ISO 10303
Encyclopedia
ISO 10303 is an ISO
standard for the computer
-interpretable representation
and exchange
of product manufacturing information
. Its official title is: Automation systems and integration — Product data representation and exchange. It is known informally as "STEP", which stands for "Standard for the Exchange of Product model data".
's objective is to provide a mechanism that is capable of describing product data throughout the life cycle of a product
, independent from any particular system. The nature of this description makes it suitable not only for neutral file exchange, but also as a basis for implementing and sharing product databases and archiving.
Typically STEP can be used to exchange data
between CAD, Computer-aided manufacturing
, Computer-aided engineering
, Product Data Management
/EDM
and other CAx
systems.
STEP is addressing product data from mechanical and electrical design, Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
, analysis and manufacturing, with additional information specific to various industries such as automotive, aerospace
, building construction, ship
, oil
and gas
, process plants and others.
STEP is developed and maintained by the ISO technical committee TC 184, Automation systems and integration, sub-committee SC 4, Industrial data. Like other ISO and IEC standards STEP is copyright by ISO and is not freely available. Other standards developed and maintained by ISO TC 184/SC 4 are:
STEP is closely related with PLIB (ISO 13584, IEC 61360).
, SET and VDA-FS
. The initial plan was that "STEP shall be based on one single, complete, implementation-independent Product Information Model, which shall be the Master Record of the integrated topical and application information models". But because of the complexity, the standard had to be broken up into smaller parts that can be developed, balloted and approved separately. In 1994/95 ISO published the initial release of STEP as international standards (IS) with the parts 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 101, AP 201 and AP 203. Today AP 203 Configuration controlled 3D design is still one of the most important parts of STEP and supported by many CAD systems for import and export.
In the second phase the capabilities of STEP got widely extended, primarily for the design of products in the aerospace, automotive, electrical, electronic, and other industries. This phase ended in the year 2002 with the second major release, including the STEP parts AP 202, 209, AP 210, AP 212, AP 214, AP 224, AP 225, AP 227, AP 232. Basic harmonization between the APs especially in the geometric areas was achieved by introducing the Application Interpreted Constructs (AIC, 500 series).
A major problem with the monolithic APs of the first and second release is that they are too big, have too much overlap with each other and are not sufficiently harmonized. These deficits lead to the development of the STEP modular architecture
(400 and 1000 series). This activity was primarily driven by new AP covering additional life-cycle phases such as early requirement analysis (AP 233) and maintenance and repair (AP 239), and also new industrial areas (AP 221, 236). New editions of the previous monolithic APs on a modular basis have been developed (AP 203, 209, 210). The publication of these new editions coincide with the release of the new ISO product SMRL, the STEP Module and Resource Library, in 2010 that contains all STEP resource parts and application modules on a single CD. The SMRL will be revised frequently. At the end of 2010 the seventh Change Request (CR) of the SMRL has been worked out.
In mid 2010 the development of the new major AP 242 Managed model based 3d engineering has been initiated. The first edition of AP242 is expected to be technically complete in 2011 and is dedicated to replace the most successful STEP APs 203, 214 and other APs in the mechanical design area in an upward compatible way. In particular it will contain major updates in the area of Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
and Kinematics
. Future editions of AP242 will extend the scope further.
In total STEP consists of several hundred parts and every year new parts are added or new revisions of older parts are released. This makes STEP the biggest standard within ISO.
Each part has its own scope and introduction
The APs are the top parts. They cover a particular application and industry domain and hence are most relevant for users of STEP. Every AP defines one or several Conformance Classes, suitable for a particular kind of product or data exchange scenario. To provide a better understanding of the scope, information requirements and usage scenarios an informative application activity model (AAM) is added to every AP, using IDEF0
STEP is primarily defining data models using the EXPRESS modeling language. Application data according to a given data model can be exchanged either by a STEP-File, STEP-XML or via shared database access using SDAI.
Every AP defines a top data models to be used for data exchange, called the Application Integrated Model (AIM) or in the case of a modular AP called Module Integrated Models (MIM). These integrated models are constructed by choosing generic objects defined in lower level data models (4x, 5x, 1xx, 5xx) and adding specializations needed for the particular application domain of the AP. The common generic data models are the basis for interoperability between APs for different kinds of industries and life cycle stages.
In APs with several Conformance Classes the top data model is divided into subsets, one for each Conformance Class.
