[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 301-975-6600; FAX: 301-869-3536. 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] BILLING CODE 3510-13-M