File|Import|NC Tool List

This command allows you to import a Drill Tool List file. Tool list conversion is accomplished using the same ACR rule file technology as used by the Import|Aperture List command. If you already have a tool list converter you wish to use, copy the associated conversion rule file into the "ToolConv" folder (located in the main VisualCAM installation folder).

Tip: This is only used for importing tool lists that were created by other programs. If you are wish to load a VisualCAM .nct file, use the Setup|NC Tools command, and click the Load button in the NC Tool Setup dialog box.

To import an NC tool list

1. Select the File|Import|NC Tool List command. The Import NC Tools dialog box appears.

2. Click the Browse button to search for the tool list file you wish to import.

3. Select the tool list format from the Format list. If no converter file exists, you can either create your own using a text editor, or VisualCAM to create one interactively. See Creating a Tool List Converter.

4. You can either create a new tool table, or have your tool definitions added to an existing tool table (if you already have a database loaded). Make your selection from the Destination list.

5. Click the OK button to import the tool list. You can view or edit your tool definitions in the NC Tool Table.

Creating a Tool List Converter

VisualCAM provides an interactive Conversion File Creator that allows you to quickly create a tool list converter file.

1. In the Import NC Tools dialog box, click the New Converter button. The Create Tool List Converter dialog box appears. The name of the tool list file being imported is at the top, and your current tool definitions are displayed in the Format 1 tab.

2. Your tool list appears in a spreadsheet, and default column names are provided at the top. These columns are not automatically matched to the tool list; you must reorder and resize the columns to match the tool list contents.

3. To move a column header, click it with your mouse and drag it to the correct location.

4. The column header width should exactly match the width of the tool list columns. Click on the left or right edge of the column header and drag it to the appropriate location.

5. By default, only columns for the Tool Number and Size are provided. If your tool list contains additional parameters, such as Feed Rate or Depth Offset, you can add those columns by right-clicking in the appropriate location in the column heading, and selecting the appropriate Add command.

6. If you wish to delete a column header, right-click on it and select Delete Column from the shortcut menu. Note that once you delete a column, it can always be added again later.

7. If you have a column of information in your tool list that you wish to be ignored, right-click on the column header currently above it, and select Add Skip Column from the shortcut menu. A header titled "Skip" now appears above the contents.

If you find that you have a tool list that contains mixed definitions, where not all tools use the same column format, see the Mixed Format Definitions section, below, for details on how to manage these types of lists.

3. Specify the Delimiters used to separate the columns in your tool list.

4. Select the Units of measure for your tool list.

5. If you have any lines in the tool file, such as headers or comments, specify in the Initial Lines To Ignore box how many lines at the beginning of the file should be ignored by the tool converter. Also specify in the Comment Text box the symbol that leads any comment lines in your tool list

6. Once the Tool Number and Size columns have been properly defined, the system automatically recognizes the information in the list and confirms it in the Matched Tools list. All recognized tools are also colored red in the Format list. When you are finished, click the Save Converter button to save your converter file in the ToolConv folder.

7. The dialog box closes and your converter appears in the Format list of the Import Tool List dialog box.

Mixed Format Definitions

A tool list that contains mixed definitions, such as the one below that indicates when hole is plated, but not when it is unplated.

If you have a similar case, you can create multiple Format types to handle the information.

1. Create the column definitions for the first type of format (e.g. Tool 1 and 3's format), as instructed above in steps 1-4.

2. Once the Tool Number and Size columns have been properly defined, the system automatically recognizes the information in the list and confirms it in the Matched Tools list. All recognized tools are also colored red in the Format list.

3. Right-click on the Format 1 tab, and select Add Format from the shortcut menu. A Format 2 tab appears. The tools that have already been recognized based on the Format 1 definitions are listed in gray text.

4. Modify the column headers so that they are appropriate for the second type of formatting (e.g. tool 2's format) and repeat the same steps as you did for Format 1. You can create as many Format types as necessary to convert your entire tool list.

5. When you are finished, click the Save Converter button to save your converter file in the ToolConv folder. The dialog box closes and your converter appears in the Format list of the Import Tool List dialog box.