97-13068. Announcement of an Opportunity to Join a Cooperative Research and Development Consortium for Machine Tool Performance Models and Machine Data Repository

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 27239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13068]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Announcement of an Opportunity to Join a Cooperative Research and 
Development Consortium for Machine Tool Performance Models and Machine 
Data Repository

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 
invites interested parties to attend a meeting on May 29, 1997, to 
discuss setting up a cooperative research consortium. The goal of the 
consortium is to develop machine tool performance models and a machine 
data repository.
    The program will be within the scope and confines of The Federal 
Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-502, 15 U.S.C. 3710a), 
which provides federal laboratories including NIST, with the authority 
to enter into cooperative research agreements with qualified parties. 
Under this law, NIST may contribute personnel, equipment, and 
facilities--but no funds--to the cooperative research program.
    Members will be expected to make a contribution to the consortium's 
efforts in the form of personnel, data, and/or funds. This is not a 
grant program.

DATES: The meeting will take place on May 29, 1997. Interested parties 
should contact NIST to confirm their interest at the address, telephone 
number or FAX number shown below.

ADDRESSES: Sound Building, Room B102, National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donald S. Blomquist, Telephone: [phone]; FAX: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To reduce costs and respond rapidly to 
changing customer needs, large companies are relying increasingly on a 
network of suppliers and outsourcing a significant percentage of their 
manufacturing needs. This type of geographically and organizationally 
distributed manufacturing requires better communication and improved 
coordination and utilization of internal and external manufacturing 
resources by all the participants.
    The goal of the consortium is to develop tools that enable design 
and manufacturing engineers to predict machine tool performance and to 
ensure that parts can be machined to specification with a minimum of 
prototyping. These tools include data structures and low order machine 
models that represent actual machine behavior; mathematical 
representation of actual part geometry, including dimension and form 
errors; virtual machining algorithms; virtual inspection algorithms; 
standardized data formats; remotely accessible machine data 
repositories.

    Dated: May 9, 1997.
Elaine Bunten-Mines,
Director, Program Office.
[FR Doc. 97-13068 Filed 5-16-97; 8:45 am]
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