GibbsCAM Demonstrates Support of STEP AP224

By DE Editors

Gibbs and Associates (Moorpark, CA) completed a collaborative effort in conjunction with South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), which allows GibbsCAM to read STEP Application Protocol 224 (AP224) files.

STEP AP224 supports the transfer of manufacturable product information between design engineering and manufacturing engineering groups and includes both geometric and product manufacturing information, such as features with dimensions and tolerances.

STEP (STandard for the Exchange of Product model data) AP224 is the foundation format within the STEP Manufacturing Suite of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This robust suite of STEP Application Protocols addresses the data requirements extending from product design through manufacturing engineering to machining using numerically controlled machine tools to final inspection.

GibbsCAM’s STEP AP224 interface reads the solid model contained in the AP224 file and then creates features, which correspond to the features in the AP224 file. The Feature Manager can then be used to organize and manipulate the features within GibbsCAM.

A feature selected in the Feature Manager listing is highlighted and the geometric faces within that feature can be passed as a group to various operations, which are used for machining within GibbsCAM.

For more information about GibbsCAM, go to Gibbs and Associates.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.