PartMaker® Tech Note 052605:

Developing User-Defined Tools with PartMaker’s

Advanced Tools Option
Introduction
PartMaker enables the user to create a new tool in CAD mode and apply it to the Tools
database. For this example, a user defined Form tool will be drawn and applied in
PartMaker Turn.

Plotting the Geometry – CAD Mode

1.) In PartMaker Turn, start a New job.
2.) In CAD, create the geometry of the tool using the drawing icons – Take into
consideration that the point of origin (0,0) of the tool is the point used by
PartMaker in CAM Mode for programming.
Note: All drill type tools (drills, taps, spot drills) must be drawn in the vertical plane.
All other tools must be drawn in the orientation in which they will be used.

3.) In File menu, select Export DXF File and save the drawing under a name.
Note: The DXF file must be saved in the same directory where the tools database (*.tdb)
is stored.
4.) Open a New Job File. (Saving the tool geometry to a job file is not necessary.)
5.) In Job Optimizer, open the Tools Database from the ToolMinder menu.

PartMaker Tech Note 1

 Developing User-Defined Tools

6.) Click the New button and enter the EXACT name of the .dxf file that the tool
geometry was saved to. (Exclude the .dxf file extension when typing the file name.)
7.) Check the box labeled User Defined

Click the Verify Shape button and the tool geometry will appear as shown below.

8.) Click on the Hide Shape button when you are satisfied with shape of your form tool.
9.) Select the Type of operation the user-defined tool will perform. (For this example, a
grooving operation is chosen.)

Note – The parameters that relate to the geometry of the tool in Tool data do not apply to
a User-Defined tool. PartMaker will ignore any values entered in these registers.
PartMaker will accept the registers that relate to the X movement of the user-defined
tool. (Example - Axial Step)

12.) Click on Apply and the user-defined tool will be saved into the Tools database.

PartMaker Tech Note 2