Conversion of G-code programs for milling into STEP-NC

Abstract: STEP-NC (ISO 14649) is becoming a promising standard to replace or supplement the conventional G-code programs based on ISO 6983 due to its feature based machine independent characteristics and its centric role to enable efficient CAD/CAM/CNC interoperability. The re-use of G-code programs is important for both manufacturing and capitalization of machining knowledge, nevertheless the conversion is a tedious task when carried out manually and machining knowledge is almost hidden in the low level G-code. Mapping G-code into STEP-NC should benefit from more expressiveness of the manufacturing feature-based characteristics of this new standard. The work presented here proposes an overall method for G-code to STEP-NC conversion. First, G-code is converted into canonical machining functions, this can make the method more applicable and make subsequent processes easier to implement; then these functions are parsed to generate the neutral format of STEP-NC Part21 toolpath file, this turns G-code into object instances, and can facilitate company's usage of legacy programs; and finally, also optionally, machining features are extracted to generate Part21 CC2 (conformance class) file. The proposed extraction method employs geometric information of cutting area inferred from toolpaths and machining strategies, in addition to cutting tools' data and workpiece's dimension data. This comprehensive use of available data makes the extraction more accurate and reliable. The conversion method is holistic, and can be extended to process a wide range of G-code programs (e.g. turning or mill-turn codes) with as few user interventions as possible.