ISO 14649-1:2003

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 14649-1
First edition
2003-03-01
Industrial automation systems and
integration — Physical device control —
Data model for computerized numerical
controllers —
Part 1:
Overview and fundamental principles
Systèmes d'automatisation industrielle et intégration — Commande des
dispositifs physiques — Modèle de données pour les contrôleurs
numériques informatisés —
Partie 1: Aperçu et principes fondamentaux

Reference number
©
ISO 2003
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ii © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions. 2
3.1 Terms defined in ISO 10303-1. 2
3.2 Terms defined in ISO 10303-11. 2
3.3 Terms defined in ISO 10303-21. 3
3.4 Terms defined in ISO 10303-224. 3
3.5 Terms defined in ISO 2806 . 3
3.6 New definitions in ISO 14649 . 3
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms. 4
5 Overview of ISO 14649. 4
5.1 Purpose. 4
5.2 The manufacturing cycle. 4
5.3 Program organization. 6
5.4 Project description. 6
5.5 Executables and the Workplan. 6
5.6 Workingstep and machining operation . 7
5.7 Geometric description. 8
5.8 Manufacturing feature description. 8
5.9 Implementation of the program data file . 8
Annex A (informative) Use and assignment of design features for machining geometry. 9
Annex B (informative) Application Activity Model (AAM). 12
Annex C (informative) Structure of ISO 14649 data model. 20
Annex D (informative) Relationship between ISO 14649 and ISO 10303 (STEP) . 21
Annex E (informative) Scenario. 24
Bibliography . 28

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 14649-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 184, Industrial automation systems and
integration, Subcommittee SC 1, Physical device control.
ISO 14649 consists of the following parts, under the general title Industrial automation systems and
integration — Physical device control — Data model for computerized numerical controllers:
NOTE Phase numbers below refer to the planned release phases of ISO 14649 which are described in Annex D.
— Part 1: Overview and fundamental principles (Phase 1)
— Part 10: General process data (Phase 1)
— Part 11: Process data for milling (Phase 1)
— Part 12: Process data for turning (Phase 2)
— Part 13: Process data for wire-EDM (Phase 2)
— Part 14: Process data for sink-EDM (Phase 2)
— Part 111: Tools for milling (Phase 1)
— Part 121: Tools for turning (Phase 2)
Gaps in the numbering were left to allow further additions. ISO 14649-10 is the ISO 10303 Application
Reference Model (ARM) for process-independent data. ISO 10303 ARMs for specific technologies are added
after part 10.
This part of ISO 14649 has a strong relationship to ISO 10303 AP238, which is a one-to-one 100 % mapping
of ISO 14649, where ISO 14649 represents the ARM and AP238 the AIM. This relationship is referenced in
this document and in other parts of ISO 14649.
ISO 14649 is harmonized with ISO 10303 in the common field of Product Data over the whole life cycle.
Figure D.1 shows the different fields of standardization between ISO 14649, ISO 10303 and CNC
manufacturers with respect to implementation and software development.
iv © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

