Tooling Menu

This menu is used to configure the machine environment in order to enable machining simulation.
For machining operations, the user will need to define the tools and fixtures first.

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.

Ribbon: Provides settings for the graphics display, collision detection, validate and move to the control menu and validate and call the post-processor

Tooling tree tab: Two tabs are present; the main Tooling tab for all the settings of the tool on the machine and the Machine tab for display functions of the machine components.

Tooling tree: The tree lists all the tool mounting axes on the machine. It is segregated into the list of tools to be mounted and the racks/turrets/spindles on which the tools can be mounted.

Graphics window: The 3D model of the machine and its components and tool mounting axes that can be interacted with and manually mount tools and toolholders. This provides a visual understanding of the settings.

Pop-up menus: Various pop-up menus are available with different functions for each sections, such as the tree, tool/toolholder, machine window, etc.

Tool rack: The 3D models of the list of tools to be mounted or already mounted are shown on the rack at the bottom. The user can drag and drop the tools from there to the machine, add toolholders, etc.

Toolbar Commands: This menu provides advanced settings for the tooling and machining process.

Watch a video describing the the interface and their functions.

General Manipulation

The Tooling environment includes useful features, but manipulating complex 3D models (like multi-axis turrets) can be challenging. Users should use filters and mouse controls to improve model positioning and avoid visual obstructions.

Manipulation of Tool Rack

The Tool Rack is a 3D interactive tool cart used for pre-machining setup. It allows zooming, rotating, and filtering to inspect tools and view only those loaded in the machine magazine. Once tools are mounted, the rack can be minimized as its main use is finished.

Machine Tree tab

In the MTE environment, the Machine Tree tab lets users hide, unhide, or make 3D machine components transparent, unlike the Tooling Tree tab, which is limited to tools and toolholders. It lists all machine components for easy access and allows constrained movement of parts for precise 3D manipulation.

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:
In the provided images, the tool ‘MS RF 123F20-16168.T01’ is dragged and dropped onto Turret 2, Tool Support (1).

1. Image 1 shows the tool’s initial position in the ‘Tool to be Mounted’ section.

2. Image 2 displays the tool after it has been placed on the turret tool support.

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.

In the "Tool to be mounted" section (shown in Image 1), you can mount tools by dragging them directly to your turret or spindle. The mounting process is simple:

1. Select the tool in the tool tree

2. Drag it while holding the left mouse button

3. Release the button and click your desired tool support on the turret or spindle

Here you can watch a video demonstrating the different methods of performing manual tool mounting on an MTE 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

Automatically replace tools defined in the cycles with compatible tools already mounted on the machine(as FMO file). Click on the link for details.

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

Display

To hide/show the tool rack

Centre-to-Centre

To adjust spacing between tools on the tool rack.

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

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.