STEP MODEL FOR AUTOMATION OF PROCESS MONITORING IN STEP-NC CLOSE-LOOP MANUFACTURING.

This paper proposes a STEP-compliant extension of the AP-238 information model to support CNC manufacturing monitoring capabilities. New nc_functions for AP-238 are proposed to provide online machining information and support the development of AP-238 close loop manufacturing, involving AP-238 CAM systems and AP-238 NC interpreters. As a sample case, the paper focuses on the sequential supervision of machining operation time with STEP-NC functions, before addressing other manufacturing variables and more advanced close-loop machining strategies.