Introduction
Modern manufacturing enterprises are built from facilities spread around the globe, which contain equipment
from hundreds of different manufacturers. Immense volumes of product information must be transferred
between the various facilities and machines. Today's digital communications standards have solved the
problem of reliably transferring information across global networks. For mechanical parts, the description of
product data has been standardized by ISO 10303. This leads to the possibility of using standard data
throughout the entire process chain in the manufacturing enterprise. Impediments to realizing this principle are
the data formats used at the machine level. Most computer numerical control (CNC) machines are
programmed in the ISO 6983 “G and M code” language. Programs are typically generated by computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM) systems that use computer-aided design (CAD) information. However, ISO 6983 limits
program portability for three reasons. First, the language focuses on programming the tool center path with
respect to machine axes, rather than the machining process with respect to the part. Second, the standard
defines the syntax of program statements, but in most cases leaves the semantics ambiguous. Third, vendors
usually supplement the language with extensions that are not covered in the limited scope of ISO 6983.
ISO 14649 is a new model of data transfer between CAD/CAM systems and CNC machines. It remedies the
shortcomings of ISO 6983 by specifying machining processes rather than machine tool motion, using the
object-oriented concept of Workingsteps. Workingsteps correspond to high-level machining features and
associated process parameters. CNCs are responsible for translating Workingsteps to axis motion and tool
operation. A major benefit of ISO 14649 is its use of existing data models from ISO 10303.
ISO/TC 184/SC 1/WG 7 envisions a gradual evolution from ISO 6983 programming to portable feature-based
programming. Early adopters of ISO 14649 will certainly support data input of legacy “G and M codes”
manually or through programs, just as modern controllers support both command-line interfaces and graphical
user interfaces. This will likely be made easier as open-architecture controllers become more prevalent.
Therefore, ISO 14649 does not include legacy program statements, which would otherwise dilute the
effectiveness of the standard.
ISO 14649 is harmonized with ISO 10303 in the common field of Product Data by the ISO 10303-238
Application Interpreted Model (AIM) over the whole life cycle.
This document, ISO 14649-1, “Overview and fundamental principles,” has five informative annexes. Annex A
shows the use and assignment of features from ISO 10303-224 in ISO 14649, Annex B is the Application
Activity Model that explains the environment and the activities of ISO 14649 in the manufacturing process.
Annex C shows an overview of the data model structure as an EXPRESS-G diagram. Annex D describes the
relationship of ISO 14649 to ISO 10303 (STEP). Annex E is a hypothetical scenario, intended to illustrate the
life cycle application of ISO 14649 to a manufacturing enterprise. It is a vision of the future of manufacturing
data transfer as intended by this International Standard.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 14649-1:2003(E)

Industrial automation systems and integration — Physical
device control — Data model for computerized numerical
controllers —
Part 1:
Overview and fundamental principles
1 Scope
This part of ISO 14649 provides an introduction and overview of a data model for Computerized Numerical
Controllers and explains its advantages and basic principle, based on the concepts of Product Data.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 841:2001, Industrial automation systems and integration — Numerical control of machines — Coordinate
system and motion nomenclature
ISO 2806:1994, Industrial automation systems — Numerical control of machines — Vocabulary
ISO 4342:1985, Numerical control of machines — NC processor input — Basic part program reference
language
ISO 4343:2000, Industrial automation systems — Numerical control of machines — NC processor output —
Post processor commands
ISO/TR 6132:1981, Numerical control of machines — Operational command and data format
ISO 6983-1:1982, Numerical control of machines — Program format and definition of address words — Part 1:
Data format for positioning, line motion and contouring control systems
ISO 10303-1:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 1: Overview and fundamental principles
ISO 10303-11:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 11: Description methods: The EXPRESS language reference manual
ISO 10303-21:2002, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 21: Implementation methods: Clear text encoding of the exchange structure
ISO 10303-22:1998, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 22: Implementation methods: Standard data access interface
ISO 10303-41:2000, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 41: Integrated generic resource: Fundamentals of product description and support
ISO 10303-42:2000, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 42: Integrated generic resources: Geometric and topological representation
ISO 10303-43:2000, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 43: Integrated generic resource: Representation structures
ISO 10303-49:1998, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 49: Integrated generic resources: Process structure and properties
ISO 10303-203:1994, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 203: Application protocol: Configuration controlled design
ISO 10303-214:2001, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 214: Application protocol: Core data for automotive mechanical design processes
ISO 10303-224:2001, Industrial automation systems and integration — Product data representation and
exchange — Part 224: Application protocol: Mechanical product definition for process planning using
machining features
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply, some of which are defined in
ISO 10303 and other standards.
3.1 Terms defined in ISO 10303-1
application
application activity model
application interpreted model
application protocol
application reference model
data
data exchange
implementation model
information
information model
interpretation
model
product
product data
3.2 Terms defined in ISO 10303-11
attribute
entity
2 © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

entity data type
entity instance
EXPRESS language
3.3 Terms defined in ISO 10303-21
physical file format
3.4 Terms defined in ISO 10303-224
fixture
machining features
manufacturing feature
3.5 Terms defined in ISO 2806
numerical control
computerized numerical control
tool path
3.6 New definitions in ISO 14649
3.6.1
workingstep
machining information for one cutting tool acting on a feature
NOTE It contains a Machining Operation.
3.6.2
machining operation
technological data for a Workingstep that details the operation
NOTE It is composed of cutting tool, toolpath strategy, machining function, cutting depth, finishing allowance, cutting
speed, feed rate, retract plane, safety plane, approach strategy, and retract strategy.
3.6.3
workplan
collection of Workingsteps with an execution sequence
NOTE It contains a list of Executables.
3.6.4
executable
one of Workingstep, NC Function, or Program Structure
3.6.5
NC function
one of Display Message, Optional Stop, Program Stop, Exchange Pallet, Index Pallet, Index Table, Set Mark,
Unload Tool, or Wait for Mark
3.6.6
program structure
one of Workplan, Parallel, If statement, While statement, or Assignment
3.6.7
project
entity which serves as a starting point for program execution
4 Symbols and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the following abbreviations apply.
AAM Application Activity Model
AIM Application Interpreted Model
AP Application Protocol
ARM Application Reference Model
CNC Computerized Numerical Control
5 Overview of ISO 14649
5.1 Purpose
The purpose of ISO 14649 is to:
 cover the current and expected future needs for data exchange;
 support the direct use of computer-generated product data from ISO 10303;
 create an exchangeable, workpiece-oriented data model for CNC machine tools;
 use standard, modern languages and libraries for the implementation of the data model;
 ensure compatibility of CNC input data.
ISO 14649 is applicable to advanced CNC machine tool and CAM systems.
5.2 The manufacturing cycle
Figure 1 shows the manufacturing life cycle, from design to fabrication, and how ISO 14649 is envisioned to
be used within this cycle. The design phase results in CAD data (ISO 10303-203 geometry) and includes the
definition of all the part features in ISO 10303-224. The process planning phase generates the resource
requirements for part fabrication, using ISO 10303-213, and other results suitable for use in a Manufacturing
Execution System (MES). Process planning also splits the ISO 10303-224 manufacturing features into sets
suitable for various processes, e.g. milling, turning, electrical discharge machining (EDM), and inspection
(which also uses ISO 10303-219). The ISO 10303-224 feature sets are used during the computer-aided
manufacturing (CAM) phase. Based on this, ISO 14649 files are generated that are executed by CNC
machine tools. At run time, each controller may access ISO 10303 integrated resources via the Standard Data
Access Interface (SDAI) or EXPRESS-X queries in extensible markup language (XML), providing tight
integration of ISO 10303 data with machining operations.
4 © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

