Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555

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Computer Standards & Interfaces

j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / c s i

Dimensional metrology interoperability and standardization in

manufacturing systems
Yaoyao Zhao a, Xun Xu a,⁎, Tom Kramer b, Fred Proctor b, John Horst b
a
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
b
Intelligent Systems Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Dimensional metrology is an important part of any manufacturing system. It consists of distinct components and
Received 26 October 2009 requires a large, diverse, and interconnected knowledge base. How to pass information seamlessly with minimal
Accepted 28 February 2011 cost and minimal data loss between different components of a dimensional metrology system is a major issue that
Available online 5 March 2011
concerns software and hardware vendors, standards developers, and customers. This paper focuses on the four
main elements of a dimensional metrology system: product definition, measurement process plan definition,
Keywords:
Dimensional metrology
measurement process execution, and analysis and reporting of quality data. The activities and software modules
Interoperability that are involved in these elements are discussed. Key issues that cause interoperability problems are identified.
Standard development These issues are discussed as they relate to the current situation in dimensional metrology standards
STEP development. The STEP (ISO 10303) standards are the product of an international effort to achieve
DMIS interoperability for manufacturing systems. Extending STEP is an appropriate way to solve the interoperability
problem within dimensional metrology systems. Further development of STEP standards is proposed so that
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) information already available in STEP can be linked with
manufacturing feature information, measurement technology, and measurement results. The proposed STEP data
model is an attempt to provide a standard that will support automatic measurement process plan generation for
in-process on-machine measurement. Some case studies are under way to test the model.
© 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Metrology is the science of measurement and its corresponding
accuracy, precision and uncertainty. To measure is to ascertain a
numerical value, in terms of some physical unit, to a quantity, quality,
magnitude or dimension. To inspect is to determine compliance to a
specification (e.g. tolerance) by measuring, gauging, or other means of
examination. Often, measurements are performed to verify and
inspections are performed to accept. In its most basic form, dimensional
metrology can be thought of as the determination of length, angles, and
other geometric relationships. In the world of manufacturing, dimen-
sional measurement and dimensional inspection are synonymous with
dimensional metrology [1]. Dimensional metrology is an important
subject because it is essential for making parts correctly. It is based on
complex 3D geometric entities and their relationships. These geome-
tries are associated with a large, diverse knowledge base that has many
interconnections with entities such as the measurement process, the
language of measurement, devices, standards, traceability, and statistics.
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) has been devised
to encode the correct function of each feature of a manufactured part.
⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +64 9 373 7599; fax: +64 9 373 7479.
E-mail address: x.xu@auckland.ac.nz (X. Xu).
Tolerances need to be specified tightly enough so that the part will
perform its intended function and they need to be specified loosely
enough so that the part can be manufactured at a reasonable cost. GD&T
is the basis for several of the specific activities within the overall
inspection task [2]. The information required for GD&T and a symbology
to communicate it on a part drawing have been standardized by the
International Organization Committee (ISO) as a set of standards [3]. A
similar system for GD&T has been developed into national standards
such as the National Standard of the United States of America ANSI
Y14.5 [4], the German Standard DIN 7176, and the British Standard BS
308 [5]. A large store of information is contained in these standards to
guide the user on how to specify different types of tolerances and how
to use the proper symbology.
However, there is more to the dimensional measurement process
than just analysing the dimensions and tolerances of manufactured
components. The product design specifications must be taken into
account in planning the measurement process; the measurement
process must be executed to obtain appropriate measurement data;
the data must be analysed and the results reported in a way that accepts/
rejects the component and provides feed back to the manufacturing
process that produced the component. These processes are supported
by many software applications, including those that are incorporated
into machine tools. The entire dimensional measuring system is most
effective if the software applications are seamlessly integrated together

