Development of CIM Applications from PDES/STEP Information Models

This paper defines the problems associated with Information storage, and transfer, in the creation of applications within the computer-aided engineering sphere. The PDES/STEP information modelling environment is proposed as a possible means to solve the lack of consistent product information that abounds in this area. The paper also supports the creation of a manufacturing model using the EXPRESS language that will allow manufacturing decisions to be based on current resource availability. This support is shown by the development of a simple manufacturing model to define a machine resource. The need for, and types of, other resources within this model are also explained. The application under investigation is computer-aided process planning. A description of the possible environment of a CAPP application is provided, along with the inclusion of form features as a means of simplifying the planning process. The paper also proposes to use the information structures so created in the development of a generic query language, utilizing C++, an X-window-based toolkit, and the use of EXPRESS-G type structures, that will allow non-stop PDES/STEP users to access and query data files, and so create computer- integrated manufacturing applications more easily than currently possible.