Tool Page

Introduction

This topic serves to describe the various tool pages available, and will provide links to related topics.

The Tool Page

From this tool page, you can either, choose a different tool from the Tool Crib, go into the Tool Crib to add tools from your Tool Library, or enter tool specific data manually into the Tool Data Section of the page. This page will also assist in assigning Tool Numbers and Offsets, and Coolant options, as well as Speeds and Feeds.

 

Tip: It is good practice to have all the tools for the job loaded into the Tool Crib at the start of the job. If you do, the tools for the job will already be in the Tool Crib, and the system will have pulled appropriate tools for each operation from the Tool Crib.

 

  • Tool Crib - opens the Tool Crib for you to select a tool that you have already loaded for the job. Click to select a tool in the tools list, and click OK to assign the tool to the operation. (For Mill Turn jobs, view Mill Turn Tool Crib.

  • Assign/Edit Tool Holder - Assign Tool Holder opens the Milling Tool Holder Library to assign a tool holder to the tool. In the Tool Holder list on the right, select a tool holder/arbor, then click OK. The name of the selected tool holder appears in the Holder Label box. This holder is now the default tool holder for the tool, meaning that it is automatically assigned to the tool when you create an operation with this tool. Edit Tool Holder opens the Tool Holder Definition dialog.

Related Topics

The Tool Tree

The Operation Tree

Tool Data

To select a tool for the feature you can use the following option in one of two ways. Click on the images to see the work flow for each.

 

  • System Tool
- Select this check box to allow the software to automatically select tools from the Tool Crib that match the machining operation. In the case of end mills, you may alter the diameter and corner radius allowing the software to find the appropriate tool from the Tool Crib. In the case the appropriate tool sizes are not found, the software searches for a matching tool in the Tool Library. If a matching tool is found, it is added to the Tool Crib. If a matching tool is not found, a new tool is automatically created and added to the Tool Crib, but will not be added to the Tool Library.

- When this check box is cleared, the drop-down list becomes available allowing selection of: 

 

  • All applicable tools currently in the Tool Crib - All tools which exist in the Tool Crib and apply to the current operation will appear at the top of the list. Select the desired tool to update which is utilized for the operation.

  • Tool Crib... - opens the Tool Crib dialog. This allows you to view the tools in the Tool Crib, as well as add tools, or modify tools already added to the Tool Crib. 

  • Modify Tool... - opens the tool in the Edit Tool Parameters dialog, allowing you to manually update the tool values.  

 

Note: Although the Machining Data group remains the same regardless of the tool selected, The available Tool Data, and the Speed and Feed parameters vary depending on the type of tool selected. Click on a tool to display the Tool Data for that particular tool. Once open, click on Machining Data and Feeds and Speeds to see the corresponding variables.

 

Important: Historically the coolant option found in the tool page has been a drop down which allowed you to select from Off, Flood, Mist, Air, or Oil and refers to posting blocks 673, 674, and 706 through 708. Starting in version 34 a Coolant group was added to the Machine Parameters page of the Current Settings dialog. This allowed you to use the new coolant options and refers to the new posting blocks 840-859. With the Use customized coolant options check box selected in the Current Settings, the Coolant options launches a dialog allowing you to select which coolant options are turned on for this operation. Please note that post updates may be required to utilize the newer options.

Drill

Mill

Turning

Next Topic

Once the Tool variables have been set, clicking Next>> will take you to the next page of the given operation. To move the appropriate next topic, click the type of feature that has been chosen below and then the link for the desired operation.