0920-5489/$ – see front matter © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.csi.2011.02.009
542 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
at the information interfaces. In industry, dimensional metrology data is
very important because it is intimately tied to a company's product
quality and performance assessment efforts. Metrology data has to be
shared easily with production scheduling, design, purchasing, and many
other manufacturing company functions [6]. Ideally, a manufacturer
should be able to acquire and store any type of dimensional
measurement information in the same format regardless of the type
of equipment used to acquire it.
The concept of dimensional metrology interoperability is defined as
“the ability of two system components to communicate correctly and
completely with each other — with minimal cost to either component
user or component vendor, where the components can come from any
vendor worldwide” [1]. This concept is used to address the issues that
complicate the measurement process. Component-to-component in-
teroperability using open standards reduces training costs, allows best-
in-class component choices, and provides a more competitive technol-
ogy provider environment — thus providing the promise of reduced cost
for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), technology providers,
suppliers, and consumers. The main challenge to achieve dimensional
metrology interoperability is to specify a minimum set of standards to
provide coverage for the information exchanges required that will also
enable integration for the full range of software applications presently
available and likely to be available in the future.
This paper analyses dimensional metrology processes in manufac-
turing systems (Section 2), identifies different activities and software
systems that involve dimensional metrology processes (Section 3),
investigates current dimensional metrology standards, and proposes a
Fig. 1. IDEF0 model of dimensional metrology system.
consolidated data model for the dimensional metrology process based
on STEP (the Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data) [7].
2. Dimensional metrology systems
The total dimensional metrology process can be divided into four
major interacting elements: product definition, measurement process
planning, measurement process execution, and analysis and reporting
of quality data [8]. Fig. 1 shows the relationship between these four
elements in an IDEF0 activity model.
Product definition (A1 activity in Fig. 1) is the process in which a part is
designed using CAD design software based on customer requirements.
From the perspective of dimensional metrology, the most important
function of the product definition activity is to provide sufficient
information to permit the automatic generation of a downstream
measurement process definition activity (A2 activity in Fig. 1). Such
information must include things like part geometry, features, tolerances,
measurement resource (CMM and sensor) specifications, and relevant
part characteristics such as surface finish, reflectance, and material
properties.
The measurement process definition activity produces the process
plan to measure the part so that the functionality of the part is ensured
during/after manufacturing process. The most important functions of this
activity are:
1) to extract or accept as input (from the product definition model,
dimensional measurement equipment specifications, etc.) all the
 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
information necessary to generate a complete measurement process
plan (called the macro process plan)
2) to generate a device-independent process plan containing the
necessary information to execute the part measurement process.
To generate the measurement process plan, information such as
part material, machine accuracy, and measuring constraints need to
be considered to support the following decision making:
• what measurements to make and in what order
• which features need to be measured
• what are the measurands (measurement method)
• what are the measurement purposes
• how to handle outliers and filter measurement results
• among available measurement resources, which (measurement device
and sensor) pairs, if any, will successfully accomplish the measurement.
Within process planning additional tolerances and manufacturing
information can be defined for different manufacturing environments.
Based on the manufacturing information (such as manufacturing
features, manufacturing operations, etc.), tolerance requirements, and
measurement purposes, measuring features, measurement datums, and
measurands can be determined. For example, a pocket is a machining
feature but it is not a measuring feature. Depending on the tolerance
applied on the pocket, measuring features are different. Following the
macro process planning activity, micro process planning is carried out to
generate a detailed measurement program, including precise measure-
ment paths and measurement points, along with instructions for
recording and reporting. Fig. 2 depicts the measurement process
definition activity. It can be viewed as a high-level overview of all the
Fig. 2. IDEF diagram of measurement process definition activity.
543
functions/sub-activities that must be supported in order to generate a
measurement process plan for use by the downstream execution of the
part measurement process. Some of these functions/sub-activities are
performed intelligently by today's software, while others require
manual intervention.
From a very high-level perspective, the measurement process
execution has the following important functions:
1) to accept input from the measurement process plan and use the
input to provide unambiguous instructions to a particular measure-
ment system
2) to use the measurement system to inspect the part
3) to collect the measurement results and output them to the analysis
and reporting activity.
This activity is not as simple as it sounds. It needs to support not
only the huge number of different types of measurement equipment,
but also an almost limitless number of ways in which a complex part
can be inspected. If the measurement process plan generated from the
upstream is not complete or unambiguous, corrective actions must be
taken before this plan is executed on the chosen measurement
equipment. For example, a translation process may need to be carried
out to translate the measurement process plan into the format that is
compatible with the available equipment.
Following the measurement process execution activity is the
analysis and reporting activity. The most important functions of this
activity are to receive input from measurement process execution and
product definition activities, to analyse the part measurement data in
terms of production definition requirements, to perform a statistical
analysis of the measurement results and present them in the form of a
544 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
statistical process control report, and to archive whatever measure-
ment values and derived statistics are necessary for things like legal
protection.
3. Activities and software modules in dimensional
metrology systems
The aforementioned four elements of dimensional metrology
systems are referred as activities in Section 2. Each of these activities
can be broken down into sub-activities. Some of these sub-activities
involve only software modules, and some involve both software
modules and dimensional measuring equipment hardware. A software
module includes at least a library of compiled (or compilable) computer
code with an Application Programming Interface (API) [9]. An API is a set
of functions the software module can carry out that may be called by
other software modules. The information communicated between these
software modules is where the interoperability achieved or not.
Interoperability is not a matter of how the information is generated
within each sub-activity, but rather a matter of the assumed syntax and
semantics of the information passed from one sub-activity to another.
Interoperability is best achieved when proprietary syntax and semantics
are replaced by international information standards, such as STEP. STEP
and standards like it seek to be unambiguous, correct, and complete
definitions of information (both syntax and semantics) exchange
between activities. For these standards to enable interoperability, they
must be implemented by a critical mass of software vendors worldwide.
John Evans et al. from NIST [9] carried out a thorough analysis of
