OSAI Compliance

OSAI would like to inform you about the status of OSAI products with reference to the problem commonly known as Year 2000 compatibility.

The year 2000 problem has very serious consequences on databases, accounting systems, etc., where existing data must be reworked to prevent duplication, cancellation or other similar problems connected to date-calculation algorithms. However, on systems like ours, the effect is limited only to errors in the display of the date on the screen and of file creation.

User developed application software, which reads and uses date fields, may generate errors.

First, we wish to reassure you that the Numerical Control Systems produced by OSAI, with special reference to 8601, 8600 and 10 Series are NOT directly affected in their performance as "numerical controls". There will never be the possibility of unexpected behaviour of the Control Unit during machine operation, or sudden halt of the CPU's or similar problems due to the year 2000 problem.

OSAI is also developing solutions for the limited problems that can be generated by the misreading of dates. Please find below, divided into product Series a short outline of the solutions that will be provided.

8600/8601 Series

(8601 GP Fast, 8601 T, 8601 MC/TC, 8600 GP, 8600 MC/TC) – systems fitted with monochrome CRT displays - These products have no functions or features that are date dependent. They do not have DOS environments or date information and therefore there will be no Year 2000 impact on such products.

Solutions: None required

8600/8601 Series AT

(8601 GP AT, 8601 AT MC, 8600 AT9O) – systems with colour CRT displays, and a PC based front end (with i286 or i486 CPU). - These products will need modifications to this part of the system to achieve year 2000 compliance.

In these systems, the BIOS of the Intelligent Front Ends will be deceived by the change of Century. Whilst, we re-affirm, the functionality of the system will not be affected by the change to the new Century, the date calculation or display will be incorrect. This will also mean that user developed application SW, making use of the DOS date, will get the wrong date.

Solutions: OSAI is working to develop a solution that will fix these problems, operating on the BIOS of these front-ends.

Please also note that if Intelligent Front-Ends not manufactured by OSAI are being used then the answer to the compatibility issue will depend ONLY on the PC manufacturer, and not on SW developed by OSAI. Examples are third party manufactured Industrial PCs used with the GP AT.

8600 IWS1, 8600IWS2 and 8600 AT1

Systems with colour CRT displays and a PC based front end (with i86 CPU). These products will need modifications to this part of the system to achieve year 2000 compliance.

In unmodified systems, (see solutions) the BIOS of the Intelligent Front Ends will be deceived by the change of Century. Whilst, we re-affirm, the functionality of the system will not be affected at the change to the new Century, the date calculation or display will be incorrect. This will also mean that user developed application SW, making use of the DOS date, will get the wrong date.

Solutions: A solution was developed for a BIOS date anomaly in this product in 1992. This fix should have been installed in most if not all systems currently in the field. The 1992 fix is effective for year 2000. Hence if the date is correct in 1998 it will still be correct in 2000. The fix can be obtained (if it has not already been installed) from your local OSAI support organisation.

10/Series

OSAI will confirm that this product Series will be 100% Year 2000 compliant starting from SW Revision 5.1 which will shortly be introduced. Previous Revisions will have to be updated in order to correct the problem, which is also limited to wrong dates displayed on the screen and assigned to the files that are created.

Solutions: OSAI is developing a "fix-up" solution, which will have to be performed at two levels.

The BIOS on the intelligent Front-Ends and the BIOS on the System CPUs, as well as a number of low-impact but very diverse areas of the SW will require changes.

The fixes will not be issued for ALL the versions and releases, but will require the upgrade of the Release from older Versions.

Systems with Rev. 5.0 of Software will have to be upgraded to 5.1 for the complete solution.

All systems with a revision prior to 5.0 will have to be upgraded to Rev. 4.3 level, for which a timely "fix-up" solution will be prepared.

Please note

OSAI supply control systems to OEMs who install the product as part of a larger machine tool, robot or other application.

OEMs may also introduce features or functions that may be affected by the year 2000 problem. End users should contact the OEM to confirm that the overall installation is year 2000 compatible. This is particularly important where software has been specially developed for your application by the OEM.

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