Tool Dialogs

The Milling and Turning Tool dialogs have been modified to include items specific to the Multi-Task Machining option. These items allow the definition of which Tool Group the tool belongs to, the tool's position in the Tool Group, the side of the part the tool will cut on and how the insert is aligned to the spindle.

Assigned Tool Group: This pop-up menu may be found in both lathe and mill Tool dialogs. There is an entry for each available Tool Group as defined by the current MDD (Machine Definition Document). Select the Tool Group the current tool will be assigned to. The actual name of each Tool Group will depend upon your MDD.

Tool Group Position: This pop-up menu may be found in both lathe and mill Tool dialogs. There is an entry for each available position in the Tool Group as defined by the current MDD. Select the position in the gang, slide or turret that the tool occupies or will be placed in. Each position may hold more than one tool. This way, you can define a mini-gang of tools at one turret position. Each tool would have a different offset number.

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A "Mini Gang" may be created by creating multiple tools that are in the same position, each with different offsets. This can be one tool used with four different offsets or four different tools.

Orientation Spindle: This option is not available on all machines. This selection lets you set which spindle is used to orient the tool. See Advanced Machines Only for more information.

Cut Side: This item may be found in lathe tool dialogs. If you are familiar with the GibbsCAM Lathe module, you are accustomed to seeing a Clockwise/Counter Clockwise (CW/CCW) option in the Lathe Tool dialog. For the MTM option, lathe tools do not have this setting but instead have an Approach Side setting that works with the Insert Face Up setting. Together these items specify from which side of the spindle the tool will approach and cut the part, either the +X or -X side. From this data the system automatically calculates the spindle direction. The actual cut side may be overridden in the Process dialog. See Insert Orientation for clarification.

Tool ID#: Tool ID # is used to specify a Tool Group position that is serviced by an ancillary mill style tool changer. Enter the tool number you want loaded into a specific Tool Group position.

Insert Face Up: This item is found in the Turning Tool dialogs. This setting specifies whether an insert is Face Up or Face Down in a tool holder. If this item is unchecked the system assumes the insert is Face Down. The selection made here will toggle the tool display picture to show the insert as Face Up or Face Down. See Insert Orientation for clarification on insert direction.

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You should visualize a machine set up as if you are standing in front of it. We call this view the Spindle 1 ZX Coordinate System Home View. This view is the same as the trackball "T" or top view for MTM parts. Use this view to determine Cut Side, Insert Face Up and Orientation for all spindles. Do not use the specific spindles' ZX CS Home View.* *Unless you have an Orientation Spindle selection in the Tool dialog, which is offered for some multi-spindle machines (as determined by their MDDs)

B Rotation: This item allows you to set the B-axis rotation needed to move the current tool to the orientation specified in the tool dialog. This is only available in MDDs for machines that have a B-axis capable turret with unusual tool arrangements.

Milling Tools at B0 are pointing at the OD of a part. The B Rotation for a milling tool should be determined solely from its orientation in the machine at the GibbsCAM B0 position. For example, the tool arrangement shown below includes an endmill at B0 and a boring bar that is mounted parallel to the endmill. These tools use the same ID# but different offsets. The boring bar must have a B Rotation of -90 to match the orientation designated in the tool dialog. The Super HiCell has an arrangement similar to this.

A turret set at B0 is the standard turning orientation. Turning tools should be defined as they will be used. First set the tool orientation as it is to be used (not as it is arranged in the turret) and then set the B Rotation required to get the tool into position. Turning tools may be at any arbitrary angle entered in the B Rotation text box. If both tool arrangements shown below were to be used as boring bars, the second tool would need to be rotated by -90° to get into position.

Insert Orientation

The orientation of a tool is very important to properly set up a tool. By default, all tools are oriented to the main or primary spindle. That means that the tool orientation in the tool dialog should be set to match the tool's actual position when looking at the spindles from the front of your machine.

The following image shows tools that are oriented to the Main Spindle. The tool's selection in the Tool dialog Insert Orientation diagram is as shown below, either Face Down or Face Up. The Tool Orientations are set as they actually appear.

Tools 1 & 4: Are designated as Insert Face Down. Tools 2 & 3: Are designated as Insert Face Up.

Advanced Machines Only

There are some machines and MDDs that may allow an override of the typical behavior for insert orientation. In the following image, tools 1 and 2 are oriented to the Main Spindle, while tools 3 and 4 are set with the sub spindle being the orientation spindle. With this arrangement the Tool Orientation diagram would be set differently. The tools on the sub spindle need to be set as if looking from the back of the spindle, the Home View of its ZX CS.

Tools 1 & 4: Are designated as Insert Face Down.

Tools 2 & 3: Are designated as Insert Face Up.

Please note that tool number 3 and 4 above are oriented the same as tools 1 and 2. All four tools are oriented to point to the spindle they are cutting on.

This Orientation Spindle choice is only made available on complex machines.

Setting Cut Side

When creating your part, it is possible to set up all of your tools without worrying about the cut side of the tool. This is because toolpath is associative to the tool's definition. If a tool is first set to approach from and cut on the +X side of the part but then switched to approach and cut from the -X side, the toolpath will automatically update to reflect this change. Changing the tool's Cut Side, Insert Face Up and Insert Orientation settings (as well as a likely change in Tool Group) are required to flip the toolpath. This is illustrated in "Auto-Flip" on page 192.

Mill Tool Orientation

The orientation of a mill tool is a very important aspect in properly setting up a tool. By default, all tools are oriented to the main or primary spindle. That means that the tool orientation in the tool dialog should be set to match the tool's actual position when looking at the spindles from the front of your machine.

Milling tools are slightly easier to set up than turning tools because there are fewer variations. There are only four positions - two each for horizontal and vertical. Please note that the orientation specified is when the B-axis is zero. For machines with B-axis support, the tool may be used in a range of orientations, and this is controlled by the Machining CS setting found in Process dialogs.

Approach towards the face of the main spindle.		Approach away from the face of the main spindle or back side milling.
Approach from the +X side.		Approach from the -X side.