the total metrology system and identified fifteen activities. This effort
was an attempt to identify logical activities, whether or not these
activities actually correspond to separable software modules in actual
vendor products. These activities are summarized as the following:
1) Activity Coordination — the process of planning what other
activities will take place and when they will take place, assigning
resources to planned activities, and giving the orders necessary to
carry out the plans.
2) Computer-Aided Design (CAD) — the process of producing a
design using a computer.
3) Hand-held Device Measuring — the process of measuring things
with a hand-held device.
4) High-level Measurement Instruction Execution — the process of
executing high-level inspection instructions, such as statements
from a Dimensional Measuring Interface Standard (DMIS) program
[10].
5) Inspection Planning — the process of deciding what to inspect
and how to inspect it.
6) Inspection Programming — the process of producing a high-level
inspection program, for example a DMIS program.
7) Low-level Inspection Instruction Execution — the process of
executing low-level inspection instructions, such as set or get
search distance, or probe a point.
8) Machining Planning — the process of deciding what operations
should be performed on a machine tool to produce the part.
9) Machining programming — the process of generating a program
that may be run on a machine tool controller to cut the part. This
activity together with the previous activity deals with inspection
functions that may be programmed on a machine tool for on-
machine measurement.
10) Math Computing — the process of performing mathematical
calculations. It is expected that only relatively sophisticated,
difficult, or time-consuming calculations will be performed in
Math Computing, such as fitting features to sets of points.
11) Other Inspection Device Control — the process of controlling
other dimensional metrology equipment, such as theodolites and
photogrammetry equipment.
12) Probe Instruction Execution — the process of executing instruc-
tions sent to a probe sensor.
13) Reporting and Analysis — the process of collecting inspection
reports, analysing data returned from inspection activities, and
generating files and graphical representations of analysed or
unanalysed data.
14) Routing Planning — the process of deciding which fabrication and
inspection activities will take place at which workstations.
15) Solid Modelling — the process of building a representation of
solid objects and performing calculations done on solid objects,
such as determining the mass of an object, determining if a given
point lies on the surface of an object, or Boolean subtracting one
object from another.
This analysis produced a flow chart (Fig. 3) to display these fifteen
activities and the producer and user interfaces between them. Activity
coordination is at the centre of the chart as a user of ten other
metrology activities. CAD for example is a producer of dimensional
metrology data that interfaces with such activities as machine
programming, routing planning, and inspection programming,
among others. The white arrows in the figure show the interface
from producer to consumer for data interfaces. The black arrows show
the interface from user to use for active interface. Here, an active
interface is one in which a command is given. The relationship
between the two parties attached by an active interface may be either
supervisor–subordinate or client–server. In both cases there is a user
module and a used module. In a data interface, a producer puts data
into a file system or data base system, and a consumer retrieves data
from that file system or database system. Although there is no direct
contact between producer and consumer, both must have the same
understanding of the format and meaning of the data.
For interoperable dimensional metrology operations, clear and
unambiguous metrology information is needed to flow across each of
these interfaces. This is accomplished best through the definition and
worldwide implementation of information interface standards.
4. Key issues in dimensional metrology interoperability
The activities and software modules described in Section 3 are
helpful for standard developers and implementers to understand the
activity/interface landscape for dimensional metrology systems and
thus to help further develop and implement information exchange
standards as commercial systems are developed and modified over
time. In today's manufacturing systems, it is common that several of
these software modules are combined in commercial software systems.
For example, the production definition software includes a CAD
software module, allowing definition of part geometry and associated
GD&T. The measurement process definition software includes solid
modelling, inspection planning, and inspection programming modules.
The measurement process execution software includes math comput-
ing, high-level inspection instruction execution, low-level inspection
instruction execution, and probe instruction execution modules. The
report and analysis software includes solid modelling, math computing,
and reporting and analysis modules.
The interfaces between these software modules inside a commer-
cial system become invisible to users. However, the interfaces
between these commercialized software systems are exposed. These
commercial software systems can be categorized into four groups
corresponding to the four main elements of dimensional metrology
systems as it is shown in Fig. 4. Barriers (represented by the dotted
lines in the figure) exist not only between these four elements but also
within some of the elements themselves.
Fig. 5 depicts, in large measure, the current status of dimensional
metrology systems. The horizontal dashed lines represent the
boundaries that prevent information from flowing seamlessly within
and between elements of dimensional metrology systems. In the
 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
Fig. 3. Interfaces in a dimensional metrology system [9].
following sub-sections, key interoperability issues that occur within
each of these four elements and when passing information between
any two or more of the elements are introduced.
4.1. Product definition
To support automatic dimensional metrology plan generation, the
simplest case, where the product consists of a single monolithic part,
can be selected as an example. The part must be decomposed into
geometric features. Dimensions and tolerances must then be assigned
to a geometric feature, or set of features. Datum features must be
defined in such a way that they are appropriate both for manufac-
turing the part and for inspecting it. It is not uncommon that datum
features are not the same for manufacturing and for inspecting
purposes. Surface texture information must be included in the model,
along with relevant information about the orientation or lay of the
surface texture to be measured. Accurately extracting this type of
information would require interaction with the manufacturing
process plan, which defines the process used to create the surface
that is to be measured. Therefore a process definition that defines the
manufacturing and measuring process must be interconnected with
545
elements within the product definition. Furthermore, the process
requires resources (sensors, fixtures and machines), and therefore a
resource definition that supports the process definition must be
represented [1].
However, this does not exist in the current manufacturing world. The
main issues that exist in the product definition activity are summarised
as the following:
1) Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) is only limitedly
available in proprietary software. There are no CAD product
implementations of PMI information using non-proprietary
standards. PMI includes elements such as GD&T, surface finish,
optical properties, and material properties.
2) GD&T data need to be modelled in CAD data, not just given as
annotations. ISO 10303 AP 203 [11] (boundary representation) is the
only design data standard representation supported by all CAD
systems but it does not model tolerance items such as (datum
features, tolerances, etc.). ISO 10303 AP 224 [12] (feature represen-
tation) models tolerance items but is not supported by CAD systems.
3) There are divergences in the interpretation of GD&T paper standards
both at national and international level (e.g., ASME Y14.5 and
equivalent ISO standard). At the international level, different
546 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555

