Tool Database

The Tool Database stores predefined tools together with their cutting settings — speeds, feeds, stepovers and pass depths — so they can be selected from a list whenever you create a toolpath. Managing your cutters this way makes tool selection quick and consistent, and reduces the risk of programming a job with the wrong cut depths or feeds and speeds.

Opening the Tool Database

The Tool Database can be opened from the Select button on any toolpath form, or from the Toolpaths menu.

The Tool Tree

Tools are organised hierarchically in the tree on the left of the database. Drag items to reorder them or to move them between groups. The following operations are available:

• New Tool — create a new tool, choosing its type from the dropdown.
• Copy Tool — duplicate an existing tool's geometry. The cutting parameters are not copied; they can be taken from an identical tool or from a different material.
• Delete Tool — remove a tool together with its cutting data across every machine and material combination.
• New Tool Group — create a folder to keep related tools together.
• Import / Export Tools — share tools between databases, with options to merge or overwrite.

Tool Geometry

When a tool is selected, its properties appear in the tool info section.

Name

The tool's name, generated from the name template evaluated in the current context.

Tool Type

The geometry of the cutter. Supported types include End Mill, Ball Nose, Radiused End Mill, V-Bit, Tapered Ball Nose, Engraving, Form Cutters, Diamond Drag and Drills.

Diameter

The physical diameter of the cutter, in inches or millimetres.

Number of Flutes

The number of cutting flutes. This is used to calculate the chip load.

Notes

Free text describing the tool. Web links can be stored here and opened with CTRL+Click.

Cutting Data

The cutting data is defined per material and per machine, so the same tool can carry different settings for different jobs. Switch the active material and machine using the combo boxes at the top of the form.

Pass Depth

The maximum depth of material removed in a single pass. This controls how many Z-level passes are needed to reach the full cut depth.

Stepover

The lateral distance between successive passes. A stepover greater than 50% of the cutter diameter adds extra moves into corners to clear the remaining material.

Final Pass Stepover

The stepover used for the finishing pass. This is usually smaller than the main stepover to improve surface quality.

Clearance Pass Stepover

The stepover used for roughing. This applies to V-Bit tools only.

Spindle Speed

The rotation rate of the spindle, in revolutions per minute (RPM).

Feed Rate

The rate at which the tool moves through the material while cutting.

Plunge Rate

The rate at which the tool descends into the material on plunging and ramping moves.

Chip Load

A calculated, read-only value derived from the number of flutes, the spindle speed and the feed rate.

Tool Number

The position of the tool in the machine's carousel, used by machines with automatic tool changers.

Materials and Machines

The list of materials and the list of machines are each managed through their own dialog. Because the cutting data is stored per material and per machine, you can keep separate, optimised settings for the same tool across different stock and different machines.

Online Tool Database

If the software is logged in to your portal account, the tool database can be stored against that account and retrieved from any other installation that is logged in to the same account. The database can be uploaded or downloaded on request, keeping your tools consistent across every machine you use.