Quick Access Data

Quick Access button displays the summary of essential data of the Tool Items. It enables you to define the Tool Item identifiers (i.e., the Tool Number, Tool ID, Tool offset number/index, etc.) and provides access to quickly change the mounting position of the Tool Item on the CNC-Machine.

If you change values in any of the sections of Quick Access, SolidCAM dynamically changes the relevant value of Tool Item or Component or Cutting Point depending on the selection.

Tool Item data

The data displayed in this section is picked from the defined properties for the Tool.

Tool number: The Tool Number is a numerical identifier for the tool. Its value must be an integer. Changing the tool position in Rotary or Linear turrets will automatically change the Tool number.

Tool ID: This parameter enables you to define the catalog number of the tool to facilitate its identification.

Permanent: If a particular tool is always used in the same magazine position in the Machine, this tool can be marked as Permanent Tool.

Cutting Point Data

The data displayed in this section is picked from the Cutting Point of the Cutter. In case of Multiple Cutting Points, the first Cutting Point data is displayed as default.

Tool offset number: Selecting this check box allows you to add a Tool offset number of your choice. Disable the Tool offset number check box if you want SolidCAM to automatically manage the Tool Offset numbers.

Tool offset index: The Tool offset index can be selected from the drop-down list. This index is added as a suffix to the Tool offset number.

For Spindle turret- Tool offset number is the same as Tool number

For Linear / Rotary turrets - Tool number and Tool offset number = Station number.

Color:

Click Color to change the display color of the tool path.
The standard Color dialog box is displayed.

Select the new tool path color for this tool number.
Confirm with OK.

You can use the Reset to default to apply the default tool colors defined in the SolidCAM Settings dialog box.

Mounting on Station

Mounting on Station drop-down list enables you to change the mounting position of Tool Items on the CNC-Machine.

This section also displays the number of Machine Axes which refers to the ability of the CNC-Machine to perform movement about different axes. A position can be moved along the X-, Y- and Z-Axes or Rotary Axes by entering a value in the corresponding X, Y and Z fields or by scrolling your mouse wheel to change the value gradually.

You can also modify the Tool Item position relative to the CoordSys position of the Station to which it is mounted using Plane ZX, Plane XY or Plane YZ.

Flip enables you to turn the Tool around its Axis.

This section is not available for the Tool Assemblies.

Component Axes

This section is displayed if one of the Tool Item components has the Rotary or Linear Joint with defined Axis Data. The name and position of the Axis are picked from Axis Data.