The requirements of a conformant STEP application are:
Originally every APs was required to have a companion Abstract test suite (ATS) (e.g. ATS 303 for AP 203), providing Test Purposes, Verdict Criteria and Abstract Test Cases together with example STEP-Files. But because the development of an ATS was very expensive and inefficient this requirement was dropped and replaced by the requirements to have an informal validation report and recommended practises how to use it. Today the recommended practises are a primary source for those going to implement STEP.
The Application Reference Models (ARM) is the mediator between the AAM and the AIM/MIM. Originally its purpose was only to document high level application objects and the basic relations between them. IDEF1X
diagrams documented the AP of early APs in an informal way. The ARM objects, their attributes and relations are mapped to the AIM so that it is possible to implement an AP. As APs got more and more complex formal methods were needed to document the ARM and so EXPRESS which was originally only developed for the AIM was also used for the ARM. Over time these ARM models got very detailed till to the point that some implementations preferred to use the ARM instead of the formally required AIM/MIM. Today a few APs have ARM based exchange formats standardized outside of ISO TC184/SC4:
There is a bigger overlap between APs because they often need to refer to the same kind of products, product structures, geometry and more. And because APs are developed by different groups of people it was always an issue to ensure interoperability between APs on a higher level. The Application integrated constructs (AIC) solved this problem for common specializations of generic concepts, primarily in the geometric area. To address the problem of harmonizing the ARM models and their mapping to the AIM the STEP modules were introduced. They contain a piece of the ARM, the mapping and a piece of the AIM, called MIM. Modules are built on each other, resulting in an (almost) directed graph with the AP and conformance class modules at the very top. The modular APs are:
The modular editions of AP 209 and 210 are explicit extensions of AP 203.
Design APs:
Manufacturing APs:
Life cycle support APs:
The AP 221 model is very similar to the ISO 15926-2 model, whereas AP 221 follows the STEP architecture and ISO 15926-2 has a different architecture. They both use ISO-15926-4 as their common reference data library or dictionary of standard instances. A further development of both standards resulted in Gellish English
as general product modeling language that is application domain independent and that is proposed as a work item (NWI) for a new standard.
The original intent of STEP was to publish one integrated data-model for all live cycle aspects. But due to the complexity, different groups of developers and different speed in the development processes, the splitting into several APs was needed. But this splitting made it difficult to ensure that APs are interoperable in overlapping areas. Main areas of harmonization are:
For complex areas it is clear that more than one APs are needed to cover all major aspects:
International Organization for Standardization
The International Organization for Standardization , widely known as ISO, is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on February 23, 1947, the organization promulgates worldwide proprietary, industrial and commercial...
standard for the computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
-interpretable representation
Representation
Representation can refer to:* Representation , one's ability to influence the political process* Representative democracy* Representation, a type of diplomatic mission...
and exchange
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
of product manufacturing information
Product Manufacturing Information
Product and manufacturing information, also abbreviated PMI, conveys non-geometric attributes in 3D computer-aided design and Collaborative Product Development systems necessary for manufacturing product components or subsystems. PMI may include geometric dimensions and tolerances, 3D...
. Its official title is: Automation systems and integration — Product data representation and exchange. It is known informally as "STEP", which stands for "Standard for the Exchange of Product model data".
Overview
The International standardInternational standard
International standards are standards developed by international standards organizations. International standards are available for consideration and use, worldwide...
's objective is to provide a mechanism that is capable of describing product data throughout the life cycle of a product
Product (business)
In general, the product is defined as a "thing produced by labor or effort" or the "result of an act or a process", and stems from the verb produce, from the Latin prōdūce ' lead or bring forth'. Since 1575, the word "product" has referred to anything produced...
, independent from any particular system. The nature of this description makes it suitable not only for neutral file exchange, but also as a basis for implementing and sharing product databases and archiving.
Typically STEP can be used to exchange data
CAD data exchange
CAD data exchange involves a number of software technologies and methods to translate data from one Computer-aided design system to another CAD file format...
between CAD, Computer-aided manufacturing
Computer-aided manufacturing
Computer-aided manufacturing is the use of computer software to control machine tools and related machinery in the manufacturing of workpieces. This is not the only definition for CAM, but it is the most common; CAM may also refer to the use of a computer to assist in all operations of a...
, Computer-aided engineering
Computer-aided engineering
Computer-aided engineering is the broad usage of computer software to aid in engineering tasks. It includes computer-aided design , computer-aided analysis , computer-integrated manufacturing , computer-aided manufacturing , material requirements planning , and computer-aided planning .- Overview...
