Below the library summary in My Shop > Tool libraries, the tool list shows every tool in the library. Click a tool to see its details, change values in place, and manage its presets. For the library controls above the list, see Tool libraries in My Shop.
Find tools
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Search tools | Matches name, description, tool number, holder, flute count, materials, coating, usages and dimensions. |
| Kind | Shows Assemblies by default. Choose Tools, Holders, Inserts or All to see the separate parts too. |
| Tool type | Shows only the tool types you pick. |
| Allowed usage | Shows tools allowed for the usages you pick, or None for tools with no usages. |
| Stock material | Shows tools allowed for the materials you pick. |
| Status | Shows Valid, Warning or Needs update tools. |
| Sort | Sorts by tool number, type, diameter, stickout and more. Choose Ascending or Descending. |
Clear filters removes every filter. If the Kind filter hides matching items, the list says so; click Show all kinds.
Columns
| Column | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tick box | Selects tools for a bulk action. See Edit several tools at once. |
| Tool | Name and description. Click it to open the details. |
| Kind | Assembly, tool, holder or insert. A part shows how many assemblies use it. |
| No. | Tool number. |
| Diameter, Flutes, Stickout, Holder | The tool's main sizes. Auto stickout means none is set, so a default is used. |
| Pref | Preferred tool. CAM Assist weights preferred tools 30% more favorably. |
| Status | Valid, Warning or Needs update. Hover over it to see the first problem, or "One or more presets are invalid." |
| Use | Turn off to stop CAM Assist using the tool. The switch in the header sets every tool on the page. |
| ⋮ | Row actions (below). |
Click a row to open the details pane. Use the arrow keys to move between rows. Double-click a row to open the full editor. See The tool assembly editor.
Row actions
Click ⋮ (Tool actions):
- Open assembly (or Open for a tool, holder or insert, View in a CloudNC library): opens the editor.
- Duplicate: adds a copy to the same library. Only in your own (Custom) libraries.
- Copy to library…: copies the tool to another library. See Copy tools to another tool library.
- Remove: deletes the tool after you confirm. This can't be undone. You can't remove built-in tools, or a tool or holder that an assembly uses: remove it from the assembly first.
Tool details pane
The pane on the right shows the selected tool:
- A drawing of the tool, its status, and Previous tool / Next tool buttons.
- Open assembly (or Open tool, Open holder, Open insert), Duplicate, Copy to library… and Remove.
- The assembly's name, tool number, description, holder and stickout, then the tool's type, flutes and geometry.
- Allowed usage: the operations the tool may be used for. In your own libraries, click a usage to turn it on or off.
- Allowed stock materials: the materials the tool may cut.
- Presets: the tool's cutting parameter presets. Click one to edit it, or Add preset to add one. See Add or edit cutting parameter presets.
- For a tool that isn't valid, the problem is shown at the bottom.
A tool or holder that's part of assemblies lists them under Used in. Click one to go to it.
Change values in place
In your own libraries and the session library, values with a pencil can be edited in the pane:
- Click the value and type the new one. Press Enter to keep it, or Escape to undo it. Changed values are marked (unsaved).
- When you're done, click Save in the bar at the bottom of the pane. Discard throws the changes away.
If you open the full editor while a tool has unsaved changes, CAM Assist asks you to Stay, Discard and continue, or Save and continue.
A value you can't edit here shows why when you hover over it, for example "Another property sets this. Open the assembly to change it."
Messages you might see
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| There are no tool assemblies in this library yet. | Add tools. See Add a tool assembly to a tool library. |
| Unable to load tools. | Click Retry. |
| Unable to reload tools. The saved tools are still available. | Keep working, or click Retry. |
| Your changes could not be saved. | Click Save again. |
| Another library update is in progress. Try saving again when it finishes. | Wait, then click Save again. |
| This tool was changed elsewhere, so your changes cannot be saved to it. Discard them to see its current values. | Click Discard, then make your changes again. |
| A tool shows Needs update | See Tool library requirements and Edit a tool's geometry. |
Terms used
- Tool assembly: a cutting tool in a holder, with a tool number and stickout.
- Preset: saved cutting parameters for a tool. See What is a cutting parameter preset?
- Allowed usages: the operations a tool may be used for. See Set a tool's allowed usages and stock materials.
Videos
These CloudNC Academy videos were recorded with an earlier version of CAM Assist, so some screens look different.