Machine programming investigates a new STEP

While the machining industry has adapted to the 50-year-old standard for CNC machine language commonly known as G-Code, a community of engineers has worked on a replacement, the STEP AP238 protocol known as STEP-NC. Is the machining world ready for it?

“I do not think the U.S. can compete on a low-cost wage basis-innovative products with high quality are how we can be most competitive,” said Fred Proctor, Group Leader of the Control Systems Group of the National Institutes of Standards (NIST). “To improve quality and drive innovation we need to remove any obstacles manufacturers have in their way when they want to try out new things.”

Eliminating the tedious details of programming a dumb machine using an old language will free workers to innovate in faster cycles, according to Proctor. “One goal is to transform the machine tool from an apprentice to an expert, freeing up people to tackle the tough problems rather than watch for the simple ones,” said Proctor.