Fig. 4. Interoperability barriers between dimensional metrology commercial software system.

Fig. 5. Current-state dimensional metrology interoperability issues.

 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555 547

Fig. 6. Future vision of dimensional metrology system.

national GD&T standards exist and they are not completely
convergent with each other. At the national level, some major
companies differ in their interpretation of the GD&T standards.
Interoperability suffers under these realities, but it not destroyed.
Currently, one of the major standards efforts is to develop a new
version of ISO 10303 AP 203 that models tolerance items. The most
recent test was carried out by some major CAD vendors to test the
annotation GD&T information modelled in AP 203 edition 2 [13]. The
GD&T definition from AP 214 [14] (Core data for automotive mechanical
design process) was harmonized into AP 203 edition 2. These GD&T
definitions are mainly for annotation purposes; therefore they are not
sufficient for automatic generation of dimensional measurement
process plans. Further harmonization of GD&T definitions between AP
214 and AP 224 is necessary and the harmonized definitions should be
eventually adopted into AP 203. Only in this way will AP 203 be able to
provide adequate information for generating measurement process
plans.
4.2. Measurement process definition
The measurement process definition activity takes the finished part
shapes generated from a CAD system. Intermediate workpiece shapes
and feature shapes are output from routing planning, inspection
planning, and machining planning software modules. Many different
proprietary formats exist and human intervention is mostly unavoid-
able in this activity in industry today. There are difficulties not only in
information exchange between different measurement process plan
software systems, but also in automatic inspection generation.
Moreover, the measurement process is required to do more than just
548 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555

(a) geometric and dimensional tolerance information definitions

(b) datum information definitions

Fig. 7. New GD&T definitions augmented into proposed STEP ARM data model.
 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555 549

(c) toleranced geometry definitions

Fig. 7 (continued).

inspect the part for conformance to the key dimensions on a drawing in

today's manufacturing environment. It also should provide:

• feedback needed for control of the manufacturing process, (a) workpiece with feature
• statistical data for the evaluation of conformance to tolerances at the
feature level,
• manufacturability feedback to the product definition activity, and
• information or data for machine calibration (such as machine
performance, measurement uncertainty, and configuration) from the
downstream Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine or Coordi-
nate Measuring Machine (CMM) end to upstream manufacturing
process planning.

However, the measurement process definition has some major

issues hindering the realization of interoperability and automation.

1) No standard GD&T information associated with part design geometry.

This issue is a crosscutting issue which exists both in production (b) Top view
definition and measurement process definition activities.
2) No standard mechanism to capture and a standard language for
measurement methods, practices, and rules.
3) No computer-readable and standard resource definitions of measure-
ment equipment capability, capacity, available configuration, perfor-
mance, measurement uncertainty, sensors, fixtures, rotary tables, etc.
4) Weak end user support for non-proprietary metrology system
interface languages.

Lack of end user support is the single most critical impediment to

interoperability. All other impediments are derived from it. Fig. 8. Illustration of feature and toleranced_geomtry.
550 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
Fig. 9. EXPRESS-G diagram of dimensional measurement features.
DMIS is the only standard that defines measurement instruction data
within the measurement process definition activity. It is a language for
controlling dimensional measuring equipment and includes an input
and an output language. Part of the DMIS input language defines
features, tolerances, sensors, etc. The output language serves both as a
log of action commands and settings and a report of results, with actual
and nominal point data, features, and tolerances. However, it does not
define complete measuring equipment resources. Measuring equip-
ment resource data is necessary to complete the effectiveness of DMIS.
An independent testing and certification service is useful in determining
a broad set of conformance classes that would function as common
knowledge among frequent DMIS users as to which class is required to
do which type of job [6]. NIST has developed a DMIS Test Suite 2.1.4 for
DMIS version 5.1[15] to help users and vendors use version 5.1 of the
DMIS and to support DMIS conformance testing. DMIS conformance and
certification is an ongoing effort.
There are various standards that define some measuring equip-
ment capabilities and resource configurations. For example, DMIS
includes some definitions of CMM configuration. I++ DME and
Renishaw use eXtensible Markup Language (XML) to define machine
configuration. ISO 10360-1 has definitions of machine types. These
standards need to be assessed and harmonized.
4.3. Measurement process execution
Activities within the measurement program execution system
include interfaces between executing low-level measurement tasks
and executing high-level instructions. As mentioned in Section 2, the
measurement process execution activity needs to handle a huge number
of type of measuring equipment and nearly limitless ways of
measurement. The interoperability issue in this activity is more
important in large, enterprise-level corporations, where a single-vendor
solution is impractical if not impossible. An equipment-independent
data format for representing both high-level and low-level measure-
ment process execution plan is necessary and critical for big corpora-
tions. However, there is no such standardization in industry. There are
two publicly available specifications for the interface between high-
level process plan execution and low-level process plan execution. One
is the Equip module of DMIS Part 2 [16] which has been formalized as
an ANSI standard. The other is the I++DME Interface Specification
[17] which is a specification for dimensional measuring equipment
information exchange developed by several European automakers and
measuring equipment vendors. There are no known product imple-
mentations of the Equip module of DMIS Part 2. There are many
software implementations of I++DME worldwide, but it is not yet
ubiquitous for either CMM software or CMM systems to offer I++DME
in their published product offerings.
The interface to execute low-level measurement process plans is
also another major barrier for interoperability in this activity (shown
in Fig. 4). Many proprietary APIs exist in low-level measurement
instruction commands. Therefore, the pressing issues in measurement
process execution activity are:
1) I++DME is not a formal standard,
2) I++DME needs to be extended to handle more equipment,
sensors, and environment,
3) Implementation barriers of I++DME need to be reduced, such as the
entry cost.
Renishaw and other vendors have I++DME simulators available to
enable quick and accurate development of I++DME implementations
within measurement plan execution software. The CMM industry and
NIST have also developed an I++DME test suite. The I++DME
conformance test utility software has not been maintained to the latest
version of I++DME, but can still be of value to enable I++DME
implementations which can be quickly developed and which are
compliant to the specification.
 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
4.4. Analysis and reporting of quality data
The Metrology Project Team (MEPT) of the Automotive Industry
Action Group (AIAG) has created the Dimensional Markup Language
(DML) which defines measurement feature actuals and nominals for a
CMM, sufficient for complete reanalysis of derived values, such as
feature dimensions. In partnership with the AIAG, the Dimensional
Metrology Standards Consortium (DMSC) is progressing DML to ANSI
and ISO standardization. DML is having moderate usage largely in
North America.
A format for CMM measurement results is defined within DMIS, and
has enjoyed some usage, wherever DMIS is used.
Within the STEP effort, AP 219 [18] was defined to cover all
important metrology information, including, but not limited to,
measurement results. The latest ISO standard version of AP 219 only
defines measurement results information.
Harmonization between DMIS, AP 219, and DML for providing a
standardized measurement data format is essential. There are multiple
standards/specifications that define traceability data such as SMIS, DML,
and ISO 10303 AP 238 [19]. However, the link between traceability and
measurement data is insufficient. Part of the current effort on DML is to
ensure that DML is consistent with both GD&T paper standards like
ASME Y14.5, STEP AP 219 and DMIS.
There is no comprehensive standard science or standard method-
ology for adjusting a manufacturing process based on the analysis of
quality data. To realize this, an unambiguous statement of the causal link
between events/trends in measurement results and elements of the
manufacturing processes is necessary. As a result, the causal link
between quality control results and the process is only known by human
experts, so human intervention is needed to carry out appropriate
process adjustments manually. There are also multiple standards/
specifications to perform statistical analysis of quality data, such as ASQ
[20] and ISO 16949 [21]. The standardization and harmonization of
these standards/specifications is necessary.
From a information exchange standards perspective, the main
existing issues in the analysis and reporting activity are:
1) lack of understanding and definition of how measurement results
and summary statistics can be used to improve the manufacturing
process, e.g., current measurement activities are still largely used to
accept or reject parts, instead of as a feedback to manufacturing
process and part design improvements
2) lack of a uniform data model for traceability
3) lack of consistency of statistical calculation methods and definitions
4) present lack of a standard data format for measurement data and
single part report, through DML is expected to be promoted to an
international standard soon.
Measurement data feeds into the analysis and reporting activity
from various sources. Measurement data of the same type from
different sources should be in the same format.
Dimensional metrology systems encompass a large number of
software and hardware systems. The interoperability issues that exist
in dimensional metrology systems as introduced in the above sections
are numerous and cannot be resolved in a short time. However, due to
the potential and substantial payoff, it is worthwhile to exert efforts to
achieve interoperability within dimensional metrology systems. As it
is shown in Fig. 6, without all the boundaries between different
software/hardware systems the dimensional metrology system can be
much more efficient and real-time adequate closed-loop control of the
machining process with measurement data feedback is achievable.
