The company that has already revolutionized the CNC industry by proving that manufacturers can control a complete range of CNC machine tools entirely from unbundled software is once again setting a new CNC standard -- this time for machine tool builders.

With the introduction of OpenCNC(R)/OEM, Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. (MDSI) presents the same high-performance, open-architecture software CNC technology that has already enabled the company to dominate the software CNC market -- now packaged at a price/performance point designed for volume OEM sales.

OpenCNC/OEM includes the OpenCNC/OEM Software Developer Kit (SDK) and OpenCNC/OEM Runtime. The SDK enables engineers to design, build, test and simulate the CNC application offline, in software, before installing it on the machine tool. The Runtime is the hard real-time kernel that controls the machine tool. The package provides a common control technology across a full range of machine tools, including mills, lathes, drills, routers, mills, grinders, gear hobs, dial machines, and laser manufacturing systems.

"OpenCNC(R)/OEM is MDSI's response to demand from OEMs and end-user manufacturers who are already specifying us on their new machine orders," said James R. Fall, MDSI president and CEO. "We're pleased to provide an industry-leading software CNC solution to the full spectrum of machine tools, from entry level knee mills up to complex, high-precision, multi-axis machining centers."

OpenCNC/OEM reduces engineering costs and enables Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to bring products to market faster, because it leverages standard software development tools and standard off-the-shelf hardware. Because the CNC is open-architecture software running on Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R), OEMs can integrate third-party technologies and provide value-added competitive features of their own to customers.

In today's manufacturing industries, OEMs increasingly recognize the value of a renewable CNC -- an upgradeable software CNC that will not become obsolete before the machine tool does. "OpenCNC/OEM has established a new benchmark in all-software, high-performance, high-volume CNC solutions for OEMs," Fall said.

MDSI has already signed several major license deals with machine tool builders to install the products in new machines. MHO, manufacturer of production-grade compact CNC milling machines, recently made an initial purchase of 100ness and our customers." MHO's machines are oriented to small-part manufacturing needs.

Cubic Machinery, Inc., another OEM customer for MDSI, produces lathes for a variety of industries including optical, electronics and automotive. "Cubic Machinery has created a special machine designed specifically for OpenCNC/OEM, which is an indication of our belief in the quality and effectiveness of this product. Its flexibility allows us to design and deliver a machine in a relatively short period of time," said Joe Lin, president, Cubic Machinery. "OpenCNC/OEM is the ideal product for our customers working to make machining more productive through robotics and mechanics."

"Our mission at MDSI has always been to revolutionize the factory floor through superior, innovative technology," Fall said. "Providing OpenCNC products to machine tool builders as well as manufacturers is a natural progression for our company as we enter the new millenium."

About MDSI

Manufacturing Data Systems, Inc. supplies factory automation software and services that increase manufacturing flexibility and enable agile manufacturing. The company's primary product, OpenCNC, is a software CNC that reduces machine tool control costs and extends the productive life of machine tools. OpenCNC provides an unbundled, open-architecture, high-performance, low-cost software CNC solution for Original Equipment Manufacturers of electronics fabrication, metal cutting, and woodcutting machine tools.

Unlike traditional CNC controls, OpenCNC uses no proprietary hardware or motion control cards. The entire control is delivered on a CD. Because it's unbundled software that runs on off-the-shelf PCs, manufacturers are not locked into proprietary arrangements for hardware, control repair, or control upgrades.

MDSI's business strategy emphasizes technological and price/performance leadership, hardware independence and comprehensive customer-support. The company's customers, spanning many industries, include Boeing, Caterpillar, Dana-Spicer, Detroit Diesel, Emerson Electric, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Lockheed-Martin, Marconi Precision Aerostructures, Tecumseh Products Company, Teledyne, Textron, and Vickers.