The Tool Tree

Introduction

This topic will explain what the Tool Tree is, where to find it, and explain its functionality.

Tools

The list of all currently available tools exists in The Tool Library. When building a job, it is common practice to first build, or load a Tool Crib to list the group of tools that will be made available for the job. As features are created, consisting of individual operations, each operation will be assigned a tool from the tool crib. New tools may also be added to the tool crib to accommodate newly created operations.

The Tool Tree

The purpose of the Tool Tree is to provide a way to keep your tooling for the current jobs organized. Whether or not each tool in the Tool Cribs of the file is used by an operation, every tool is shown in the Tool Tree. Any tool used in an operation will least each of the operations it is utilized by. Tools in the Tool Tree can be replaced, can have operations that utilize them updated, can have their operations recomputed, and can be posted.

The Tool Tree can be found in the left-hand side of the user interface as a toggle at the bottom of the CAM Tree Manager.

 

The Tool Tree Quick access menu

 

The Tool Tree table
The Tool column
The Toolpath Pattern column

When the Toolpath Pattern Options in the Quick Access Menu are set to Show Pattern Instances, copies of the original operation are shown in the Operation column. This column then becomes available to show which copy of the original is occupying this row.

 

Extra Info

For each operation, this column displays the Work offset number it is outputting, the Machine Setup number it exists in, and lists the Index System or wrapping group name it exists under.

 

W__-Machine Setup -__-Index System

 

The Post Yes/No column

This column shows, and allows you to control the posting state of each operation, or patterned instance of an operation. Add the icon to prevent the item from posting, or clear to ensure it posts.

Related Topics

Getting to Know  the User Interface

The Settings Dialog

The Operation Tree