Cutter Library

The location of the Cutter Library and whether to automatically load the Cutter Library for each new NC file is specified in the General NC Preferences.

The Cutter Library dialog is nearly identical to the Cutters and Holders dialog. The differences are detailed below under Cutter Library operation buttons and Cutter Library fields.

• File types used
• Cutter management operations
• Cutter Library operation buttons
• Cutter Library fields

File types used

The Cutter Library is also used for reading cutter definitions into a Cutter Table. The file types available for the libraries include:

• NC file (ELT) - A file that contains milling procedures with their milling motions (read only)

• NC Procedures template file (PCT, TPT, MTT) (read only)

• Automatic Drill sequence file (ELT) (read only)

• Specially designated files for the definition of Cutters and Holders (CHL) (read and write)

Cutter management operations

The Cutter Library dialog is nearly identical to the Cutters and Holders dialog, and most operations can also be carried out from the Cutters and Holders dialog. The following cutter management actions can be carried out in the Cutter Library for single or multiple cutters:

Create New, Delete, Cut, Copy, Paste, and Replace

Modify any parameter

Manage cutter libraries and cutter locations

Export to CHL, XLS, CSV, and ZIP files

Import from XLS, CSV, ZIP, and ELT files to an existing or new CHL file.

See the Cutters and Holders dialog for these and other operations that can be carried out in both dialogs. Additional operations available only in the Cutter Library are detailed below under Cutter Library fields.

Cutter Library operation buttons

The Cutter Library contains numerous operation buttons. Most of these operations can also be carried out from the Cutters and Holders dialog. When an operation is specific to the Cutter Library, it is specified in the table below.

The top area of the Cutter Library dialog contains the following operation buttons:

 

Menu...	A menu button that displays a dropdown list of options: Column Chooser: Use the Column Chooser dialog to select which columns appear in the target dialog, and to define their order within the dialog. Delete All Duplicate Cutters: Displays a flyout menu with the following duplicate cutter deletion optionsfollowing duplicate cutter deletion options: Delete all duplicate cutters: This option selects all duplicate cutters (that are identical by effective shape, Milling parameters and Motion/Cycle parameters) from all the groups. From each of the groups, one of these cutters is not selected based on the following criteria: If none of the cutters in a group is in use, the first cutter in the database is not selected. If only one cutter in a group is in use, that cutter is not selected. If many cutters in a group are in use, the first cutter in the database that is in use is not selected. A message is displayed showing the number of cutters to be deleted (which requires confirmation of the deletion). Remove duplicate cutter - Advanced: Remove duplicate cutter definitions from the Cutter Table of the currently active NC file. The Remove Duplicate Cutters button is disabled if multiple cutters of different shapes are selected. It is enabled in the following cases: No cutter is selected. One cutter is selected. Multiple similar shaped cutters are selected.   Export selected cutters to a library file: Export selected cutters (with or without holders) to a library (CHL) file. Export selected tools (XLS, CSV or ZIP): Export the entire tool information for selected cutters (including holders, shape, materials, and coolant) to an XLS, CSV, or ZIP file. Export the holders and extensions of the selected cutters: Export the holders and extensions of selected cutters to a CSV file. Manage Cutter Libraries and Cutter Locations: Manage all your cutter libraries and their locations. Numerous cutter libraries can exist in various locations, on your local computer and also on local networked computers. This tool enables you to manage all of them from one dialog, listing the full path names of all files (libraries) that contain cutter definitions. For each file, all cutter definitions saved in that file are displayed. This operation is not available in the Cutters and Holders dialog. Import tools (XLS, CSV or ZIP): Import cutters, holders, and extensions from a XLS, CSV, or ZIP file into the Cutter Table of the currently active NC file. For holders, see Import Holders.
	New Cutter: Define a new cutter in the Cutter Library dialog.
	Import Shaped Cutter: Import a shaped cutter in the Cutter Library dialog.
	Delete Selected Cutters: Delete the selected cutter(s) in the Cutter Library dialog.
	Create a New Cutter Library: Multiple cutter libraries can be created. The New Library dialog is displayed, prompting the name of the new library: The Compound Library checkbox enables you to either define a simple library of cutters or to define a complex library definition with many locations. Compound Library Enables you to define a complex library definition with many locations. The Cutter Libraries and Locations dialog is displayed empty. Enter data as required to create the new cutter library. Compound Library Enables you to define a simple library of cutters in a single CHL file. The Create new CHL file dialogCreate new CHL file dialog is displayed (in Save As mode) in the path of the (first) selected row (or in the last active path if no row is selected). This operation is not available in the Cutters and Holders dialog.
	Import TDM Cutters: Import TDM Systems cutters into the Cutter Table of the currently active NC file.
	Import Coromant CoroPlus© Cutters: Import Coromant CoroPlus© cutters into the Cutter Table of the currently active NC file.
	Replace Cutters in the current file/library with cutters from a selected source file. In this dialog, this button is enabled only when the current library is constructed from one CHL file, otherwise it is disabled.
	Update the Cutter Values in the current file with values for the Machining and Motion/Cycle parameter from cutters in a selected source file. In this dialog, this button is enabled only when the current library is constructed from one CHL file, otherwise it is disabled.
	Clear All Filters: This button is displayed if the filter mechanism has been activated.
	Automatic Magazine Numbers: Automatically define the magazine numbers of a selected group of cutters in the Cutter Table of the currently active NC file.
Library	Select a cutter library from a dropdown list. The cutter data from the selected library is displayed in the Cutter Library dialog. This operation is not available in the Cutters and Holders dialog.
Units	Select the cutter units from the dropdown list. All cutter data in the Cutter Library dialog is displayed in the selected unit. This operation is not available in the Cutters and Holders dialog.

All other button operations are the same as those in the Cutters & Holders dialog.

Cutter Library fields

The cutter table in the Cutter Library contains an additional column that does not appear in the Cutters and Holders dialog. This column is File Name, which contains the full path name of the file containing the cutter.

 

 

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.