INFELT STEP: An integrated and interoperable platform for collaborative CAD/CAPP/CAM/CNC machining systems based on STEP standard

— Integrated product development is comprised of CAD, process planning and CNC code generation based on an integrated data structure. To enable various CAD/CAM software solutions to be interoperable, it is necessary to realize reliable and robust information exchange in manufacturing enterprises. To realize interoperability there are two basic approaches: i. To focus on a neutral file format like those provided by the STEP standard to support data exchange between CAD systems as well as CAPP/CAM and CNC machining systems ii. To utilize an active and flexible platform consisting of structures and procedures to enable exchange of data seamlessly. Collaboration management of data exchange is inevitable in a collaborative product development environment. In this paper, the prominent integrated, interoperable and collaborative CAD/CAM information system platforms have been reviewed. To alleviate the problems arising from the shortcomings of the existing platforms, an