Tool management

Application

The control displays the tool definitions of all technologies as well as the tools currently present in the tool magazine in the Tool management application of the Tables operating mode.

The tool management allows adding tools, editing tool data and deleting tools.

Description of function

You can define up to 32,767 tools in the tool management; this is the maximum number of available table rows.

The control additionally displays the pockets occupied in the magazine from pocket table tool_p.tch in the tool management.

Pocket table tool_p.tch

Tool data can be edited in the Table workspace or in the Form workspace. In the Form workspace the control shows the correct tool data for each tool type.

Tool data

Notes

  • When creating a new tool, the length L and radius R columns are empty at first. The control will not insert a tool whose length and radius are missing and will display an error message.
  • The tool data of tools still stored in the pocket table cannot be deleted. The tools must be removed from the magazine first.
  • When editing tool data, bear in mind that the current tool may have been entered in column RT as a replacement tool of another tool!
  • If the cursor is within the Table workspace and the Edit toggle switch is deactivated, a search using the keyboard can be started. The control opens a separate window with an input field and automatically searches for the entered string. If it finds a tool with the entered characters, the control selects this tool. If it finds several tools with this string of characters, you can scroll up and down in the window.

Importing and exporting tool data

Application

The control can import and export tool data. This avoids manual editing efforts and possible typing errors. Importing tool data is particularly useful in connection with a tool presetter. Exported tool data can be used for the tool database of your CAM system, for example.

Description of function

The control transmits tool data as a CSV file.

File types

  • The tool data transfer file is structured as follows:
  • The first row contains the tool table column names that are transferred.
  • The other rows contain the tool data to be transferred. The order of the data must match the order of the column names in row 1. A period is used as decimal separator.

The column names and the tool data stand between double quotation marks and are separated by semicolons.

  • Please note the following regarding the transfer file:
  • The tool number must be present.
  • Any tool data can be imported. The data record does not need to contain all tool table column names or all tool data.
  • Missing tool data contain no value between the quotation marks.
  • The column names can be arranged in any order. The order of tool data must match the order of column names.

Importing tool data

  1. To import tool data:
TablesMainIcon

  1. Select the Tables operating mode

  1. Select Tool management
SF_3_Editieren

  1. Activate Edit
  2. The control enables tool management for editing.
SF_3_Import

  1. Select Import
  2. The control opens a selection window.

  1. Select the desired CSV file
SF_3_Ueberblendfenster_Import

  1. Select Import
  2. The control adds the tool data to the tool management.
  3. If required, the control opens the Confirm import window (e.g., in case of identical tool numbers).

  1. Selecting the procedure:
    • Append: the control adds the tool data as new rows at the end of the table.
    • Overwrite: the control overwrites the initial tool data with the tool data from the transfer file.
    • Cancel: the control cancels the import process.
 
Notice
Caution: Data may be lost!
When overwriting existing tool data with the Overwrite function, the control will permanently delete the initial tool data!
  1. Use this function only with tool data that are no longer needed

Exporting tool data

  1. To export tool data:
TablesMainIcon

  1. Select the Tables operating mode

  1. Select Tool management
SF_3_Editieren

  1. Activate Edit
  2. The control enables tool management for editing.

  1. Mark the tool to be exported
  2. Open the context menu with a long press or by right-clicking
  3. Context menu

  4. Select Mark row
  5. Mark further tools if required
SF_3_Exportieren

  1. Select Export
  2. The control opens the Save as window.

  1. Select a path
  2.  
    Tip

    By default, the control saves the transfer file under TNC:\table.

  3. Enter the file name
  4. Select the file type
  5.  
    Tip

    Select either TNC7 (*.csv) or TNC 640 (*.csv). The internal formatting of the transfer files differs. If you wish to use the data in a previous control model, select TNC 640 (*.csv).

SF_3_Neue_Tabelle_Speichern_Unter_Erstellen

  1. Select Create
  2. The control will save the file using the selected path.

Notes

 
Notice
Caution: Possible material damage!
If the transfer file contains unknown column names, the control will not accept the data from this column! In this case, the control will perform the operations with an incompletely defined tool.
  1. Check whether the column names are correct
  2. After importing, check the tool data and adapt them if required.
  • The transfer file must be saved under TNC:\table.
  • The internal formatting of the transfer files differs:
    • TNC7 (*.csv) writes the values between double quotation marks and separates the values by semicolons
    • TNC 640 (*.csv) writes the values partly between brackets and separates the values by commas

    The TNC7 can both import and export both transfer files.