If I develop a “part,” or “component” for use in different types of commodities, such as machine tools, medical equipment and aircraft, is there a paragraph (b) ‘release’ for such general purpose commodities or software?

Yes, paragraph (b)(5) ‘releases’ a general purpose commodity or software where the “part,” “component,” “accessory,” “attachment” or “software,” was “developed” with no “knowledge” that it was for a particular item or type of item.