Development of virtual component-based STEP-compliant CNC system

Abstract

Future manufacturing systems will need to be versatile, intelligent, adaptable, and long-lasting. Current systems cannot meet those criteria due to limitations in the data interface model and controller architecture. The Standard for the Exchange of Product Data-Numeric Control (STEP-NC) data interface model and open architecture control technology have the potential to enable the features of the next-generation manufacturing system. Three different programming approaches were used to implement the STEP-NC technology: indirect, interpreted and adapted. This study used open-architecture control, virtual component, and microcontroller technologies to develop an interpreted STEP-NC programming approach-based CNC system. The computer, Arduino microcontrollers, and custom boards were used to connect the system to the three-axis CNC milling machine. The STEP-NC implementation, on the other hand, has been done using a virtual component technology-based software system. The STEP-NC Part 21 programme file is read, parsed, interpreted, simulated, managed, and executed by the developed software. The paper’s content discusses system development as well as experimental validation. Finally, the study’s future directions are highlighted.