Interoperable CNC for global manufacturing

In the domain of manufacturing, 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 perquisite for manufacturing enterprises for becoming strategically agile and consequently globally competitive. Being interoperable, resources can be utilized interchangeably in a plug-and-play manner. Over the last 8 years the eminence of a STEP standard for machining entitled STEP-NC 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 major issues for future developments in interoperability, identifying future key requirements and limiting factors.