Do you use Tool Kits - Kit Assistant

[Mike Mattera]

Do you use Tool Kits - Kit Assistant, when doing your jobs?

[Mike Mattera]

So 20 people have look at this survey and only one person has responded. Come on guys! It's a simple question.
Do you use Tool Kits?
Somebody Push a Button. Let's get some interaction going here.

Cheers to our one respondent for having the balls to say "I dont know what a Kit is"

Mike Mattera

[Dado]

Hi Mike,
What are you refering to when you say "tool Kits". Meaning what ?

Dado

[Mike Mattera]

Start - Programs - Edgecam - Toolkit Assistant.

So I'll take that as a "No"

Mike Mattera

[Dado]

This is my first post sense joining the CNC Zone. The question about tool kits drew a question mark. I write all my programs long hand. G-code.

I started machining 42 years ago. I'm recouperating from a fall at work that broke my shoulder and tore my rotator cuff. I tripped over an air hose. I just had surgery last Wednesday to repair the damaged Cuff. I'm on the mend now and plan to return to work after the Holidays.

The shortage of machinists and our work load has caused our company to build a plant in China. Companies all around me here in Minnesota are having difficulties in hiring competant machnists. So, when I retire in a few years, I'll buy some machinig centers and grab some of that work.

I'll hire a few young people the secret's learned in 45 years of machining. I enjoy teaching . They can learn from me and get paid as well. I'd like to start a production teaching school. Very small time of course. I would enjoy that.

I have to teach myself Cad Cam. The company I work for doesn't believe in any on the job training of such things as using Cad Cam. That's the engineers job they say. Oh well, I'll teach myself off the job.

Be thankful if you have a company that will teach on the job.

[cadcamjohn]

Just to let you know where I stand on toolkits.

I have been using Edgecam for 9 years now and have never used a tool kit. I am sure it is a useful tool if you are doing similar components but in a small subcontract workshop you never get a spare minute to set these things up.

Even my toolstore is incomplete! Now that I have started using some of the new adaptive postprocessors in version 11 with machine graphics, I am having to go through my entire toolstore to add gauge height and holder information that was not used before. Very tedious but well worth it when you can see whether or not you have a collision with the 4th axis.

John

[Mike Mattera]

Hi John,

I know whet you mean. I just finished a new training cd for Edgecam and one of the most important things was to get a complete set of Drills, & Counter bores in 1/32 (and some of the more important 1/64) sizes. Making sure they have tool holders and the proper gauge length.

It's now included with the training CD along with a Fanuc compatible 3X vertical mill post, for machie simulation.

Mike Mattera

[mikewsk2]

Tool kits are great for assigning turret positions for specific tools that stay in the same location in machining centers. You can start the basic tool kit for a specific machine and then copy it for a certain job if you're adding more tools to it.

You can actually make a job after you program the part and it takes at most 1 minute and the time it saves for documentation and set/ups can save you a ton in the end.

[MIKE JEFFERS]

never used it
only do 1 off stuff and have enough other things to do
mike

[Scott_bob]

Originally Posted by Mike Mattera So 20 people have look at this survey and only one person has responded. Come on guys! It's a simple question. Do you use Tool Kits? Somebody Push a Button. Let's get some interaction going here.

Mike,
I share your disappointment...
Now you have 25 responses in 880 views!
What % participation is that less than .03?

Or, there are so few Edgecam users who "do" use toolkits...
What do you think?

Personally, I don't or didn't...
I am using UG NX4 now, and I don't use it's Tool library either.
I created my own system using Excel and Macro Express to import my data...

I think it's cool...

[Mike Mattera]

Well since Tool Kits are tied into the HTML setup sheets/Job reports, I can assume many of you are not using Job Reports either.

So what is a Tool Kit?
================
A pre selected list of tools for use on a particular part. You can select your tools, set Tool #'s and offsets for a particular job. The Kit name will usually be the same as the Job (NC) name, but it doesent have to be.


If you go to...
Start - Programs - Edgecam - Tool Kit Assistant.
You will open the Edgecam Tool Kit Assistant. In here you can Create a new Tool Kit (upper right). You should enter some general information about the Job. This same information can also be accessed thru the Job Manager.
Press OK to accept the new job.

At this point your looking at Jobs/Kits (Left window) and Tools (right window). Grab a tool from the right side and drag ot over to the job name (you just created) on the left side. Select all the tools you'll need for the job.

Exit the Tool Kit Assistant and go into Edgecam.

In Edgecam: When switching to Mfg Mode, you are asked for a Sequence name, Discipline (Mill/Turn) and Machine Tool (post). Select the Tab "Job Data". Browse the Job name and pick your new Tool Kit. Any other information you filled in regarding the job will populate the rest of the fields. OK to accept this.

Now when you do your toolpaths and select "Browse ToolStore" it will display the tools from your kit. All of the tool numbers and offsets already defined.

Mike Mattera

[ImanCarrot]

Still none the wiser....

I manualy create my G Code or use Dolpin CAM to post process a CAD file imported from Autocad. I also use my own program written in VBasic and converted to EXE to generate G Code... erm are any of them tool kits or do you mean toolkits like spanners, hacksaws and big hammers to hit the machine when it's bad?

*scratches head*