The STEP protocols AP203 and AP214 were the first ones for 3D CAD software:
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AP203 - Configuration Control Design - applied to Mechanical CAD in general,
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AP214 - Core Data for Automotive Mechanical Design Process - was more focused on Automotive Industry.
Below are brief descriptions of AP203 (Editions 1 and 2) and AP214.
AP203 : 3D Design and configuration control for mechanical parts and assemblies
Scope of AP203 (Edition 1) covered:
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Products as mechanical parts and assemblies,
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Data for configuration control applied to design phase,
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Data related to the documentation of design change process, approval, security classification,
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Geometrical data as : wireframe, surfacic models, faceted models, manifold surfaces and solids (BREP).
AP203 Edition 2 : evolution of AP203
This version has been firstly published in 2004.
AP203 edition 2 provided better interoperability. It provided, in a modular way:
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Colors and Layers,
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Textual annotations associated to the geometry,
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Geometrical Dimensions and Tolerances (GD&T), with graphical presentations,
At that time additional definitions were already under study, in particular to complete the Geometrical Dimensions and Tolerances (GD&T).
AP214 : Core Data for Automotive Mechanical Design Process
The whole scope of AP214 covered:
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Products as mechanical parts, assemblies, tools used by manufacturing (in principle applied to description of cars),
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Information for process plan, configuration control, applied to design phase,
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Data related to the documentation of design change process, approval, security, classification,
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Geometrical data as: wireframe, surfacic models, faceted models, manifold surfaces and solids (BREP), constructive solid geometry, hybrid models,
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References to product data represented in an other format than STEP,
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Kinematic structures,
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Tolerance data,
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Surface conditions.
Organization of STEP
STEP AP242 protocol