, Product Data Management
Product Data Management
Product data management is the business function often within product lifecycle management that is responsible for the creation, management and publication of product data...
/EDM
EDM
EDM may also refer to:In information technology:* Electronic direct marketing, another term for E-mail marketing* Electronic Direct Mail*Electronic document management, the tracking and storage of electronic documents...
and other CAx
CAx
Computer-aided technologies is a broad term that means the use of computer technology to aid in the design, analysis, and manufacture of products....
systems.
STEP is addressing product data from mechanical and electrical design, Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing is a system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances. It uses a symbolic language on engineering drawings and computer-generated three-dimensional solid models for explicitly describing nominal geometry and its allowable variation...
, analysis and manufacturing, with additional information specific to various industries such as automotive, aerospace
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
, building construction, ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
, oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
, process plants and others.
STEP is developed and maintained by the ISO technical committee TC 184, Automation systems and integration, sub-committee SC 4, Industrial data. Like other ISO and IEC standards STEP is copyright by ISO and is not freely available. Other standards developed and maintained by ISO TC 184/SC 4 are:
- ISO 13584ISO 13584The official title of ISO 13584 is Industrial automation systems and integration - Parts library, with the acronym PLIB. PLIB is developed and maintained by the ISO technical committee TC 184, Technical Industrial automation systems and integration, sub-committee SC4 Industrial data...
PLIB - Parts Library - ISO 15531 MANDATE - Industrial manufacturing management data
- ISO 15926ISO 15926The ISO 15926 is titled: "Industrial automation systems and integration—Integration of life-cycle data for process plants including oil and gas production facilities" is a standard for data integration, sharing, exchange, and hand-over between computer systems.This title is regarded too...
Process Plants including Oil and Gas facilities Life-Cycle data - ISO 18629 PSL- Process specification language
- ISO 18876 IIDEAS - Integration of industrial data for exchange, access, and sharing
- ISO 22745 Open technical dictionaries and their application to master data
- ISO 8000ISO 8000ISO 8000, Data quality, is an ISO standard under development. It will be published as a number of separate documents, which ISO calls "parts"....
Data quality
STEP is closely related with PLIB (ISO 13584, IEC 61360).
History
The evolution of STEP can be divided into four release phases. The development of STEP started in 1984 as a successor of IGESIGES
The Initial Graphics Exchange Specification is a file format which defines a vendor neutral data format that allows the digital exchange of information among Computer-aided design systems....
, SET and VDA-FS
VDA-FS
VDA-FS is a CAD data exchange format for the transfer of surface models from one CAD system to another.Its name stands for "Verband der Automobilindustrie - Flächenschnittstelle", which translates to the "organization of the automotive industry - surface translation format".Standard was specified...
. The initial plan was that "STEP shall be based on one single, complete, implementation-independent Product Information Model, which shall be the Master Record of the integrated topical and application information models". But because of the complexity, the standard had to be broken up into smaller parts that can be developed, balloted and approved separately. In 1994/95 ISO published the initial release of STEP as international standards (IS) with the parts 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 101, AP 201 and AP 203. Today AP 203 Configuration controlled 3D design is still one of the most important parts of STEP and supported by many CAD systems for import and export.
In the second phase the capabilities of STEP got widely extended, primarily for the design of products in the aerospace, automotive, electrical, electronic, and other industries. This phase ended in the year 2002 with the second major release, including the STEP parts AP 202, 209, AP 210, AP 212, AP 214, AP 224, AP 225, AP 227, AP 232. Basic harmonization between the APs especially in the geometric areas was achieved by introducing the Application Interpreted Constructs (AIC, 500 series).
A major problem with the monolithic APs of the first and second release is that they are too big, have too much overlap with each other and are not sufficiently harmonized. These deficits lead to the development of the STEP modular architecture
ISO 10303 Application Modules
The STEP Application modules define common building blocks to create modular Application Protocols within ISO 10303. Higher-level modules are built up from lower-level modules. The modules on the lowest level are wrappers of concepts, defined in the Integrated Resources or Application Integrated...
(400 and 1000 series). This activity was primarily driven by new AP covering additional life-cycle phases such as early requirement analysis (AP 233) and maintenance and repair (AP 239), and also new industrial areas (AP 221, 236). New editions of the previous monolithic APs on a modular basis have been developed (AP 203, 209, 210). The publication of these new editions coincide with the release of the new ISO product SMRL, the STEP Module and Resource Library, in 2010 that contains all STEP resource parts and application modules on a single CD. The SMRL will be revised frequently. At the end of 2010 the seventh Change Request (CR) of the SMRL has been worked out.
In mid 2010 the development of the new major AP 242 Managed model based 3d engineering has been initiated. The first edition of AP242 is expected to be technically complete in 2011 and is dedicated to replace the most successful STEP APs 203, 214 and other APs in the mechanical design area in an upward compatible way. In particular it will contain major updates in the area of Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing is a system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances. It uses a symbolic language on engineering drawings and computer-generated three-dimensional solid models for explicitly describing nominal geometry and its allowable variation...
and Kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
. Future editions of AP242 will extend the scope further.
Structure
STEP is divided into many parts, grouped into- Environment
- Parts 1x: Description methods: EXPRESSISO 10303-11EXPRESS is a standard data modeling language for product data. EXPRESS is formalized in the ISO Standard for the Exchange of Product model STEP , and standardized as ISO 10303-11.- Overview :...
, EXPRESS-X - Parts 2x: Implementation methods: STEP-FileISO 10303-21STEP-File is the most widely used data exchange form of STEP. Due to its ASCII structure it is easy to read with typically one instance per line. The format of a STEP-File is defined in ISO 10303-21 Clear Text Encoding of the Exchange Structure....
, STEP-XMLISO 10303-28STEP-XML is a short term for ISO 10303-28, Industrial automation systems and integration—Product data representation and exchange—Part 28: Implementation methods: XML representations of EXPRESS schema and data...
, SDAIISO 10303-22ISO 10303-22 is a part of the implementation methods of STEP with the official title Standard data access interface or simply SDAI.... - Parts 3x: Conformance testingConformance testingConformance testing or type testing is testing to determine whether a product or system meets some specified standard that has been developed for efficiency or interoperability....
methodology and framework
- Parts 1x: Description methods: EXPRESS
- Integrated data models
- The Integrated Resources (IR), consisting of
- Parts 4x and 5x: Integrated generic resources
- Parts 1xx: Integrated application resources
- PLIB ISO 13584-20ISO 13584The official title of ISO 13584 is Industrial automation systems and integration - Parts library, with the acronym PLIB. PLIB is developed and maintained by the ISO technical committee TC 184, Technical Industrial automation systems and integration, sub-committee SC4 Industrial data...
Parts library: Logical model of expressions
- Parts 5xx: Application Integrated Constructs (AIC)
- Parts 1xxx: Application ModulesISO 10303 Application ModulesThe STEP Application modules define common building blocks to create modular Application Protocols within ISO 10303. Higher-level modules are built up from lower-level modules. The modules on the lowest level are wrappers of concepts, defined in the Integrated Resources or Application Integrated...
(AM)
- The Integrated Resources (IR), consisting of
- Top parts
- Parts 2xx: Application Protocols (AP)
- Parts 3xx: Abstract Test Suites (ATS) for APs
- Parts 4xx: Implementation modulesISO 10303 Application ModulesThe STEP Application modules define common building blocks to create modular Application Protocols within ISO 10303. Higher-level modules are built up from lower-level modules. The modules on the lowest level are wrappers of concepts, defined in the Integrated Resources or Application Integrated...
for APs
In total STEP consists of several hundred parts and every year new parts are added or new revisions of older parts are released. This makes STEP the biggest standard within ISO.
Each part has its own scope and introduction
The APs are the top parts. They cover a particular application and industry domain and hence are most relevant for users of STEP. Every AP defines one or several Conformance Classes, suitable for a particular kind of product or data exchange scenario. To provide a better understanding of the scope, information requirements and usage scenarios an informative application activity model (AAM) is added to every AP, using IDEF0
IDEF0
IDEF0 is a function modeling methodology for describing manufacturing functions, which offers a functional modeling language for the analysis, development, reengineering, and integration of information systems; business processes; or software engineering analysis.IDEF0 is part of the IDEF family...
STEP is primarily defining data models using the EXPRESS modeling language. Application data according to a given data model can be exchanged either by a STEP-File, STEP-XML or via shared database access using SDAI.
