Inserting Tool Changes

You can create a Tool Change from a Machining Operation or from the Manufacturing Program contextual menu.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Tools must exist.
Related Topics
Specifying a Tool Element in a Machining Operation
Creating or Editing a Tool Holder

Create a Tool Change from a Machining Operation

You can create a Tool Change when assigning the tool to a Machining Operation.

  • Create a Machining Operation.

    See Creating a Machining Operation.

    1. Go to the Tools tab and assign a tool or a tool assembly.

      See Specifying a Tool Element in a Machining Operation.


    • If the Machining Operation is the first of the Activities Process Tree, a Tool Change is created.
    • If the Machining Operation uses the same tool as the previous existing Machining Operation, no Tool Change is created.
    • If the Machining Operation requires a tool different from that of the previous existing Machining Operation, a Tool Change is created.


Generate Tool Changes Automatically

You can generate a Tool Change in aManufacturing Program, using its contextual menu. This ensures a realistic replay and output, whenever there are Machining Operations without a corresponding Tool Change in the Activities Process Tree

  1. Right-click the Manufacturing Program in the Activities Process Tree and select Generate Tool Changes.

    The Manufacturing Program is updated with all necessary Tool Changes. Each generated Tool Change is inserted just before the first Machining Operation in the Manufacturing Program that requires the Tool Change.

  2. Right-click the Manufacturing Program in the Activities Process Tree and select Delete Generated Tool Changes.

    All Tool Changes that were automatically generated are removed from the Manufacturing Program.

Initial Manufacturing Program:

	MO1 using Tool1 
	PP instruction 
	MO2 using Tool2 
	PP instruction 
	MO3 using Tool2 
	MO4 using Tool3

Manufacturing Program after Tool Change generation:

	Generated Tool change1 
	MO1 using Tool1 
	PP instruction 
	Generated Tool change2 
	MO2 using Tool2 
	PP instruction 
	MO3 using Tool2 
	Generated Tool change3 
	MO4 using Tool 3

Insert Tool Changes for Turning Operations (Lathe Machines)

The Tool Change dialog box for Turning operations is slightly different from the one shown above. The main difference is that there are tab pages for Tool, Insert Holder and Insert. However, the procedure for inserting Tool Changes is the same.

Multi-Slide Lathe Machines and Mounting Station

When a multi-slide kinematic lathe machine is assigned to a Part Operation, you can specify a station for a tool/tool assembly on a Tool Change activity.

  1. Use Mounting station list to specify a station for a tool/tool assembly on a Tool Change activity.

  2. When a new Tool Change is created, you can select where this new tool/tool assembly is stationed on the turret by selecting the empty stations on the turret from the Tool Assembly tab (for a lathe tool assembly) or from the Tool tab (for mill and drill tool/tool assembly) of the editor.

The selection or modification of a station is reflected in the Turret Station Editor of the corresponding Manufacturing Program.

Warning: If the Manufacturing Program is not associated with a turret, the Mounting station list is not available for the Tool Changes in the current Manufacturing Program.