CAM software developed by artists for artists to create unique and original works on a 3-axis CNC router or mill. · By
What about having the ability to import a Vectric tool database? I've got a bunch of tools already defined in there with optimized feeds and speeds for my machine, as does anyone else that uses VCarve, Aspire, Cut3D, etc. Amana Tool is steadily adding Vectric compatible bit information to their product pages (like this: https://www.amanatool.com/rc-2250-insert-carbide-mini-spoilboard-surfacing-rabbeting-flycutter-slab-leveler-surface-planer-2-2-flute-design-1-1-2-dia-x-1-2-x-1-2-inch-shank-router-bit.html?ff=1&fp=12349).
I can't find a file format specification that details how the data is laid out in .tool files with a cursory Google search but if one is out there then I don't see why I wouldn't allow loading tool definitions. PixelCNC only represents tools in a very simple way, however, and so there are tools which would not be possible to import - basically anything that performs an undercut or that has very unusual geometry. Otherwise most tools should be able to import just fine once I get all these other features implemented and can dig up a spec sheet on the ".tool" file format.
Oh I already found a bunch of .tool files, but they are not some kind of easy-to-decipher and/or modify text format, like say a post-processor usually is for some CAM software. They are some kind of special format for which a specification sheet might not have been released to the public yet. You could shoot an email off to Vectric though asking if they have a file format spec for .tool files though.
I emailed them last night, but all I got was a non answer...
"At this time we do not have any information regarding the .tool format.
It is just used to store tool information when exported from our software."
I'm going to try again today with a more specific question.
Interesting. I am curious as to whether or not they are intentionally keeping it a secret, as a proprietary format, like some software companies do with their unique file types. That's hard to believe though with other programs also supporting the format, but there could be a monetary compensation aspect involved there. I could possibly reverse engineer the format if I were seriously determined to but I am inclined to think that the payoff would not justify the effort - especially when there are much more valuable features and functionality I could be hacking away at with my time. I'll do some more rigorous Googling after the v1.34a build goes out and see what I can come up with. I can't be the only developer interested in using an already existing tool definition format, someone might have already done the hard part of deciphering it. There also might just be an official spec explaining the layout of the parameters in the .tool file that is just harder to dig up because 'tool' is a pretty common word in search results.
Great feedback! I was definitely considering an "auto-fill" button or option under CNC/CAM Settings that would just fill new projects with the first 10 cutters found in the library. Alternatively each tool in the library could just have a toggle for auto-adding to new projects, so that you can have a library of tools but only a few regularly-used ones that you want to be included in a new project by default. Glad to hear confirmation that it's worth pursuing :)
What other tool types are you thinking should be added? Be forewarned: PixelCNC won't be able to do any kind of under-cutters just by the nature of it's core algorithms that everything is built upon - and all the stuff that is built out of them them would need a re-write. This was by design from the outset because it enables fast toolpath generation and CNC simulation by simplifying everything down to just a 2D field of height/depth values that conventional (and some custom-engineered) image-processing algorithms operate on.
So if you have any other cutter geometries in mind that I haven't included, or that can't be achieved with the existing tool types, I'd love to hear about them!
Thanks!
