Tool tables

[Nimrod]

How can you bring an existing tool data base built in MS ACCESS in to a Mastercam tool table? Is it possable in Mastercam?
Thanks Nimrod "the mighty hunter before the Lord"

[Rekd]

Originally posted by Nimrod
How can you bring an existing tool data base built in MS ACCESS in to a Mastercam tool table? Is it possable in Mastercam?
Thanks Nimrod "the mighty hunter before the Lord"

Yes it's possible.

The Access file will have to be formatted correctly for MC to read it.

Once it's formatted properly, go to NC Utils, Define Tools, Library, then right click, and select Create Library from Text.

HTH

'Rekd

[Rekd]

p.s., Here's a sample of the formatting, taken from a
library that was converted to text. (The opposite of what you're doing.)

# TOOL LIBRARY FORMAT - Tue Jun 03 07:38:47 2003
# = comment if 1st character in line
# line 1 - TOOL (start of tool definition)
# line 2 - tool material (1-HSS, 2-CARBIDE, 3-COATED CAR, 4-CERAMIC, 5-BORZON, 10-UNKNOWN)
# line 3 - tool comment
# line 4 - tool name (geometry reference for backplot)
# line 5 - tool manufacturer
# line 6 - chuck designation
# line 7 - tool_no, tool_type, rad_type, dia, crad, thds, tip_angle, 
#          dia_off, len_off, feed, plunge, retract, rpm, coolant, n_flutes, bottom_turret, station
# line 8 - Drilling attributes (see tool_type in line 7 above)
# line 8 - cycle, peck1, peck2, peck_clr, chip_brk, dwell, shldr_angle, root_dia (tap), bore_shift
# line 8 - Milling attributes (see tool_type in line 7 above)
# line 8 - cut_able, rgh_x, rgh_z, fin_x, fin_z, tip_dia, root_dia (thd mill), thd_angle
# line 9 - pilot_dia, flute_len, oa_len, shldr_len, arbor_dia, hldr_dia, hldr_len, spindle_ccw, sfm, fpt, metric
# line 10 - Holder type, Work offset, Initial dir vector[3], Head offset[3], Tool offset[3]
# 
# (tool types)          (tool capabilities)   (canned cycles)
# CENTER DRILL     1    ROUGH & FINISH   0    SIMPLE DRILL  0
# SPOT DRILL       2    ROUGH            1    PECK DRILL    1
# DRILL            3    FINISH           2    CHIP DRILL    2
# TAP-RH           4                          TAP           3
# TAP-LH           5    (tool corner radius)  BORE1         4
# REAMER           6    NONE             0    BORE2         5
# BORING BAR       7    CORNER           1    MISC1         6
# COUNTER BORE     8    FULL             2    MISC2         7
# COUNTER SINK     9
# END MILL FLAT   10    (coolant types)
# END MILL SPHER  11    OFF              0
# CHAMFER MILL    12    FLOOD            1
# FACE MILL       13    MIST             2
# SLOT MILL       14    TOOL             3
# CORNER RAD MILL 15
# DOVETAIL MILL   16    (spindle direction)
# TAPER MILL      17    CW               0
# LOLLIPOP MILL   18    CCW              1
# END MILL BULL   19
# BLOCK DRILL     20
# *** DO NOT REMOVE LINE NUMBERS OR DELETE ENTIRE LINES!              ***
# *** ALL TOOL DEFINITIONS MUST CONTAIN 10 LINES AND THE 'TOOL' LABEL! ***
#

1 - TOOL
2 - 1
3 -  1/8 CENTERDRILL
4 - C:\MCAM91\MILL\TOOLS\CTRDRILL.MC9
5 -  
6 -  
7 - 1 1 0 0.125 0. 0. 90. 0 0 1.026816 1.026816 1.026816 2139 1 2 1 -1
8 - 0 0. 0. 20. 10. 0. 90. 0. 0.
9 - 0. 2. 3. 2.5 0.125 2. 1. 0 100. 12. 0

1 - TOOL
2 - 1
3 -  1/4 CENTERDRILL
4 - C:\MCAM91\MILL\TOOLS\CTRDRILL.MC9
5 -  
6 -  
7 - 2 1 0 0.25 0. 0. 90. 0 0 1.0696 1.0696 1.0696 1069 1 2 1 -1
8 - 0 0. 0. 20. 10. 0. 90. 0. 0.
9 - 0. 2. 3. 2.5 0.25 2. 1. 0 100. 25. 0

1 - TOOL
2 - 1
3 -  1/2 CENTERDRILL
4 - C:\MCAM91\MILL\TOOLS\CTRDRILL.MC9
5 -  
6 -  
7 - 3 1 0 0.5 0. 0. 90. 0 0 1.0696 1.0696 1.0696 534 1 2 1 -1
8 - 0 0. 0. 20. 10. 0. 90. 0. 0.
9 - 0. 2. 3. 2.5 0.5 2. 1. 0 100. 50. 0

1 - TOOL
2 - 1
3 -  1/8 SPOTDRILL
4 - C:\MCAM91\MILL\TOOLS\SPOTDRIL.MC9
5 -  
6 -  
7 - 4 2 0 0.125 0. 0. 90. 0 0 1.026816 1.026816 1.026816 2139 1 2 1 -1
8 - 0 0. 0. 20. 10. 0. 90. 0. 0.
9 - 0. 2. 3. 2.5 0.125 2. 1. 0 100. 12. 0

'Rekd

[Nimrod]

thanks Rekd I have to see now if I can get my MSACCESS tool table format to come out like that.

[Rekd]

You're welcome.

If you need a hand with Access, and I have the time, I'd be glad to help.

'Rekd