STEP makes saving a success

Several PDES Inc pilots have also been undertaken including the Advanced Weapons System (AWS) and the FEA pilot.

LMTAS are currently working on three new projects, the first being a project under the Virtual Product Development Initiative (VPDI) which is an AP 209 implementation effort centred upon using the AP 209 data model as a foundation for the integration of CAD, CAE and detail analysis tools within the Virtual Development Environment (VDE). The basic strategy is to encourage LMTAS' preferred tool vendors to implement AP 209. VPDI will use the AP 209 implementations in these tools to integrate many other in-house and commercially available tools. The seam-less integration of data between each of the tools in the iterative Design-Analysis environment will provide reduced cycle time and development costs whilst boosting the quality of the design.

The second project is the STEP Web Integrated Supplier Exchange (STEPwise) project which is a PDES Inc. initiative led by LMTAS. The objective of the project is to enable the procurement departments of Prime Contractors to automatically send list of items to be out-sourced, via email to the correct suppliers and subcontractor. These lists (known as Technical Data Packages (TDP)) will include the required technical information and in the format suitable for the particular supplier and contractors. The intent is to make the process of importing the TDP data at the subcontractor site follow the same approach no matter from which prime contractor the data originates. The STEP APs used are AP203 (CM & Geometry) and AP232 in a new multi-schema exchange approach where more than one AP schema is combined in a STEP Part 21 exchange file.

The final project involves the development of a STEP interface to the LMTAS MetaphaseTM (MP) implem-entation. It will provide a PDM to PDM interface for advanced aircraft programs and will insulate applications with changes to MP (or changes in PDM). The result is that applications are becoming STEP enabled resulting in lower software programming requirements. EPM Technology have recently entered a Memorandum of Agreement to provide both advanced Express Virtual Machines, Express Object Databases and services to the most demanding LMTAS deployment activities.

The benefits and savings of using STEP technology have recently been documented by the PAS-C project: Cost avoidance savings identified for Engineering Design related processes:

To/From CAD systems:

• 10% reliability improvement over current processes
• new capability to exchange geometric solids information
• new capability to exchange materials properties information

To/From Material Property Systems:

• 10% process savings for homo- geneous parts
• 50% process savings for complex material parts (composites)

Savings identified for Manufacturing related processes:

• 27% Projected savings To/From NC CAM Systems
• 38% projected savings

The application of STEP technology into the FEA was also reviewed for composite parts in the FEA static stress analysis process. When all of the savings taken in combination for the different pilots are added for the entire FEA static stress process, the range of labour saving is between 11% and 48%. This statement is based on four different pilots (PAS-C, TACOM, VDE and Industry Consortium (PDES Inc.)) that implemented AP 209.

Background information to this article have kindly been provided by Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems.