Cutting tools workbook

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MecSoft Corporation is excited to announce the release of The Cutting Tools Workbook, a 100-page guide to working with cutting tools in its 2017 line-up of Milling Module CAM plugins including VisualCAD/CAM, RhinoCAM, VisualCAM for SOLIDWORKS and AlibreCAM.

Many of you have asked for more comprehensive information on working with Cutting Tools in our CAM module plugins. This workbook delivers with the following in-depth information.

Creating Tools

This workbook walks you through the process of creating tools and using the predefined tool libraries installed with the software as well as creating your own custom tool libraries. Also included is in-depth information on the Tools tab and the Create/Select Tools dialog including the Feeds & Speeds Calculator.

Tool Related Answers

This workbook also includes answers to many of the questions that users ask most, including how to define a custom tool, print your tool list, define tool related preferences and tool related optimization such as machining time estimates and more.

Advanced Topics

This workbook also answers more advanced questions such as how to include tool comments, define a tool change point and enable cutter compensation in your posted g-code. How to customize the Feeds & Speeds Calculator with your own custom materials is also explained.

Worksheets

You may be asking yourself why is this guide is called a workbook? That’s because it includes worksheets on every tool type supported by the MILL module. You can print these worksheets and use them to help document your existing and new tool inventory for creating tools and setting up your tool library in the Mill module! A sample worksheet is shown below.

Data Sheets

In addition to the worksheets mentioned above, the Reference section also includes the parameter values of every INCH and METRIC tool that comes installed in the predefined tool libraries so that you know exactly which parameter to adjust to make them YOUR custom tool library!

What’s Inside

The Cutting Tools Workbook is packed full of information that will help you become more proficient with your MecSoft CAM software. Here is the complete list of topics included in this must-have companion guide.

About this Guide

About the MILL Module

Using this Guide

Getting Ready

After Installing MILL

Locate the Tools Tab

The Create/Select Tools Dialog

Creating Tools

Create a Tool

Create a Tool Library

The Feeds & Speeds Calculator

Use The Preinstalled Tool Libraries

Add your Existing Tools to a Library

More about the Tools Tab

More about the Create/Select Tools dialog

Tool Related Answers

Where can I find Tool-related Preferences?

How can I Print a Tool List?

How can I add a Custom Tool?

Why are my Feed Rate values too High/Low?

What about Tapping Feed Rates?

How can I Optimize Machining Time Estimates?

More Advanced Answers

How can I add Tool Comments?

How can add a Tool Change Point?

How can I add more Materials?

How can I enable Cutter Compensation?

Reference

Cutting Tool Worksheets

Feeds & Speeds Data

Default English Tools Library

Default Metric Tools Library

How to Download this Guide

The Cutting Tools Workbook is available as a FREE download to ALL MecSoft AMS (Annual Maintenance Subscription) users. To download this 100-page guide, login to your MecSoft VisualSERVE Customer Portal, then scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the Premium Access Forums button. The download is available in the Knowledge Resources forum in each of the following AMS Product Forums:

VisualCAD/CAM AMS Customer Forum
RhinoCAM AMS Customer Forum
VisualCAM for SolidWorks AMS Customer Forum
AlibreCAM AMS Customer Forum

More Information

For more information about each of these Mill Module products, including data sheets, videos and other resources we invite you to visit the following product pages:

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