Automated generation of STEP interfaces for CAD systems

STEP is emerging as the international standard for the representation, exchange, sharing and archiving of product model data. Despite its merits, the comprehesiveness and complexity of STEP can cause great difficulties in the understanding and implementation of the standard. This is evident when one needs to develop a STEP interface to a CAD system for retrieving and generating STEP physical files. The efforts involved would include a precise understanding of the relevant STEP definitions coupled with a tedious process of system implementation. Both are time consuming and error-prone if performed manually. As STEP is specified by the computer-sensible EXPRESS language, developing a software tool to replace human experts in processing STEP definitions and facilitate the development of STEP interfaces has become the desirable objective to be achieved.Master of Engineering (GINTIC