Every AP defines a top data models to be used for data exchange, called the Application Integrated Model (AIM) or in the case of a modular AP called Module Integrated Models (MIM). These integrated models are constructed by choosing generic objects defined in lower level data models (4x, 5x, 1xx, 5xx) and adding specializations needed for the particular application domain of the AP. The common generic data models are the basis for interoperability between APs for different kinds of industries and life cycle stages.
In APs with several Conformance Classes the top data model is divided into subsets, one for each Conformance Class.
The requirements of a conformant STEP application are:
- implementation of either a preprocessorPreprocessorIn computer science, a preprocessor is a program that processes its input data to produce output that is used as input to another program. The output is said to be a preprocessed form of the input data, which is often used by some subsequent programs like compilers...
or a postprocessor or both, - using one of the STEP implementation methods STEP-File, STEP-XML or SDAI for the AIM/MIM data model and
- supporting one or several conformance classes of an AP.
Originally every APs was required to have a companion Abstract test suite (ATS) (e.g. ATS 303 for AP 203), providing Test Purposes, Verdict Criteria and Abstract Test Cases together with example STEP-Files. But because the development of an ATS was very expensive and inefficient this requirement was dropped and replaced by the requirements to have an informal validation report and recommended practises how to use it. Today the recommended practises are a primary source for those going to implement STEP.
The Application Reference Models (ARM) is the mediator between the AAM and the AIM/MIM. Originally its purpose was only to document high level application objects and the basic relations between them. IDEF1X
IDEF1X
IDEF1X is a data modeling language for the developing of semantic data models. IDEF1X is used to produce a graphical information model which represents the structure and semantics of information within an environment or system.IDEF1X permits the construction of semantic data models which may serve...
diagrams documented the AP of early APs in an informal way. The ARM objects, their attributes and relations are mapped to the AIM so that it is possible to implement an AP. As APs got more and more complex formal methods were needed to document the ARM and so EXPRESS which was originally only developed for the AIM was also used for the ARM. Over time these ARM models got very detailed till to the point that some implementations preferred to use the ARM instead of the formally required AIM/MIM. Today a few APs have ARM based exchange formats standardized outside of ISO TC184/SC4:
- PLM-Services within the OMGObject Management GroupObject Management Group is a consortium, originally aimed at setting standards for distributed object-oriented systems, and is now focused on modeling and model-based standards.- Overview :...
for AP 214 - ISO 14649 Data model for computerized numerical controllers for AP 238
- PLCS-DEXs within OASIS (organization)OASIS (organization)The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards is a global consortium that drives the development, convergence and adoption of e-business and web service standards...
for AP 239
There is a bigger overlap between APs because they often need to refer to the same kind of products, product structures, geometry and more. And because APs are developed by different groups of people it was always an issue to ensure interoperability between APs on a higher level. The Application integrated constructs (AIC) solved this problem for common specializations of generic concepts, primarily in the geometric area. To address the problem of harmonizing the ARM models and their mapping to the AIM the STEP modules were introduced. They contain a piece of the ARM, the mapping and a piece of the AIM, called MIM. Modules are built on each other, resulting in an (almost) directed graph with the AP and conformance class modules at the very top. The modular APs are:
- AP 203, Configuration controlled 3D design, TS and 2nd edition
- AP 209, Composite and metallic structural analysis and related design
- AP 210, Electronic assembly, interconnect and packaging design
- AP 221, Functional data and schematic representation of process plants
- AP 236, Furniture product data and project data
- AP 239, Product life cycle support
- AP 241, Generic Model for Life Cycle Support of AEC Facilities (planned)
- AP 242, Managed model based 3d engineering (under development)
The modular editions of AP 209 and 210 are explicit extensions of AP 203.
Coverage of STEP Application Protocols (AP)
The STEP APs can be roughly grouped into the three main areas design, manufacturing and life cycle support.Design APs:
- Mechanical:
- AP 201, Explicit draughting. Simple 2D drawing geometry related to a product. No association, no assembly hierarchy.
- AP 202, Associative draughting. 2D/3D drawing with association, but no product structure.
- AP 203, Configuration controlled 3D designs of mechanical parts and assemblies.
- AP 204, Mechanical design using boundary representation
- AP 207, Sheet metal die planning and design
- AP 209, Composite and metallic structural analysis and related design
- AP 214, Core data for automotive mechanical design processes
- AP 235, Materials information for the design and verification of products
- AP 236, Furniture product data and project data
- AP 242, Managed model based 3d engineering (under development)
- Connectivity oriented electric, electronic and piping/ventilation:
- AP 210, Electronic assembly, interconnect and packaging design. The most complex and sophisticated STEP AP.