Figure 1 — The manufacturing cycle, from design to fabrication, and how ISO 14649 is envisioned to
be used within this cycle
The fundamental principle of the data model is the object-oriented view of programming in terms of
manufacturing features, instead of direct coding of sequences of axis motions and tool functions. The objects
in this case are manufacturing features and their associated process data. This does not mean that the
programming language is object-oriented, in the sense that it provides classes, methods, or inheritance.
Rather, the language is a procedural way to link together a sequence of feature objects.
The data model is composed of basic units called entities. Entities and the relationships between them are
defined in the ISO 10303 EXPRESS data modelling language. Data in a particular ISO 14649 program
consists of instances of these entities.
The data model contains geometry data, manufacturing feature data, and manufacturing process data.
Geometry data typically originates from CAD, and is described in ISO 10303 AP 203. It includes all the
information necessary to define the finished geometry of the workpiece. Manufacturing feature data typically
originates from CAM. ISO 14649 defines manufacturing features that differ from, but are harmonized with,
ISO 10303-224. Manufacturing process data also originates from CAM, and defines the technological
parameters to be used during the cutting process such as tool feed and spindle speed, and descriptions of the
tooling required for each of the machining operations. Manufacturing process data also includes the definitions
of Workingsteps, one for each association of feature, of associated tool and its technological parameters, and
the sequence of these Workingsteps. An overall Workplan lists this information. This is shown in Figure 2.
The division of information means that changing the sequence of Workingsteps or optimising tool paths can
be done with minimal impact on the rest of the data. Graphical user interfaces are expected to be an excellent
help.
Geometry, feature definitions, and process data are described in ISO 14649-10. Milling-specific data is
described in ISO 14649-11 and ISO 14649-111. Data models for other technologies, such as turning and EDM,
will be described in successive parts as they are completed.
Programming in legacy languages such as ISO 6983 is not part of the data model. CNCs should be able to
handle legacy programs in a separate subsystem.
Figure 2 — General description of the data model
5.3 Program organization
A part program is described in a Physical File Format according to ISO 10303-21. The first section of the part
program is the header section marked by the keyword “HEADER”. In this header, some general information
and comments concerning the part program are given, such as filename, author, date, organization, etc.
The second and main section of the program file is the data section marked by the keyword “DATA”. This
section contains all information about geometry, features, and manufacturing tasks. The content of the data
section is divided into three significant parts: Workplan and executables with its technology description,
Manufacturing features and Geometry description. A Project entity serves as an explicit reference for the
starting point of the manufacturing tasks. Figure 3 shows the relationship between these significant parts of an
ISO 14649 data set. The structure and the purpose of the date sets that define features and process data are
described in the following sections. (See ISO 14649-10 for more detailed definitions.)
5.4 Project description
The project entity in the DATA section serves as a starting point for executing the part program. This instance
should contain a main workplan that contains sequenced subsets of executables (executable manufacturing
tasks or commands) and may also include information of workpieces to be machined.
5.5 Executables and the Workplan
Executables initiate actions on a machine and are ordered by the workplan. There are three types of
executables: Workingstep, program structure, and NC function. Workingsteps represent the essential building
blocks of manufacturing tasks. Each workingstep describes a single manufacturing operation using one
cutting tool. An example of a Workingstep is the roughing operation of a pocket or the finishing operation of a
region of a freeform surface. The detailed information of workingstep is referenced from the technology
description.
6 © ISO 2003 — All rights reserved

A program structure is either a workplan or execution flow statements such as “parallel”, “if”, and “while”. A
workplan combines several executables in a sequential or parallel order, or depending on given conditions if
conditional controls are used.
The order of execution of manufacturing operations is given by the order of executables. In order to change
the sequence of operations, only this part of the program file has to be changed. The remaining definitions of
geometry and technology are untouched. Intelligent controls may be able to optimise execution ordering, and
generate approach and lift movements while guaranteeing a collision-free operation.
Besides Workingsteps, other NC function statements may be included in the sequence of the part program.
These include the setting of a workpiece coordinate system or security plane, and auxiliary commands such
as program stop, optional stop, or pallet indexing. Workingsteps and NC-functions may appear with
conditional statements so that they may depend on run-time conditions. The possible NC function statements
are defined in ISO 14649-10.
5.6 Workingstep and machining operation
This part contains a detailed and complete definition of all Workingsteps used in the workplan. The
technological description includes tool data, machine functions, machining strategies and other process data.
Included in this description are a definition of the workpiece and all features of the finished part. The
association between features and Workingsteps is given, i.e. which Workingsteps belong to which feature. A
complete technology description includes but is not limited to cutting width and depth, spindle speed, feed,
finishing allowance, and tool used.
The description of the tools includes the tool dimensions, tool type, and other data used to identify the usage
and conditions of the tool. All tool data for milling is specified in ISO 14649-111.
The technology description will be fairly large for many applications, and is intended to be manipulated by
computers. If a human operator intends to manipulate such data, he should be guided through a graphic user
interface.
Figure 3 — Data structure of ISO 14649
5.7 Geometric description
CAD systems and CAM systems have standardized their exchange of product data, especially the geometry
description, with ISO 10303 data (ISO 10303-21, -42, and -43). All geometrical data for workpieces and
manufacturing features are described using this ISO 10303 data format. This data
...