Looking for feature of CNC software

[TryingToSwim]

Hello everyone,

Let me start by thanking you in advance for any help you might be able to provide me with respect to my question.

I am currently doing research for CNC software, specifically looking for a feature that may or may not be contained in one the numerous products available on the market today.

The feature I'm looking for is best explained by virtue of the attached Figure.

In the Figure, you will see that the feature(s) I'm curious about relates to being able to check a little boxes (24-27) to select specific tool numbers to be used in the operation of the machine.

Seems like such a basic thing, but I'm having difficulty finding it using, so I figured what better place to go than to where to experts gather, here of course...

Thanks for any help you are able to provide.

TTS

[doorknob]

While I am unable to answer your general question (as it relates to the entire universe of CNC applications), I have done some custom programming of a proof-of-concept prototype application to work with Camsoft that provided something like what you are looking for (if I am correctly interpreting your question).

The basic concept was that the prototype code that I wrote would permit the specification of optional lines within the Gcode, wherein the user would select or deselect a checkbox in order to include or exclude a particular line of code. In the prototype that I wrote, that capability was used to include or exclude an M7 code (to permit the user to optionally run the program with or without turning coolant on). After the operator made the choice, a revised Gcode program was saved and then loaded into Camsoft, after which the operator could verify the expected behavior and then run the program. I expect that something similar could be done for selection of tooling.

See Need Programmer TEXT to BITMAP for some background info.

(Note that if the selection of tooling requires changes to other parts of the Gcode, such as coordinates that are based on the tool diameter, or feed rates that are sensitive to the tool choice, or the like, that would potentially complicate matters a bit, but would probably also be do-able.)