4.5. Crosscutting interoperability issues in dimensional metrology systems
Among all the interoperability issues summarised in the above
sections, one of them is a crosscutting issue that currently has an adverse
effect on every aspect of the dimensional metrology process — CAD data
551
is not properly associated adequately with GD&T and Product Lifecycle
Management (PLM) information. GD&T and PLM information cannot
flow seamlessly to downstream processes when components are from
different vendors.
There is no shared vision between vendors and users on this issue.
There is a lack of consensus on whether exclusive open-source, non-
proprietary, standards-based hardware and software is a more
effective option than a single-supplier network, proprietary hardware
and software. ISO 10303 (also known as STEP) is the major effort
towards resolving this issue. Three parts of this standard provide
standardization of information flow between CAD and machining
planning (AP 203 and AP 224), CAD and measurement process
planning (AP 203 edition 2 and AP 219), machining planning and
measurement planning (AP 219 and AP 238). Although due to the
complexity of this standard, the lack of implementation and some
negative views from dimensional metrology community, STEP is still
the most comprehensive standard that deals with this crosscutting
interoperability issue. In the next section (Section 5), a further
development of the STEP AP 238 data model that links sufficient GD&T
definitions with machining feature information is proposed as an
attempt to provide adequate data for performing automatic mea-
surement process plan generation and to record the results of that
planning.
5. Proposed data model based on ISO 10303 (STEP)
5.1. STEP
STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data) [7] and
STEP-NC (STEP data model for Computerized Numerical Controllers)
[22] standards have been developed by ISO committees to provide the
basis for product design, machining standardization, and integration
of part measurements with machining. The overall objective of STEP is
to provide a mechanism that describes a complete and unambiguous
product definition throughout the life cycle of a product. The nature of
this description makes it suitable not only for neutral file exchange,
but also as a basis for implementing, sharing and archiving product
databases. STEP provides both broadly useful data modelling methods
and data models focused on specific industrial uses. For various types
of product data, STEP uses Application Protocols (APs). APs are formal
documents that cover a set of activities in the lifecycle of a product. Every
AP defines a set of activities, information requirements and a formal
schema that is tied to an integrated product model shared between all APs.
An AP is developed through three phases: (1) Application Activity Model
(AAM) identifies and analyses process requirements in an application
domain; (2) Application Reference Model (ARM) describes the pieces of
product information described in the AAM in terms of basic Application
Objects (AO); and (3) Application Interpreted Model (AIM) is formed by
using an EXPRESS [23] information model to capture everything in the
ARM and to tie it to a library of pre-existing definitions (e.g. Integrated
Resources) [24].
STEP-NC is the application of STEP methods to numerically
controlled machines. STEP-NC has been and continues to be developed
by global efforts [25]. It provides a CNC with a detailed and structured
data interface that incorporates feature-based programming where a
range of information is incorporated such as the features to be
machined, tool types used, operations (workingsteps) to perform, and
process plan (workplan) to execute. By providing the high level
information to machining systems, STEP-NC will not only eliminate
the costly and inefficient process of data post-processing, but will also
establish a unified environment for the exchange of information
between product design, machining process planning and measure-
ment. It enables the realization of a bi-directional, standards-based
machining process chain with data feedback and a consolidated data
structure at each level. STEP has shown evidence of significant cost
saving, higher quality, and reduced time-to-market. From 1995 through
552 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
1997 a project involving NIST, major automotive industry companies,
OEMS, first and second tier suppliers, software vendors and consultants
was carried out to assess the efficacy of STEP in industry [26]. It was
called the AutoSTEP project. Over the course of the project the rate of
successful file exchanges using STEP improved dramatically, exceeding
80%. STEP may become a major building block in e-economy, the effort
to unite manufacturing businesses among corporate partners, distant
suppliers, and across diverse computer environments. STEP-NC is the
colloquial term that refers to both ISO 14649 and ISO 10303 AP238,
where ISO 14649 is the Application Reference Model (ARM) schema,
and ISO 10303 AP238 is the reinterpretation of ISO 14649 into a fully-
integrated Application Interpreted Model (AIM) schema [27–29].
ISO 14649 STEP-NC consists of many parts, each of which defines
information in certain machining area. Some of the parts are listed as
the following:
− Part 1: Overview and fundamental principles.
− Part 10: General process data.
− Part 11: Process data for milling.
− Part 12: Process data for turning.
− Part 16: Data for touch probing based inspection.
− Part 111: Tools for milling.
EXPRESS and EXPRESS-G are employed for information modelling
in STEP/STEP-NC standards. EXPRESS is a broadly used, object-
oriented information modelling language. EXPRESS-G is its graphical
form. Each of the STEP-NC parts listed earlier defines a schema that
contains the information definitions related to certain machining area.
For example, Part 10 defines general process data such as workpiece,
material, workingstep, executable, operation, and manufacturing
(a) measurement resource and operation definitions
Fig. 10. Measurement process related information.
feature information; Part 11 defines technology-specific data types
representing the machining process for milling and drilling such as
milling/drilling operations, technologies, and strategies; and Part 111
specifies the data elements describing cutting tool data for milling
machine tools and machining centres. These schemas can be
integrated together to form a large schema that covers the process
data that is generally needed for NC programming, eventually
targeting all machining technologies. Among these standard parts,
Parts 1, 10, 11, 12, and 111 are formally published standards. The least
developed part in STEP-NC is Part 16 which is measurement related
schema.
An STEP Application Protocol ARM data model for integrated CNC
machining and inspection is proposed that combines existing ISO
14649 Parts 10, 11, and 111 for machining operation and cutting tool
related information definitions, AP224 for GD&T, datum, and datum
feature definitions, AP219 for measurement feature definitions,
together with measurement equipment, measurement technology
and strategy, measurement machine functions, and measurement
results definitions newly developed in this research. It forms a
consolidated data model providing rich and adequate information for
automatic machining and measurement process plan generation.
5.2. GD&T data definition
The current STEP data model does not have sufficient GD&T-related
information for automatic generation of measurement process plans.
Fig. 7 shows the EXPRESS-G diagram of the proposed GD&T definitions
in the proposed ARM model. Some of the GD&T definitions make use of
the terms defined in ISO 10303 Part 47 [30] and AP224. GD&T
 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555 553

