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Expert system to implement STEP-NC data interface model on CNC machine

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Abstract

One of the issues in manufacturing is implementing the standard for the exchange of product data-numerical control (STEP-NC) data interface model on computer numeric control (CNC) machines. The most often used STEP-NC programming techniques for this implementation are indirect, interpreted, and adaptive. Because of the ease of integration with existing control systems, the performance of the interpreted method was noticeably superior to that of the indirect and adaptive approaches. This concept has resulted in the creation of several tools, systems, designs, algorithms, and methods. In this study, a new STEP-NC implementation system has been created, in which the interpretation has been done using entity-plus string-based (double layer) for more precise data extractions, the tool paths system can create facing, pocket, drill, bore, ream, countersink, side, slot, and contour operations, the output file generation system can create output as per interpreted and hybrid programming approaches, and the execution system can handle multi-threaded operations. To enhance the overall interpretation system and automate implementation by reducing manual intervention, an expert system has also been incorporated. The STEP-NC part 21 examples 1 and 2 part programs were manufactured on the CNC prototype to validate the technology. The creation of the system, the design of the algorithm, the experimental verification, the conclusion, and the future suggestions are described in the paper’s content.

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Availability of data and materials

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article and available at the corresponding author.

Code availability

Custom codes are available at the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education for supporting this project under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS). The authors also acknowledge the contributions of the Department of Engineering Technology, Fakulti Teknikal Dan Vokasional, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Brasilia, National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship SENAI, Senai Innovation Institute For Embedded Systems, Universiti TeknikalMalaysiaMelaka (UTeM), the Advanced Manufacturing and Material Centre(AMMC) of Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), and the Production Laboratory of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Technology, Fakulti Teknikal Dan Vokasional, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia

    Kamran Latif

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Brazil

    Efrain Rodriguez

  3. Senai Innovation Institute For Embedded Systems, Florianópolis, Brazil

    Renan Bonnard

  4. Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Parit Raja, Malaysia

    Yusri Yusof

  5. School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Tecknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Malaysia

    Aini Zuhra Abdul Kadir

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  1. Kamran Latif
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Correspondence to Kamran Latif.

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Latif, K., Rodriguez, E., Bonnard, R. et al. Expert system to implement STEP-NC data interface model on CNC machine. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 129, 5371–5385 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-12582-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-12582-9

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