Award description CTL23-1002-E00/grant 13879004PURPOSE: ISO 10303, known colloquially as step, is a widely used interoperability standard, with ISO 10303-242 (AP242) focused on model-based engineering…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $233,426 cooperative agreement to PDES, Inc. under the Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards (CFDA 11.609) federal grant program. The purpose of this award is to extend the ISO 10303 (STEP) standards for model-based engineering, design, and manufacturing process planning to better support composites manufacturing. The key activities include: 1) integrating STEP Application Protocols 242 and 238 to enable composites capabilities, 2) updating the AP238 API to process AP242 composite models, 3) linking composite models to manufacturing workflows, and 4) validating the enhancements through toolpath generation. The expected outcomes are to close gaps between engineering disciplines, facilitate new technology implementation, reduce manufacturing costs, and accelerate composite product adoption across industries like aerospace. No subawards are involved in this project, which has an award period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024.

Activities

The major activities to be performed under this award are to 1) integrate AP242 and AP238 to support the 10303 composites capabilities, 2) map updates to AP238 application programming interface (API) to process AP242 composite models, 3) update API to link composite models to working steps and work plans, and 4) validate the linkage by generating toolpaths for one or more plies.

Expected outcomes

Closing the gaps between design and process planning will enable shared vocabularies across the model-based engineering disciplines. By improving the route from engineering and design to process planning facilitates implementation of newer technologies and reduces manufacturing costs. The ability to move from composite design to manufacturing plans for composites will also enable the digital thread to continue from design to manufactured product. As this process becomes more seamless and cost effective, composite product adoption will accelerate into wider applications in aerospace and other industries. There are corollary benefits to the public. In addition to reduction in waste, and use of fossil fuels relative to composite manufacturing: several life-cycle analysis studies have shown that composite products have a smaller carbon footprint across the product life cycle.

Intended beneficiaries

Implementers of step will benefit from the high quality of standards specifications they are implementing and testing. Users of composites design software will benefit through increasingly capable communication of information between design systems and to manufacturing planning. Composite product adoption will accelerate into wider applications in aerospace and other industries. There are corollary benefits to the public. In addition to reduction in waste, and use of fossil fuels relative to composite manufacturing: several life-cycle analysis studies have shown that composite products have a smaller carbon footprint across the product life cycle. Original equipment manufacturers will benefit from the improved ability to expanded base of suppliers, etc.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.