(b) measurement result and measuring strategy definitions

(c) measuring technology and measuring machine function definitions

Fig. 10 (continued).

information can be traced from a manufacturing feature, which is a part
of a machining operation, or from a dimensional measurement work-
ingstep (dm_workingstep). There are two types of tolerances, geometric
and dimensional, as shown in Fig. 7 (a). Tolerances are associated with
particular geometric types (Fig. 7 (c)), such as lines, planes, cylinders,
and profiles.
Most contemporary CAD systems use a feature-based design for
geometry modelling [31]. For example, a design feature (e.g. a slot)
may have two tolerances applied — parallelism and position (Fig. 8).
Parallelism tolerance is applied on one side of the slot surface, and
position tolerance is applied on another side. When assigning these
two tolerances on the geometry element of the slot, which is plane in
this example, the tolerance information and the size of the two planes
can be saved into a STEP file. Hence, process planners can trace the
tolerance type, value, and datum information together with tolerance
applied geometric elements size information from the STEP file. The
proposed GD&T definitions also harmonized tolerance zone related
definitions from AP214 and AP224. Therefore, the proposed GD&T and
554 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555
toleranced geometry (toleranced_geometry) definitions are able to
keep and pass complete tolerances and their associated feature
information downstream to the process planning.
5.3. Measurement features definition
In the proposed STEP Application Protocol ARM data model for
integrated CNC machining and inspection, definitions of dimensional
measurement features are harmonized from AP 219 and the HIPP
ARM data model proposed by NIST at the 53 rd ISO TC184 SC4 meeting
in Dallas in 2007. A dimensional measurement feature (dm_feature) is
either simple (dm_simple_feature) or composite (dm_composite_-
feature), as shown in Fig. 9. Each simple or composite feature can be
one of several types that identify most of the common features in
measurement process planning — such as tuboids, cones, cylinders,
and composite measurement features such as patterns.
5.4. Measurement process and device related information definitions
Fig. 10 depicts the measurement process and device-related
definitions in the proposed data model. A measurement workingstep
has attributes linked to the information of measurement operation, such
as device, tolerance, feature, result, and accuracy requirement. As shown
in Fig. 10 (a), measurement workingsteps are associated with a
measurement device (dm_resource), such as a coordinate measuring
machine (dm_machine_CMM) or gage (dm_gage), and a measurement
operation (dm_operation), such as probing. Measurement device
definitions consist of the measurement equipment type, its dimensions,
and its capability information.
Various strategies for probing (coord_met_strategy) are defined that
cover most of the commonly-encountered probing techniques. Ap-
proach and retract strategies (probing_approach_retract_strategy)
define how the probe should approach the point to be measured, and
how to depart from the point once it is measured or if measurement
fails. Compared with machining approach and retract strategies (which
have three main types: plunge_strategy, air_strategy, and along_path),
probing approach and retract motion is much simpler. In order to probe
accurately, the probe always moves in a straight line from the approach
point to the hit point, and the line of approach is as nearly normal to the
surface being probed as possible. Search distance can be specified to tell
the measurement device how far to continue beyond the nominal hit
point before aborting if contact does not occur.
The touch probing strategy includes information such as a set of
Cartesian points to measure, probing path, the feature to measure, and
sub-strategy to measure primitive geometries (planar faces, cylinders,
etc.). The measuring technology (dm_technology) (shown in Fig. 10 (c))
defines the probing speed. Measuring machine functions define
information about probe status, workpiece cleaning, and machine axis
constraints. It should be pointed out that these definitions are not
complete. Only device, technology, and machine functions relevant to
touch probing are defined. Further development of this data model is
needed to suit more different types of measurement devices.
After measurement has taken place, the measurement result
(dm_result) records the measurement values and result type. The
type is used to detect any anomalous conditions, such as points that
were not able to be measured.
This proposed data model was tested by the authors in integrated
process planning systems for combined machining and on-machine
measurement. Interested readers can refer to references [32] and [33].
6. Conclusions
Dimensional metrology systems consist of distinct components,
each with distinct functions, such as design, process planning, process
execution, measurement, and results reporting and analysis. Within
each of these components, multiple commercial software systems are
available. However, the information exchange between these soft-
ware systems is typically proprietary. This proliferation of proprietary
interface languages can be very costly to users, suppliers, vendors, and
ultimately customers. Thus, achieving interoperability within dimen-
sional metrology systems is a pressing topic for standard developers,
industry vendors and suppliers to solve.
This paper describes and analyses the four main elements of
dimensional metrology systems, identifies the main activities and
software modules involved in each of these four elements and reviews
the key interoperability issues within each of these elements and when
passing information between any of the two elements. Among all the
dimensional metrology related standards and specifications, ISO 10303
(STEP) is one of the most comprehensive and promising solutions to
provide consolidated information for the entire manufacturing system.
However, this standard is relatively new. A lot of effort needs to be put
towards covering complete data representation for manufacturing
systems. This paper proposed a data model, which further developed the
current STEP data model to include complete GD&T definitions together
with related machining process, measurement operation, measuring
equipment, and measurement result recording information definitions.
This data model is an attempt to provide sufficient design, tolerance, and
related machining information for automatic measurement process
plan generation. A case study was carried out to test the feasibility of this
data model. Further case studies are in progress to further examine the
comprehensiveness of this data model.
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 Y. Zhao et al. / Computer Standards & Interfaces 33 (2011) 541–555 555

