 The core of STEP-NC is the ISO 14649 model for CNC control developed
by European ESPRIT and IMS STEP-NC projects begun in 1999.These were led by Siemens with contributions from RWTH Aachen University and the University of Stuttgart in Germany, Komatsu and FANUC in Japan, Heidenhain in Switzerland, and the Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea.Models for the control of CNC milling and turning machines were published in 2005, and draft models exist for EDM and contour cutting.