Creating and Editing Tools

Click on the Add button in the Turret Window>Tool Inventory View to open the Add New Tool panel shown here. In the Add New Tool panel the user can specify the shape, dimension, angles and clearances for a tool. Double-clicking a tool in the Tool Inventory view will open the Edit Tool panel shown below on the right.

Select the shape type by clicking its option button in the Shape section and then navigate the remaining text boxes using <Tab> and <Shift> + <Tab>.

Click OK in the Tool Inventory tab after naming and defining parameters for the new tool.

The Edit Tool dialog, which allows an existing tool to be edited, is accessed by double-clicking an existing tool already in the inventory. This dialog functions in basically the same manner as Add New Tool. (Special Tools can only be edited in the Special Tool editor module.)

Shape

(Specifying Tool Shapes and Parameters) Specify the actual shape or name of the new tool. Select one of the following names in the Shape section of the Add New Tool window and then type the values in the appropriate Dimension and Station Size text boxes. The following table outlines the required parameters for each tool shape. Note: When the Edit Tool dialog is open, it is not possible to choose a new shape for an existing tool. However, any other values may be configured for an existing tool. If the Edit Tool dialog is open, begin Editing at Dimensions and Station Size.
Shape	Parameters
Round (RO)	A round punch. You must specify an X dimension and Station Size.
Square (SQ)	A square punch. You must specify an X dimension, Station Size, and any angles allowed for the tool.
CornerR (CR)	A four-way corner radius. The Y dimension is the overall width of the tool, while the X dimension is the radius and the extension of the web beyond the radius. The radius refers to the actual radius of the four radii. See the Corner Radius Tool diagram below.

Obround (OB)	An Obround punch. Specify an X dimension, a Y dimension, and any angles allowed for the tool.
Single D (SD)	A Single D punch. Specify an X dimension, a Y dimension, and any angles allowed for the tool.
RoundedC (RC)	A rounded-corner rectangle. This describes a rectangle punch that consists of radius corners. Specify an X, Y, and R dimension (the radius of each corner), and any keyed angles.
Rectangle (RE)	A rectangular-shaped punch. Specify an X dimension, Y dimension, Station Size and any angles allowed for the tool.
Double D (DD)	A Double D punch. Specify an X dimension, a Y dimension, and any angles allowed for the tool.
Triangle (TR)	A triangle-shaped punching tool. The X dimension is the overall width, the Y dimension the overall height, and the C value is the distance from the base of the triangle to the center point of the tool. The C value replaces the R when Triangle is selected as the shape. The system automatically divides Y by one-half to calculate C. For example, if you specify Y = 1.5, the system returns the value of 0.750 for C by default. If necessary, you can overwrite this value.

Dimensions and Station Size

Specify the appropriate dimensions for the tool. For example, Round and Square tools only require an X dimension, while Obrounds, Single D, Double D and Rectangle tools require X and Y dimensions. You must Also specify an R (Radius) for Corner Radius and Rounded Corner tools. For a Triangle, you must specify X, Y and C dimensions. In addition, you must type a value in the Station Size text box.

Overlap and Scallop Height

Overlap describes the amount the tool hits should overlap in the horizontal and vertical directions when punching patterns. Scallop height is the amount of scallop created when the system nibbles patterns with round tools.


Tool Overlap X	Tool Overlap Y	Scallop Height

Option

Description

X Overlap

For non-round tools, the X Overlap value allows you to specify the distance the tool should overlap in the X or horizontal direction.

Y Overlap

For non-round tools, the Y Overlap value allows you to specify the distance the tool should overlap in the Y or vertical direction.

Scallop Height

For round tools, Scallop Height allows you to define the height of the scallop formed during a nibble process. The smaller the value, the less the scallop.

Tool Angles
Specify up to four angles that the tool will be allowed to rotate to.

Die Clearances
The six Clearances text boxes allow you to enter die clearance values for a tool.

Die Clearance is the space between the cutting edge of the punch and the cutting edge of the die. The size of this space is defined by the thickness and type of material being punched. For example, a 16-gauge blank may require a value of 0.011.

Die Clearance must be optimized for best performance. A clearance that is too wide or too tight may spoil edge quality and even ruin the tool.

Command Buttons


Info…	The Info… button displays the The Tool Information dialog. Record supplementary preferences for the selected tool (such as Travel Direction and Tool Comments) by enabling the Add Additional Information to the Tool option in the Tool Information window.
Die Clearances	Click to open the Die Clearances dialog.
		If clearances are not manually entered, click Die Clr. to open a dialog with common die clearance values. Check one or more values to assign them to the tool. Click Apply to load these values into the Clearances fields shown above.
Add Update	After a completely new tool has been created, click the Add button to add it to the inventory. If you are editing an existing tool, that same button will read "Update." Click it to update the tool. Note: When exiting the main Tool Inventory window, it's still necessary to hit Save.
Cancel	Click Cancel to close the Add New Tool or Edit Tool dialog, without saving any changes.