CAM to CAM data exchange is highly desirable as a way to make manufacturing operations more flexible. Today, many enterprises have only one brand of CAM system. This makes sub-contracting work between enterprises difficult, and manufacturing processes fragile because a part cannot be made if anything is wrong with the systems used to produce and process the CNC data. Many enterprises have implemented CAD to CAD data exchange, but CAM to CAM data exchange is more difficult because of the large range of data that has to be exchanged. In this program STEP Tools, Inc will use recently developed new technology to implement reliable CAM to CAM data exchange. In Phase I the technology will be demonstrated by round-tripping an Army data set between Pro/Engineer and Mastercam. In the Phase I Option STEP Tools will apply the technology to the data of a second enterprise. In Phase II STEP Tools will implement a robust reliable system for CAM data exchange that can be marketed to industry and the DoD in Phase III.
Benefits: The new system will give industry more options for machining a part. Therefore, industry will have more flexibility and it will be less necessary to store parts in warehouses just in case they cannot be machined on demand using the available CNC systems. A recent study showed that a defense depot could save as much as $640M if all its machined parts can be rapidly manufactured from a CAM description.
Keywords: Computer Aided Manufacturing, Computerized Numerical Control, Lean Manufacturing, Data Exchange