- AP 212, Electrotechnical design and installation.
- AP 227, Plant spatial configuration
- Ship:
- AP 215, Ship arrangement
- AP 216, Ship moulded forms
- AP 218, Ship structures
- Others:
- AP 225, Building elements using explicit shape representation
- AP 232, Technical data packaging core information and exchange
- AP 233, Systems engineering data representation
- AP 237, Fluid dynamics
Manufacturing APs:
- AP 219, Dimensional inspection information exchange
- AP 223, Exchange of design and manufacturing product information for cast parts
- AP 224, Mechanical product definition for process plans using machining features
- AP 238 - Application interpreted model for computer numeric controllersSTEP-NCSTEP-NC is a machine tool control language that extends the ISO 10303 STEP standards with the machining model in ISO 14649, adding geometric dimension and tolerance data for inspection, and the STEP PDM model for integration into the wider enterprise...
- AP 240, Process plans for machined products
Life cycle support APs:
- AP 239, Product life cycle support
- AP 221, Functional data and schematic representation of process plants
- AP 241, Generic Model for Life Cycle Support of AEC Facilities (planned)
The AP 221 model is very similar to the ISO 15926-2 model, whereas AP 221 follows the STEP architecture and ISO 15926-2 has a different architecture. They both use ISO-15926-4 as their common reference data library or dictionary of standard instances. A further development of both standards resulted in Gellish English
Gellish English
Gellish English is a variant of Gellish and is a formal language, which means that it is structured and formalised subset of natural English that is computer interpretable. Its definition includes an English dictionary of concepts that is arranged in a taxonomy and that is extended into an ontology...
as general product modeling language that is application domain independent and that is proposed as a work item (NWI) for a new standard.
The original intent of STEP was to publish one integrated data-model for all live cycle aspects. But due to the complexity, different groups of developers and different speed in the development processes, the splitting into several APs was needed. But this splitting made it difficult to ensure that APs are interoperable in overlapping areas. Main areas of harmonization are:
- AP 214, 203 and 242 in the area of 3D mechanical design. AP 214 took over all of the functionality of the earlier AP 203 edition and then extending the capabilities significantly. The second edition of AP 203 (to be published in 2010/2011) took over bigger parts of AP 214 by adding again new functionality. The upcoming AP242 will formally replace AP 203, 214 and other mechanical design APs
- AP 201, 202, 212, 214, 221 and now AP 203 ed 2 for technical drawings with extension in AP 212 and 221 for schematic functionality
- AP 214, 224 and 238 for machining features.
- AP 203ed2, 210, 214, 224, 238STEP-NCSTEP-NC is a machine tool control language that extends the ISO 10303 STEP standards with the machining model in ISO 14649, adding geometric dimension and tolerance data for inspection, and the STEP PDM model for integration into the wider enterprise...
for Geometric dimensioning and tolerancingGeometric dimensioning and tolerancingGeometric dimensioning and tolerancing is a system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances. It uses a symbolic language on engineering drawings and computer-generated three-dimensional solid models for explicitly describing nominal geometry and its allowable variation...
For complex areas it is clear that more than one APs are needed to cover all major aspects:
- AP 212 and 214 for electro-mechanical products such as a car or a transformer
- AP 203/214, 209 and 210 for electro/electronic-mechanical products
- AP 212, 215, 216, 218, 227 for ships
- AP 203/214, 224, 240 and 238STEP-NCSTEP-NC is a machine tool control language that extends the ISO 10303 STEP standards with the machining model in ISO 14649, adding geometric dimension and tolerance data for inspection, and the STEP PDM model for integration into the wider enterprise...
for the complete design and manufacturing process of piece parts.
External links
- Standardization group ISO TC184/SC4
- The STEP Module Repository on SourceForge
- CAx Implementor Forum - information on existing implementations and testing activities
- STEP APPLICATION HANDBOOK ISO 10303 VERSION 3
- WikiSTEP - tutorial and overview information about STEP and recommended practices
- PDES, Inc. - recommended practices and links
- Korea STEP Center
- Product Life Cycle Support (PLCS) Resources
- AP 224 implementation
- Introducing STEP
- PDM schema - a common subset extracted from AP 203 and AP 214
- STEP-OAGIS Harmonization