Creating or Editing a Tool Assembly

You can create tool assemblies using the Tool Builder toolbar. Once created, they are editable from the Machining Cell.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Tools and tool holders must exist.
Related Topics
About Representation Management
Machining Resources

Create a Tool Assembly

You can create tool assemblies from the Tool Builder toolbar

  1. From any product:

    1. Select Start > Machining > Machine Programming.

      A PPR context with an empty Machining Cell is created. An empty Activities Process Tree opens automatically.

    2. Create a generic machine or assign a machine from the database.

      As soon as a machine is assigned to the Machining Cell, a Part Operation and a Manufacturing Program are created in the Activities Process Tree.

    3. Alternatively, open an existing Machining Process or PPR context .

      By default, the Activities Process Tree opens automatically.

  2. Click Tool Assembly

    The Tool Assembly Creation dialog box appears.

  3. Specify assembly name and comment, if any.

  4. Click and select a tool in the dialog box that appears.


    • The Gage value is updated. It represents the positioning of the tool in the assembly (distance from the tooltip to the lower stage of the assembly).
    • Power is now available.

  5. Define the Power component as Fixed or Powered.

    See Prismatic Machining User's Guide: Reference Information: 2.5 to 5-Axis Drilling Operations Common Reference Information

  6. Click and select a the tool holder in the dialog box that appears.

    1. If need be, click Remove to remove a tool holder.
    2. Click Preview.

    The tool assembly is visualized in the 3D viewer of the dialog box.

    The tool assembly is created in a given order, starting from the tool to the last holder of the tool holder list.

    Note:

    • You can zoom in, zoom out, rotate, etc. the tool in the 3D viewer of the dialog box.
    • The visualization is updated automatically if you modify the Gage value.
    • However, you must click Preview to update the visualization after you have modified the holder list.

  7. Click OK to create the tool assembly and exit the dialog box.

    The tool assembly is created under the Machining Cell.

Edit a Tool Assembly

You can edit a tool assembly from the Machining Cell.

  1. Right-click a tool assembly in the Machining Cell and select NC Resources > Edit NC Resources

  2. Optional: Double-click the tool.

  3. Proceed as explained above for the creation.