Manage your punch operation by understanding how to change and edit its tool file. This allows you to ensure tool and time accuracy. Learn how to quickly add a punch combo from our resource center if needed.
Let's explore how.
1. Select "Equipment" from the "Production" settings.
2. Highlight your punch equipment and select “Edit”
3. All the information and data tied to your punch equipment, including the tool file is shown. Select "Edit" to open a new window with the tool file. SecturaFAB allows you to make edits without exporting to a CSV.
4. Similar to a CSV editor, you can add and edit tools from this screen. Select "Back" to save any changes.
Our standard tool file has many columns, but not all are required for each tool type. Below you’ll find a glossary of each column name.
Required Punch Tool Columns:
ToolID – Unique code for each tool. Copy another tool’s ID and change a character to ensure uniqueness, or use an online GUID generator
Tool Type – Select from Rect, Form, Special, Square, Countersink, Chamfer, Obround, Drill, Tap
Description – Provide the tool name or description
Units – Either “inch” or “millimeter”
Dim1 – The smaller of the tool’s two dimensions, or the single round tool dimension
Dim2* - The larger of the tool’s two dimensions. *Not required for round tools
Tolerance_Positive – The upper range for cutout dimensions to be single punched using this tool
Tolerance_Negative – The lower range for cutout dimensions to be single punched and not destructed
CycleTime – Time between each punch stroke
TimeUnits – Cycle time units
ToolChangeTime – Time to swap between different tools
ToolChangeTime_Units – “second” or “minute”
Optional Punch Tool Columns:
Comment – An additional space to write any tool-specific notes
MaxScallop – The max “step over” length when punching out a border
Congratulations, you have successfully learned how to manage a punch tool file.