Tooling
Introduction
![]() | This menu is used to configure the machine environment in order to enable machining simulation. When you click on the Tooling menu, the user will be prompted to set up the tool. |
The Tool Tree displays all tools required for the machining process. Under “Tool to be mounted”, you will find tools that are currently unmounted. Under “Magazine Spindle/ Turret”, you will see the machine’s tool magazine, which lists tools that are already mounted. To mount a tool, drag and drop it from its Tool Support location to the appropriate Pocket in the magazine. Insert a tool holder for each of the tools if they haven’t yet been defined. The Machine sub-tab shows the setup of the machine. The selected pocket must correspond to the actual pocket on the physical machine to ensure the tool number matches the one used in the NC program. | ![]() |
Tooling User Interface & Manipulations
Tool Mounting Methods
There are multiple ways to manually mount tool in MTE:
Click here to watch a video tutorial on manually mounting the tool.
Using the Drag & Drop in the Tooling Tree
In the tooling menu, you’ll find a section labeled ‘Tool to be Mounted’. Each tool support in this section contains a tool that needs to be mounted. To manually mount a tool, simply drag and drop it from the ‘Tool to be Mounted’ section to an available tool support on your turret or spindle. Example:
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![]() Image 1 | ![]() Image 2 |
Drag & Drop of 3D tool from Rack to Turret/Spindle
In the MTE Tooling Interface, you’ll find a rack at the bottom(shown in Image 3) containing tools ready for mounting. To manually mount a tool, simply drag and drop the 3D model onto the desired turret or spindle tool support, each of which is labeled with a numbered axis system for easy identification. |
![]() Image 3 |
Drag & Drop from Tooling Tree to Turret/spindle.
Advanced Functions
Various function are at the user’s disposal to facilitate the set-up of the tools on the machine. These functions are listed below:
![]() | This option automatically mounts the tools needed for the current part. It considers existing fixed tools and any defined tool mounting filters. | |
![]() | Get a clear view of all used tools, their positions on the machine, compensation numbers, and more. | |
![]() | Easily see and modify the useful length and X, Y, and Z gauges for each tool. A dedicated "Gauge Y=0" button allows you to quickly set all Y gauges to zero. | |
![]() | This table displays a list of machining planes, the axes used for each cycle, and possible rotation values. When multiple options exist, a button appears to let you choose. | |
![]() | Select from a list of available scenarios based on your machines and tools (part of the WanaGO concept). | |
![]() | Identify machining cycles that use intersecting axes. Lock specific axes (spindle or turret) to a desired position, forcing the program to utilize the remaining axis. | |
![]() | Synchronization | Visualize synchronizations with a time diagram by channels. This includes occupancy percentage, spindle and turret information, and allows dynamic setup of synchronizations between cycles. |
![]() | Commands Editor |
Tool setting
Below find the parameters you obtain from the popup menus of each different section:
Machine
| New | This option removes all tools currently mounted on the spindle or turret, allowing you to start fresh with a new tool setup. |
| Open | Open existing FMO file |
| Save as… | Save all tool configuration on the machine as an FMO file |
| Assign tools of machine | |
| Tool List | Open list of tool |
Delete all the toolholders | Remove all solid toolholders on the machine | |
| Delete all | Remove every tool and toolholders mounted on the machine |
Tool to be Mounted
Display | To hide/show the tool rack | |
| Centre-to-Centre | To adjust spacing between tools on the tool rack. |
Tool Support
Insert | Allow you to add a solid or standard toolholder | ||
| Hide | Hide/Unhide the tool and toolholder attached in the selected tool support in the 3D environment | |
Transparency | Make selected component transparent in the 3D environment | ||
| Hide all | Hide selected group of component in the 3D environment | |
Make all transparent | Make selected group of component in the 3D environment transparent | ||
| Change position | Allow to move the components of the current tool support to another tool mounting position in the machine. This can be to another turret or rack, another tool support position on the turret or even another pocket position in the same tool support if available. | ![]() |
| Cut | Removes the components from the selected tool support(maintained in the clipboard) that can be pasted to another tool support position. | |
| Copy | Creates a duplicate of the selected tool on the clipboard | |
| Paste | Inserts the tool from the clipboard |
Tool
| Automatic Mounting on | … The turrets and / or racks of machine. For the chosen tool, the user chooses the turret or the rack where to mount it, this is a kind of semi automatic mounting. |
![]() | Breaking out the toolholder | Explode standard toolholders and its tool to be able to replace the toolholder |
| Indexing the turret | For non-coaxial turrets, manually assign tool post positions. |
| Settings | Tools can be adjusted by modifying their effective length (adjustable value), translating them, or rotating them. During adjustment, the tool gauge values—Effective Length, X/Y/Z Translation, and Y/Z Rotation—are dynamically calculated and displayed. |
| Group Settings | It enables collective configuration of tool parameters, such as for tools on a rack in Swiss-type machining. |
| Invert Tool Direction | Rotate the tool 180°. |
| Optimum Setting | Only in milling, it automatically change to the correct useful length. |
| Information | Allows obtaining the tool's characteristics, including the list of cycles using this tool. |