To create a form tool:
- Create a curve in the graphics window that you want to be used as the 2D turned profile of the tool. There are some
requirements which the curve must meet.
You can display the profile of an existing tool in the graphics window to help you create this curve.
- In the Tool Manager dialog or on the Tools tab of the Feature Properties dialog, select either an endmill, sidemill, or twistdrill tool.
- To create a new tool:
- click New tool in the Tool Manager dialog; or
- click
New tool
on the
Tools tab of the
Feature Properties dialog.
- Select Use curve to describe tool shape in the Tool Properties dialog.
- Select the curve you created from the Select curve list.
- Set the tool dimensions. When you use a curve to define the shape of a tool, many of the dimensions in the
Tool Properties dialog are not used, but some dimensions are important for form tools:
- Diameter is used for calculating stepovers and generating the paths.
- Exposed length determines how much of the curve is used to draw the tool. If the exposed length is less than the dimension of the curve, the curve is truncated.
- Cutter length determines how much of the curve can be used for cutting.
- Click OK to close the Tool Properties dialog.
Note: When you create a form tool, the form curve is stored with the tool in the tool database. You do not need to recreate the curve in every document where the form tool is used.