[22] ISO, ISO 14649-1, Data Model for Computerized Numerical Controllers: Part 1 Thomas R. Kramer: Dr. Thomas R. Kramer has worked in
Overview and Fundamental Principles, 2004. automated manufacturing at the National Institute of
[23] ISO, ISO 10303-11: Industrial Automation Systems and Integration – Product Data Standards and Technology (NIST) since 1984. He is the
Representation and Exchange – Part 11: Description Methods: The EXPRESS primary builder of the NIST DMIS Test Suite and the
Language Reference Manual, 2004. Feature-Based Inspection and Control System, a hierarch-
[24] X.W. Xu, Realization of STEP-NC enabled machining, Robotics and Computer- ical system that plans and executes fabrication and
Integrated Manufacturing 22 (2) (2006) 144–153. measurement of discrete parts. He received a B.A. in
[25] T.R. Kramer, X. Xu, STEP in a nutshell, in: X. Xu (Ed.), Advanced Design and Physics from Swarthmore College and an M.A. and Ph.D.
Manufacturing Based on STEP, 2009, pp. 1–19. from Duke University in 1968 and 1971, respectively. His
[26] M.D. Hogan, L.J. Carnahan, R.J. Carpenter, D.W. Flater, J.E. Fowler, S.P. Frechette, M.M. primary interest is in getting computers to program
Gray, L.A. Johnson, R.M. McCabe, D. Montgomery, S.M. Radack, R. Rosenthal, C.M. themselves.
Shakarji, Information technology measurement and testing activities at NIST, Journal
of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 106 (1) (2001)
341–370.
[27] X.W. Xu, S.T. Newman, Making CNC machine tools more open, interoperable and
Frederick M. Proctor: Frederick M. Proctor is the Group
intelligent — a review of the technologies, Computers in Industry 57 (2) (2006)
Leader of the Control Systems group at the U.S. National
141–152.
Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg,
[28] X.W. Xu, H. Wang, J. Mao, S.T. Newman, T.R. Kramer, F.M. Proctor, J.L. Michaloski,
Maryland. He received a B.S. in electrical engineering from
STEP-compliant NC research: the search for intelligent CAD/CAPP/CAM/CNC
the University of Maryland, and an M.S. in computer
integration, International Journal of Production Research 43 (17) (2005) 3703–3743.
science from the Johns Hopkins University. His research
[29] T.R. Kramer, F. Proctor, X. Xu, J.L. Michaloski, Run-time interpretation of STEP-NC:
interests include real-time operating systems, digital
implementation and performance, International Journal of Computer Integrated
control, motion control, and modeling and simulation. He
Manufacturing 19 (6) (2006) 495–507.
also participates in standard activities for machine tools,
[30] ISO, ISO 10303-47: Industrial Automation Systems and Integration – Product Data
robots, and coordinate measuring machines. He is the
Representation and Exchange – Part 47: Integrated Generic Resource: Shape
developer of the Enhanced Machine Controller, an open-
Variation Tolerances, 1997.
source real-time Linux controller for machine tools and
[31] X. Xu, Integrating Advanced Computer-Aided Design, Manufacturing, and
robots.
Numerical Control: Principles and Implementations, Information Science Refer-
ence, Hershey, PA, 2009.
[32] Zhao Yaoyao Fiona, X.W.X. Sheng, Q. Xie, Tom R. Kramer, Fred M. Proctor, John L.
John Horst: John Horst leads a team of NIST researchers
Michaloski, An integrated process planning system architecture for machining
who enable traceability to information exchange standards
and on-machine inspection, Proceedings of the ASME 2008 International Design
of implementations of those standards by quality measure-
Engineering Technical Conferences & Computers and Information in Engineering
ment software vendors. Software conformance test uti-
Conference, IDETC/CIE 2008Brooklyn, New York, USA, 2008.
lities provide the foundation for this traceability, with the
[33] Zhao Yaoyao Fiona, X.W.X. Sheng, Q. Xie, Reactive process planning —
goal to enable interoperability for end users. Working
incorporating machining, inspection, and feedback, Proceedings of the ASME
within industry-led standard organizations, He and his
2009 International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference,
team of researchers facilitate correct and complete inter-
MSEC2009West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, 2009.
face standards, enable public interoperability testing
events, and help define certification programs, all with a
goal to realize savings for manufacturing quality measure-
Yaoyao (Fiona) Zhao: Dr. Yaoyao (Fiona) Zhao is presently
ment suppliers and end users.
a guest researcher at the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, USA. She received her BE from the
Department of Flight Vehicle Engineering in Beijing
Institute of Technology in China in 2003. She received
her ME (with honours) and PhD from the Department of
Mechanical Engineering in the University of Auckland in
New Zealand in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Her current
research topic is interoperable dimensional metrology
systems, STEP/STEP-NC-enabled integrated process plan-
ning system, and product data modeling technologies.

Xun Xu: Dr. Xun Xu is a Professor at the Department of

Mechanical Engineering, the University of Auckland, New
Zealand. He received his BE and ME from Shenyang Jianzhu
University and Dalian University of Technology, P. R. China.
In 1996, he received a PhD from the University of
Manchester (then UMIST), UK. He heads the Manufactur-
ing Systems Laboratory and is the Director of Intelligent &
Interoperable Manufacturing Systems (IIMS) research unit
in the University of Auckland. He is a Fellow of ASME. He
has published over 150 research monographs and serves as
a member of the editorial board for a number of
international journals. His main interests lie in the areas
of CAD/CAPP/CAM, STEP, and STEP-NC.