[Mooser]

I've got a bunch of tools that are always loaded in their holders (chamfer tools, c-drills, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 end-mills, shell/fly cutters etc) as well as a dozen or so empty ER collet holders for special tools needed for whatever the current job might be.

As expected, all of the length offsets are stored on the machine and the tools are set-up in mastercam with the corresponding tool numbers so when I pull up a 1/2 4fl carbide EM it's going to us the right tool and offset number as the machine has and the generated g-code is correct.

The problem is always with drills. 9 times out of 10 I'll use a drill in a chuck (I've got several Albrecht chucks that I use) Mastercam has every drill size but all under different tool numbers. I'd like to be able to select the drill size but have it always use the same (or one of 10) tool number which is set on the machine to the drill chuck.

I've been setting all of the drills to use the same tool number (0-.100 use tool 180, .101-.250 use tool 181, etc) depending on the chuck sizes etc but it's taking forever to bring each one up, change the tool number and then scroll back down and grab the next

But there must be a better way where I can bring this into excel and do a bulk tool number replace or something???
Thanks
M

[cadcam]

Have you been creating you own tool library to your tools?

[Mooser]

Yeah I've set up a separate library for my machine that has sort of the "stock" tools in it that are pretty much always loaded.
When I create a new program and pull up the 3/8-4fl endmill it brings it it as tool 45 and when it creates the G-code it'll call for tool 45 and the correct length offset.
Perfect

Right now I've been bringing up each drill size and changing it to tool number x ((0-.100 use tool 180, .101-.250 use tool 181, etc)) and then moving them into the tool library. Now when I pull in drill size whatever (#7) it assigns tool 180 which is one of my chucks, yes I have to set the length once I load the #7 drill, but at least it's using a consistent tool number. If I need another drill in the range I select the size, again it would assign 180 and I have to change it to 181 but that's fairly simple.

I was originally just assigning the drill chuck only and not the individual drills but it's very nice to have all of the sizes (number, letter, fraction) right there to pick from.

Just taking a long time to load each letter, number, fraction and then of-course the metric.... at least it's not outside in the snow shoveling or anything
1st world problems

M