Understanding Tool Selection

Toolpath uses a three stage system to match tools to specific features:

1. Eligibility: A tool is eligible for feature when it contains a preset applied to the appropriate cutting role for the feature. For example, a finishing tool with no roughing presets will not be eligible for roughing
2. Geometric validity: A tool must be geometrically capable of machining the feature. For example, it must have the necessary length below holder and appropriate diameter for the features minimum radius for finishing.
3. Priority: Tools can be prioritized both through library prioritization in a Cut Config and preset prioritization within specific cutting roles.

Tool Eligibility

For a tool to be eligible to machine a feature using a particular Cut Config, it must have a preset applied to the Cutting Roles necessary to machine the feature. Please see the video below for an overview of how to recognize missing presets and add them to cutting roles.

Geometric Validity

For a tool to machine a feature, it must be able to both fit and reach the geometry. Tool Inspection can help explain which tools are geometrically valid and invalid for a feature. Please see Understanding Unmachinable Features for more information on using tool inspection.

Priority

Toolpath Cut Configs have two levels of prioritization to influence tool selection;

1. Prioritization of specific tool libraries
2. Prioritization of specific tools through presets

Tool Library Prioritization

Prioritizing Tool Libraries allows you to define tool libraries as Preferred, Standard, or Backup libraries. 

• Preferred (Green Triangle) tool libraries will be prioritized and should be the tools you have in your machine - your most commonly used tools. 
• Standard (Blue Circle) tool libraries are tools you have around the shop, but might not be loaded in a machine or in a holder.
• Backup tool libraries tool libraries will only be used by Toolpath if no tool in a Preferred or Standard library can access a specific part feature. These are tools you'd prefer to avoid using, but can if you must.

To prioritize use of tool libraries, enable them in the Cut Config and apply the appropriate priority level:

1. Create a new Cut Config and go to the Tool Libraries page. For more information on how to create a Cut Config, please see How to Create Cut Configs.
2. Select the applicable tool libraries by clicking on their names.
3. Click the kebab menu icon the right of the tool library names to select their prioritization. You can set tool libraries as Preferred, Standard, or Backup libraries:
   
4. Add vendor libraries with tools you could order in the Recommendations page. Libraries selected in the Recommendations page will only be suggested when a feature that cannot be machined with tools from your Preferred, Standard, or Backup libraries.

Preset Prioritization

The list of presets in the Cutting roles page of a Cut Config allows prioritization of specific tools or groups of tools. To prioritize tools,

1. Create a uniquely named preset on the tool (or group of tools) you'd like to prioritize use of. Please see How to Manage and Apply Tool Presets for more information on creating presets.
2. Apply the preset in the Cutting Roles page to the appropriate role. For example, if you are creating a preset for your preferred roughing tools, add it to the Adaptive Rough cutting role at the top of the list.

Please see the video below for a demonstration: