The Tool Information Dialog

While in the Turret Window>Tool Inventory Panel with the Add New Tool panel or Edit Tool panel open, the user can specify the shape, dimension, angles and clearances for a tool.

Double-clicking a tool in the Tool Inventory panel will open the Add New Tool / Edit Tool panel. Click the Info… command button to display the Tool Information dialog. Specify supplementary information for each tool and customize the tool inventory.

Tool

This read-only field only displays the name of the selected tool.

Management Information
Note: Certain options are enabled only when using 2016 or newer drivers.
 

Management Name

Text entered directly into the field becomes the Management Name for the tool, which will appear in the Management No. column in the Used Tooling tab in the Process Information window. Enter a maximum of six characters.

The Management Name is passed to the SDDJ used tool list for that program.

Note: Accessible only to SDDJ users.

 

Punching Conditions

Click to open the Punching Conditions dialog to attach conditions to the tool.

 

The following fields allow the tool info to match the tool that has been scanned or manually loaded into the machine.
 

Sub Type

Select what type of tool it is -

CP - Center Punch
BR - Extrusion
TP - Tapping
SE - Forming
KI - Marking

 

Sub Code

If TP - Tapping is selected, Sub Code choices are -
Tapping II, Tapping Unit, Tapping Tool, MPT-TAP-CUT, MPT-TAP-FORM
For more info see Tapping Tool Info.

If SE - Forming is selected, Sub Code choices are - NOT KEYED, KEYED, SLOT II, Deburring SQ/RE, Deburring RO, Slotting III

If KI Marking is selected, Sub Code choices are - NOT KEYED, KEYED, SLOT II, Deburring SQ/RE, Deburring RO, Slotting III

 

Direction

Specify the direction of the tool - Up or Down.

 

Usage

Select how the tool will be used - Forming Tool, Pierce Punch Tool, Perimeter Cut Tool, Nibbling Tool, Skeleton Cut Tool, Final Cut Tool, Separation, Punch Out.

 

Add Additional Information to the Tool

Check this option ON (as in the image above) in the Tool Information dialog to enable the following options.

 

Preferred Stations

If you have preferred stations for some of your tools, use this section to record the station numbers. To use a Preferred Station, you must also specify a machine name in the Machine: text box. Preferred stations are only used during tool selection when the current machine name matches the name specified in the Tool Inventory.

None
Select None to place the tool in the first available station of its size.

First
Use First to specify your preference for the first station in which the system should attempt to fit this tool. Remove the check mark from None and then type a station number in the First text box.

Second
Use Second to specify your preference for the second station in which the system should attempt to fit this tool. Remove the check mark from None and then type a station number in the Second text box.

Travel Direction and Start Corner

Use the Travel Direction and Start Corner options to define the direction that Auto Sequence should use when sequencing this tool for code generation. Click the Sequence Direction indicator graphic to toggle through the various sequence direction options.

 

Travel Direction

 

No Restriction The system will sequence the tool using the shortest distance from the last pattern sequenced.

Line-By Line X Use this option to sequence the tool along the primary X-axis, return to the original starting edge, and then sequence the tool along the closest pattern off the primary axis from the last sequenced pattern.
Note: AP100US supports setting tool travel direction to Line by Line for a special tool.

Line-By-Line Y Use this option to sequence the tool along the primary Y-axis, return to the original starting edge, and then sequence the tool along the closest pattern off the primary axis from the last sequenced pattern.

X-Axis Use this option to sequence all patterns in the X direction before moving along the Y-axis.

Y-Axis Use this option to sequence all patterns in the Y direction before moving in the X direction.

No Restriction

Check this box if you do not want to restrict the starting corner during sequencing. Remove the check mark to enable the four start corner options.

Start Corner

Select one of the four Start Corner option buttons that surround the Sequence Direction indicator graphic to determine where the sequencing should begin. (No Restriction must be unchecked to use this option.)

Tool Dead Zone

The read-only Tool Dead Zone fields are enabled and display values only when a Special Tool with specified Dead Zone values is the selected tool. Dead zones indicate the safety area reserved around each tool within which the system will not punch. The values are half of the desired overall dead zone.

Values that display here are only for Special Tools and can be edited in the Tool>Special Tool>Design Special Tool module.

 

Custom Nibble Pitch

Check this option to enter a unique nibble pitch for an individual tool, which can also be edited in the Tool Info dialog.  Custom Nibble Pitch data is stored in the Tool data.

Note: A value entered here will override values for X and Y Overlap and Scallop Height previously entered in the Edit Tool /Add New Tool panels.

A user-assigned value here may be altered by the system, depending on variables such as the length of the punch line/arc. The software will calculate the ideal pitch based upon material thickness, tool size and pattern length.

The easiest way to use this option may be to adjust the Num of Hits value in the Tool Info panel. When auto-assigning tools to the part/sheet, the system will consider the Nibble Pitch assigned  by the user as a priority.

Note: Tool Assign>Nibble On must be enabled to use this option.

See Tool>Manual Tool Assignment>Tool Window Options for more info on Custom Nibble Pitch options.

 

Machine

If you plan to specify preferred stations for this tool, you must choose a machine file. Click the browse button to the right.

 

 

When the Open dialog box appears, type a machine name or select it from the list, and then click Open. Click Close to exit the dialog box. If the current machine name matches that in the Tool Inventory during tool selection, the system attempts to fit the tool into the preferred station.

Driver

If you plan to specify punching conditions for this tool, you must choose a machine driver. Click the browse button to the right.

 

 

When the Open dialog box appears, type a machine driver name or select it from the list. Click Open and then click Close.

Tool Comment

Enter information about the tool, for example the location where the tool itself is stored. When saved, this read-only information is viewable in the Tool Comment column in the Tool Inventory - List View and Tool Inventory panels in the Turret Window.

Note: When generating NC code, data from the Tool Comment column will be added to the setup sheet and will be viewable in the NC Sequence Viewer.

Punching Conditions

Click the Punching Conditions button to record any punching conditions that are associated with the selected tool. Your machine driver must support the selected feature. Clicking the button opens the Punching Conditions window in Turret Setup.

OK / Cancel

 

Click the OK button when you have entered additional tool information, or click Cancel to exit without saving any changes.