Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mailrus!purdue!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!g2k
From: g2k@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Frederic Giacometti)
Newsgroups: comp.object
Subject: Re: Question on PDES, IGES, and EXPRESS.
Message-ID: <8112@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: 4 Mar 90 23:23:35 GMT
References: <794@shodha.dec.com>
Reply-To: g2k@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Frederic Giacometti)
Organization: Purdue University
Lines: 22

In article <794@shodha.dec.com> wahl@shodha.dec.com (David Wahl) writes:
  ....
>models for data exchange between CAD and CAM tools.  They are defined
>as part of ANSI and ISO (the name in ISO for PDES is STEP) activities


In order to stop any further confusion at that point:
  *  STEP is the future ISO standard for product data exchange format.
  *  PDES is the american proposal to STEP, it is by NO means STEP.

CAD/I and the following project (Esprit program in the EC) are also
proposal to STEP.

PDES is the continuation of IGES, a project managed by the NIST. It is made by and for the american industry.

So far, PDES has much to improve to be accepted as STEP.

In the same series of common confusions in america: IGES is an ANSI standard, not ISO. The French developped SET, which is technically much more performant, and has made its place in the aerospace industry.

Frederic Giacometti
School of Industrial Engineering
Purdue University