You configure standard milling tools by specifying tool parameters. It is important to specify the correct tool parameters to obtain the desired tool configuration.
Standard Tools
• Tools configured by specifying tool parameters.
• Available tool type control parameters:
– Milling or drilling
• Parameter values control resulting tool shapes in:
– Length
– Cutter_Diam
• Toolpath display based on parameter values.
Figure 1 – Tool Geometry Parameters Standard Tools
Configuring Tools
• Tool Setup Dialog Box
• General Tab
– Tool Name
– Tool Type
– Tool Parameter Values
– Tool Holder Dimensions
• Settings Tab
– Tool Number
– Offset Number
– Gauge Lengths (X and Z)
• Tool Tables
– Display tool information.
– Output tool loading information to CL data files.
Figure 2 – Tool Table Information
• Saving Tools
• Tool Libraries
• You create standard tools by configuring tool parameters within the Tool Setup dialog box.
• The type of tool, for example milling or drilling, determines the tool cross-section and therefore which parameters are available for
configuration.
• The tool parameter values control the tool shape, for example:
– Length
– Cutter_Diam
• Note, when playing a toolpath, the tool is displayed based on the parameter values.
Configuring Tools
You can create, delete, or edit tools using the Tool Setup dialog box. A number of tabs are available within the dialog box that enable you to configure different types of tool information.
• General – In the general tab, a graphic image of the tool appears during configuration. You can configure the tool name and tool type. Many
different standard tool types are available for selection. The selected tool type determines the displayed tool shape.
– When the tool type has been specified, you can then configure the tool geometry parameter values that specify the tool dimensions.
– When configuring the tool geometry, you can also configure tool holder dimensions. This provides you with a visual representation of the tool holder when you review a toolpath. Tool holder dimensions are also used for automatic gouge avoidance in trajectory, straight cut surface
milling, isolines surface milling, roughing, re-roughing, finishing, and corner-machining NC sequences.
• Settings – You can specify a number of items relating to the tool table, including:
– Tool Number – This corresponds to the number field in a tool table, which specifies the tool’s pocket number.
– Offset Number – This corresponds to the offset field in a tool table, which supplies a value for the gauge length register.
– Gauge X Length and Gauge Z Length – Optional parameters used to create length qualifiers in the LOADTL or TURRET statements.
• Tool Tables – Provide you with tool information which appears in the Tool Setup dialog box.
– You can use tool tables to pass tool loading information into CL data files. For example, you can output LOADTL and OSETNO commands
from a tool table.
– When you create or retrieve tools in a workcell, the tool_id (tool name) is checked and if the tool does not already exist in the tool table then it is appended at the end of the table.
– As tools are added to the tool table, the tool position (tool number) automatically increments by one with respect to the last tool in the
table. You can manually edit the tool number to change its position in the tool table, if required.
Saving Tools
• You can save tool parameter information as files and reuse the tools in different NC sequences and in different manufacturing models.
• Saving a tool creates an XML format file. For example, tool_name.xml.
• Note old format tool parameter files are also recognized. These are:
– .tpm for Pro/ENGINEER release 12 to Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 2.0.
– .tprm for pre-Pro/ENGINEER release 12.
Tool Parameter Libraries
• You can create your own tool library, where all the tool parameter files are stored.
– This enables you to access a standard set of tools for retrieval into manufacturing processes, for modifying, or for setting up new tools.
