Posted March 4, 2002 Manufacturing News Software-Based CNC Streamlines Integration of Controls Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. (Ann Arbor, Mich.; www.mdsi2.com), which supplies software computer numerical control (CNC) and software motion technology, has been awarded a third patent for its foundation software technology that is the basis of the company's OpenCNC software CNC and WinMotion soft motion control products. The patent recognizes the core component of MDSI's Application Programming Interface (API) that allows read/write access by third-party software developers. The technology was invented by Bruce E. Nourse, MDSI's chief technology officer. The latest MDSI patent covers the architecture's single database and uniform access methodology, which, through a system of pointers and shared memory, allows outside programmers to read/write any variable in the MDSI software that has not been designated read-only. Changes are automatically updated throughout the soft CNC or soft motion, the soft PLC, the database and any other third-party technology already integrated within the control without recompiling. With this invention, any hard real-time module can read or write any variable in the machine control environment in 5 to 10 nanoseconds. For programmers, it dramatically reduces programming time and simplifies third-party program integration. Bruce E. Nourse, MDSI chief technology officer, said, "we chose to create a system that would be user extendable. In an industry where other controls require multiple databases and recompilation to make changes, we have created a single database with a uniform access method and automatic extensibility without recompiling." The Manufacturing Report © Copyright 2002 by Lionheart Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. E-mail Editorial Dept: tmr-editorial@lionhrtpub.com Lionheart Publishing, Inc. 2555 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 299, Atlanta, GA 30339 USA Phone: 770-431-0867 | Fax: 770-432-6969 E-mail: lpi@lionhrtpub.com