NTB Interstate University of Technology Buchs, a Swiss institute that specialises in engineering informatics, recently announced a new Web site (
www.gtc-tools.com) that provides information to the public on the Generic Tool Catalog (GTC) cutting tool data exchange format.
This was developed through collaboration among machining hardware and software leaders: Siemens PLM Software, Sandvik Coromant, Iscar and Kennametal.
The GTC data exchange format is available to all tool vendors and application developers, allowing them to share cutting tool data more easily and precisely. It provides a direct connection between the tool vendor and the application without the need of an intermediary company.
Having access to comprehensive cutting tool data has been a need of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and product lifecycle management (PLM) software users for a considerable time.
ISO 13399, established by the International Standards Organisation, created a common language for industrial product data, but there was also a need for additions to that information, such as tool classification, drawings and pictures. GTC makes this additional information available for use by cutting tool vendors and applications developers.
Marcel Keinan, director of product management at Siemens PLM Software, said: “This new Web site makes information about GTC easily available to the general public. It specifies a standard format suitable for application developers, and avoids the need to create interfaces for different cutting tool vendors and applications.”