CIMfast: An Event-Driven Language for Computer Integrated Manufacturing
CIMfast, a specialized programming language developed in the early 1990s, represents a fascinating chapter in the evolution of software systems designed for manufacturing automation. Initially conceived as an event-driven language, CIMfast was specifically tailored to control manufacturing lines by integrating software and hardware in the context of computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). This language emerged in response to the growing need for more efficient and higher-level programming solutions to control manufacturing systems, marking a significant step forward in manufacturing technology.
Historical Context and Development
In the early 1990s, the industrial sector was undergoing a major transformation. Manufacturers were looking for ways to streamline production processes, improve efficiency, and reduce the complexity of managing a wide range of factory floor systems. It was during this period that Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) developed and launched BaseStar, a software library designed to assist in managing manufacturing environments. BaseStar acted as middleware that provided messaging services to connect different systems across the production floor, offering a degree of integration between various machines and control systems.
BaseStar was not industry-specific, but rather a general-purpose framework aimed at solving the challenges of diverse manufacturing environments. Despite its flexibility, BaseStar’s reliance on low-level C programming to interact with its API posed challenges for developers, especially those without a deep background in low-level programming languages.
CIMfast was designed to address this challenge by offering a higher-level, more abstract language that could interact with BaseStar without requiring extensive knowledge of C. By providing a more user-friendly approach to programming for manufacturing systems, CIMfast made it easier for engineers and technicians to control and automate manufacturing processes.
CIMfast and Its Role in Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) refers to the use of computer systems to control the entire production process, from design and manufacturing to assembly and testing. CIM aims to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and precision in manufacturing by integrating various computer-controlled systems, including CAD (Computer-Aided Design), CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), and robotics.
The role of CIMfast within this context was to serve as a programming bridge between the high-level logic of manufacturing processes and the low-level, hardware-specific commands needed to control factory machinery. Rather than requiring manufacturers to write complex C code, CIMfast allowed them to express control logic in a more abstract, event-driven manner.
The event-driven nature of CIMfast meant that it was designed to respond to specific triggers or events that occurred in the manufacturing process. For example, an event could be the completion of a task by a machine, a change in the status of a product, or a signal from an operator. When such an event occurred, CIMfast would process it and trigger appropriate actions, such as adjusting machine parameters, sending commands to other systems, or alerting operators.
This approach helped to significantly simplify the task of automating complex manufacturing environments. With CIMfast, manufacturers could write high-level programs that described the logic of their production processes in a more intuitive way, without having to manage the intricate details of low-level programming.
Technical Features and Functionality
CIMfast was a high-level language with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. While detailed specifications of the language itself are scarce, the primary design principles behind CIMfast were clear: it was meant to replace low-level languages like C for controlling manufacturing systems, especially in environments where rapid development and deployment were essential.
One of the key features of CIMfast was its integration with BaseStar. The BaseStar messaging system provided an underlying framework that allowed different systems within a manufacturing environment to communicate with each other. CIMfast leveraged this communication framework to interact with various devices and control systems across the factory floor. As a result, CIMfast could be used to control a wide range of manufacturing equipment, including robotics, conveyor belts, assembly lines, and testing machinery.
Furthermore, CIMfast was designed with an emphasis on event-driven programming. This model is particularly suited for environments where various processes occur asynchronously and at unpredictable intervals. Instead of relying on a linear flow of execution, CIMfast allowed programs to respond dynamically to events, making it a natural fit for manufacturing systems where multiple processes must run in parallel.
In addition to its event-driven capabilities, CIMfast likely incorporated standard programming constructs, such as variables, loops, and conditionals, that are typical of high-level languages. However, its primary distinction from general-purpose languages like C or Java was its focus on manufacturing-specific tasks and integration with BaseStar.
Adoption and Deployment
CIMfast was primarily used by companies that relied heavily on computer-integrated manufacturing systems, particularly those that needed to automate and control large-scale production environments. One notable example of CIMfast’s deployment was at Fiat, the Italian automotive giant. Fiat used CIMfast to control its manufacturing lines, taking advantage of the language’s ability to simplify the programming of factory floor systems.
By using CIMfast, Fiat was able to reduce the complexity of programming and manage its production lines more efficiently. With CIMfast, the company could create event-driven programs that controlled machines, conveyors, and other critical systems in real-time. This allowed Fiat to automate key aspects of its manufacturing process, improving speed, accuracy, and flexibility.
The adoption of CIMfast at Fiat highlights the language’s utility in large-scale manufacturing operations, where the need for automation and system integration is paramount. However, it is worth noting that CIMfast was not widely adopted beyond specialized industries that heavily relied on BaseStar and similar messaging middleware. The language’s limited scope and the dominance of other industrial programming languages likely contributed to its relatively niche usage.
Legacy and Impact
Although CIMfast itself did not achieve widespread recognition or adoption, its development marked an important step in the evolution of computer-integrated manufacturing. The rise of event-driven programming languages and higher-level abstractions for controlling industrial systems paved the way for more modern approaches to automation and industrial control.
Today, CIMfast’s core principles of event-driven programming and system integration can still be seen in modern industrial software systems. Many contemporary manufacturing systems rely on event-driven architectures to handle complex workflows and real-time decision-making. The use of middleware and messaging systems, such as MQTT and OPC UA, is also widespread in modern CIM applications, reflecting the enduring influence of the concepts that CIMfast introduced.
In hindsight, CIMfast can be viewed as a precursor to the more sophisticated industrial automation platforms we see today. Its focus on simplifying the programming of manufacturing systems helped to lay the groundwork for the broader adoption of computer-aided automation in the manufacturing sector.
Conclusion
CIMfast was a forward-thinking language developed to meet the specific needs of the manufacturing industry during a time when the integration of computer systems into production processes was becoming increasingly critical. By providing a higher-level alternative to low-level programming languages like C, CIMfast made it easier to control complex manufacturing systems and integrate them into broader enterprise environments.
Despite its relatively narrow adoption, CIMfast played a crucial role in demonstrating the potential of event-driven programming and middleware-based integration in industrial automation. Its legacy continues to influence the design and development of modern manufacturing software systems, contributing to the ongoing evolution of computer-integrated manufacturing.
While CIMfast may not have become a mainstream language, it serves as an important reminder of the need for specialized tools that can address the unique challenges of controlling and automating complex industrial processes.