tests for the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) using the Testing and Test Control Notation Version 3 (TTCN-3).     

Performance evaluation of collaboration in the design process: Using interoperability measurement

A design process, whether for a product or for a service, is composed of a large number of activities connected by data and information exchanges. The quality of these exchanges, called in this paper collaboration, requires the ability to exchange useful, understandable and unambiguous data and information to the different designers involved. In this paper, a global framework is first set for process/product performance management. Then, the research question focuses on the definition and evaluation of the performance of collaborations, and by extension, of the design process in its entirety. This performance evaluation requires the definition of several key elements such as object to evaluate, the performance criteria, indicators and action variables. In order to define the object of evaluation, this paper relies on a literature study on collaboration resulting in an ECORE meta-model of collaborative processes. The collaboration performance measurement is for its part based on the concept of interoperability. This measure estimates the technical and conceptual interoperability of the different pairwise collaborations. The paper is concluded by proposing a tooled methodology for collaborations’ performance evaluation including two main phases: process modeling and interoperability measurement. Tooling is provided through the Eclipse Modeling Framework (EMF) using its (meta-) model edition, constraint validation and model comparison features. The applicability of the methodology is also illustrated using a case study in design.     

Sequential monitoring of surface spatial variation in automotive machining processes based on high definition metrology

The ability to monitor machining processes within micron level is critical to high precision manufacturing. New non-contact measurement technology, such as holography based high definition metrology (HDM), makes this feasible through monitoring of both the part shape and its surface texture. However, conventional statistical process monitoring and diagnostic schemes based on low definition measurement technology have limitations in addressing the HDM data since such data are in high-dimensional form and may show strong spatial correlation. Based on a previously published sequential strategy for global and localized monitoring of shape variations in HDM data, this paper improves the method by refining the localized monitoring scheme, and applies the method to HDM data collected from an automotive engine head machining process. The results show that the proposed HDM monitoring scheme can effectively localize the defective regions on the out-of-control parts.     

复杂产品制造信息集成规划内容与方法

分析了复杂产品制造业信息化的历程、面临的信息孤岛问题和企业信息集成规划需求的迫切性．结合企业的实际,提出了基于两化融合的复杂产品制造企业信息集成规划与实施的总体思路,并重点论述了其中数据管理规划、基于BOM的业务信息数据关联模型、系统集成的数据关联定义和规范化“就源取数”管理关键技术内容和示例．     

Extending the notion of quality from physical metrology to information and sustainability

In this paper we intend to demonstrate the need for extending the notion of quality from the physical domain to information and, more comprehensively, to sustainability. In physical metrology there are well established principles such as fundamental units, precision, accuracy, traceability and uncertainty. In order to understand and define quality for information and sustainability we need to develop metrological concepts similar to those of physical metrology. Research efforts related to information quality (IQ) are scattered. IQ is primarily defined in terms of several characteristics (dimensions) which lack consensus definitions and are sometimes subjective. However, the notion of IQ is currently in practice and has provided some useful insights towards defining formal approaches to IQ. In order to extend the notion of quality to sustainability we need, as in the case of information, a well defined metrology similar to physical metrology. Sustainability is currently getting attention in many areas of human endeavor. One proposal is to measure sustainability in terms of a triple bottom line, namely social, economical and environmental aspects of human endeavor. Sustainability metrics are continuously evolving and their clear definition is fundamental to the understanding of the notion of sustainability quality. As an example we consider evaluation of carbon footprint, as a metric towards sustainability, for manufacturing a simple turned part. After analyzing the current literature, we identify the following needs for characterizing the notion of sustainability quality: (a) standardized terminology of terms and concepts, (b) metrics and metrology, (c) harmonization and extension of standards, (d) conformance testbeds for standards and (e) development of information models that support sustainability.     

A database system of mechanical components based on geometric and topological similarity. Part I: representation

A database of mechanical components is an important issue for some manufacturing activities such as cost estimation, process planning, and design by case-based reasoning. In this paper, we give the representation scheme of the CAD model in such a database. Components are represented using attributed graphs in which the nodes correspond to the surfaces of the component and the links correspond to the edges of the component. The graph is based on the standard for the exchange of product information (STEP) physical file of the component. STEP file should be unique for a single component regardless of the underlying CAD system. The process of creating the graph of a component constitutes two sub-tasks: (i) importing the CAD model from the CAD system in STEP format and (ii) transforming the STEP data into attributed graph-based representation. The graph and its attributes describe the topology of the component completely together with some geometric data that are not dependent on any coordinate system such as surface type and curve type. These geometric data are helpful in the retrieval and matching processes in the database.     

Assessment of interoperability in cloud manufacturing

Cloud manufacturing is defined as a resource sharing paradigm that provides on-demand access to a pool of manufacturing resources and capabilities aimed at utilising geographically dispersed manufacturing resources in a service-oriented manner. These services are deployed via the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and its underlying IT infrastructure, architecture models, as well as data and information exchange protocols and standards. In this context, interoperability has been identified to be a key enabler for implementing such vertically or horizontally integrated cyber-physical systems for production engineering. Adopting an interoperability framework for cloud manufacturing systems enables an efficient deployment of manufacturing resources and capabilities across the production engineering life-cycle. In this paper, the authors investigate interoperability in the context of cloud manufacturing to identify the key parameters that determine whether or not a change-over from traditional cloud manufacturing to interoperable cloud manufacturing is financially viable for a given scenario of service providers and manufacturing orders. The results obtained confirm that interoperable cloud manufacturing systems cannot be considered a one-size-fits-all option. Rather, its applicability depends on a number of driving parameters that need to be analysed and interpreted to determine whether or not it provides a financially viable alternative to cloud manufacturing without an overarching interoperability framework.     

A virtual metrology system for semiconductor manufacturing

Nowadays, the semiconductor manufacturing becomes very complex, consisting of hundreds of individual processes. If a faulty wafer is produced in an early stage but detected at the last moment, unnecessary resource consumption is unavoidable. Measuring every wafer’s quality after each process can save resources, but it is unrealistic and impractical because additional measuring processes put in between each pair of contiguous processes significantly increase the total production time. Metrology, as is employed for product quality monitoring tool today, covers only a small fraction of sampled wafers. Virtual metrology (VM), on the other hand, enables to predict every wafer’s metrology measurements based on production equipment data and preceding metrology results. A well established VM system, therefore, can help improve product quality and reduce production cost and cycle time. In this paper, we develop a VM system for an etching process in semiconductor manufacturing based on various data mining techniques. The experimental results show that our VM system can not only predict the metrology measurement accurately, but also detect possible faulty wafers with a reasonable confidence.