Understanding Tool Numbering

Introduction

This topic explains how to handle tool numbering in BobCAD-CAM. In order to define the tool numbering of your programs, you have two main options: automatic tool numbering or manual tool numbering. Whether the tools are automatically numbered or manually numbered is defined by the Use Automatic Tool Numbering option. This option is found in either the Tool Crib or the Assigned Tools (Verify Tool Assignment) dialog box.

Important Terms

For the purposes of this document, System Tool refers to any tool that is defined in the Tool Library. Manual Tool refers to any tool that is created using the Tool page of the CAM Wizard (it doesn't exist in the Tool Library). These terms refer to the way that the tool is created and they are separate from automatic tool numbering or manual tool numbering.

How it Works

When Automatic Tool Numbering is turned on, the software automatically numbers the tools in the order that they are used in the program. The system ignores the tool number assigned in the Tool Library, and it only creates one tool number per tool (no tools share the same tool number.)

When Use Automatic Tool Numbering is turned off, you have complete control of the tool numbering for all tools in the program. What is important here is how the system handles the tool numbering of system tools or manual tools. With this method, the software uses the tool number assigned in the Tool Library (for system tools). Manual tools, however, are numbered using the next available tool number in the program as it is being created. With this method, there may or may not be duplicate tool numbers. This is why it is important to confirm the proper tool numbering when manually numbering your tools.

IMPORTANT:     When manually defining the tool numbering of any program, it is important that you assign the appropriate tool number for every tool in the program, as it is your responsibility to assure that there are no duplicate tool numbers.

Navigation

There are two places in the software from which you can turn on or off the Automatic Tool Numbering option. These are the Tool Crib or the Assigned Tools dialog boxes. Although these are the only two places to change this option, they can be accessed in a number of ways. Regardless of where you change the setting, it is a global setting that is updated in all locations after you change it.

To turn Automatic Tool Numbering off, do one of the following:

• In the CAM Tree, right-click Milling Tools (or Turning Tools), and click Tool Crib.

The Tool Crib displays all tools that have been loaded for the job either manually or automatically. The Tool Crib may list tools that aren't being used in the job.

• In the CAM Tree, right-click Milling Tools (or Turning Tools), and click Verify Tool Assignment.

The Assigned Tools dialog box always displays only the tools that are actually being used in the current job.

• In the Tool page of any CAM Wizard, click Tool Number.

This method also opens the Assigned Tools dialog box with only the tools that are currently in use.

Near the bottom of the dialog box, you can click to clear the Use Automatic Tool Numbering check box. This allows you to then manually number all of the tools in the program.

To manually define the tool numbering for a program:

After clearing the Use Automatic Tool Numbering check box in either the Tool Crib or the Assigned Tools dialog box, use the following method to number the tools.

1      Double-click anywhere in the row of the tool you are modifying.

Make sure that the Tool Number column is visible. You may need to click and drag the column title to reorder the columns or drag the slider (if it is visible) to view the Tool Number column.

2      The tool number that displays in the Tool Number column becomes available for editing.

3      Type the new tool number for the selected tool.

4      Repeat this process for all tools in the program.

5      To confirm the changes, at the bottom of the dialog box, click OK.

NOTE:      When using manual tool numbering, the number that you enter for a system tool does not update the tool number stored in the Tool Library. It only changes the tool number in the current program. If you want to update a tool number for all programs, change the number of the tool in the Tool Library.

Which Method Should I Use?

The following are some general guidelines as to which method you should use.

Automatic Tool Numbering

Use Automatic Tool Numbering

• You always handle tool numbering when you set up the job on the machine. You like to number the tools in the order they are called for the program.
• Your machine rarely has the same tools from one job to the next, so you always set up the tools for each job.

Manual Tool Numbering

Use Automatic Tool Numbering

• Your machine, generally, always has the same tools loaded (for example, in a shop with high-repetition work). In this case it is best to properly create and number your tools in the Tool Library to mirror what you use in your shop. This way, your tools are always assigned the appropriate tool number. Note that you may want to take advantage of loading the Tool Crib and then saving the tools for each machine as they are in the shop.
• Your jobs and tooling vary greatly from one week to the next, but sometimes one machine may run the same job for a month.
• You always set the tool numbers of every tool for every job yourself to assure their accuracy.

Final Tips

In general, you should use whatever method works best for your current program. Some final tips are provided next.

• You can create and print a Setup Sheet to aid in setting up your machine tools for the program.
• You can load tools into the Tool Crib, and then save the information from the dialog box. These Tool Crib files can then be loaded as needed to save you from repetitive work.

Related Topics

The Assigned Tools Dialog Box (Verify Tool Assignment)

The Tool Crib