The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences sponsors the Next Generation Inspection System ** 2 ** which is the second phase of the NGIS project with the ultimate goal of faster and more flexible inspection processes for both Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM) and machine tool applications nearing reality. The NGIS API goal is to develop a sensor interface that can be used within open architecture controllers with reliable results.
For CMM applications the primary objective is to develop an inspection platform in which newly developed sensors and probes can be easily integrated into existing systems. These new instruments are much faster and provide more data than current systems. For machine tool applications, the primary objective is to complement the use of CMMs with on-machine inspection, to reduce part variation by detection and correction of critical features, without loss of process throughput. In some cases, final inspection capability may be possible where part volumes are low.
Although the NGIS2 project involves the use of open-architecture controls, the objective is not to develop an open-architecture controller for inspection purposes, but to complement other on-going research projects in this area. One of the main objectives of the second phase is to develop APIs for open-architecture controllers that foster easy integration of sensors onto machine tools and CMMs. Utilizing open-architecture controllers and process models, feedback from on-machine sensors and flexible CMMs will enable real or near real-time process parameter adjustments to reduce overall process variations.
The 12 member NCMS team made up of large end users, small technology providers, and NIST feel that they can establish a set of standards through demonstration of their technology with accomplishments that will benefit both the commercial and military establishments. Agreement among the sensor manufacturers and the control vendors will lead to a system of open architecture controls and standard interfaces which will increase competition, and reduce costs of articles produced and measured on automated machinery.
The SIM Specification Working Group's current draft SIM specification was approved on January 22, 1998 as a NIST Internal Report. The entire document can be viewed on-line, as shown below.
NGIS II SIM Specification - NIST IR 6116, January 1998
In February 1998 the Working Group resumed work on an early specification for the "Sync Bus", a daisy-chained multiconductor cable that can convey binary commands and status between controller components at high speed. The documents listed below are in rough draft status.
DRAFT - NGIS II Sync Bus Specification - DRAFT
The following describes the validation and testing efforts for the NGIS SIM API: SENSOR API VALIDATION AND TESTING.
Additional information on other Open Architecture and Standard APIs Efforts: