Change tool numbers on multiple Mastercam files

[Programinator]

So i have like 30 mastercam files that pretty much use the same tools but its not like they all have identical tooling.  All the files are all programmed and have been run before.  Its just same material type so they would share a lot of the same tooling.  what i ultimately want to do is have 1 tool list that works for all the jobs so i dont have to keep changing out tools and resetting.  just load all the tools in machine and they will work for all the 30 jobs.

So my question is whats the best/fastest way to go about doing this. Remember they are already programmed.  I need to go into each file and change the tool numbers so they all share same tools.

Thanks

[JParis]

Really not any easy way to go about it...

You'll need a tool list and number for each....only then can you start shifting things around...I've done something similar and it took a bit...no way I really ever found around doing the work.

I'll be curious if anyone has an easier way

[JakeL]

So my question is whats the best/fastest way to go about doing this. Remember they are already programmed.  I need to go into each file and change the tool numbers so they all share same tools.

This is how I've done similar in the past. Tho I've only ever done this for a handful of files.

Save the tools out of file#1 into a TOOLDB. Save tools out of file#2 into the same TOOLDB. When it gives you a "similar tool warning" select "no". After saving all 30 files to the same TOOLDB, you should have a list of all the unique tools.

Then go back thru the files. One by one delete a tool that doesn't match the tool number in the TOOLDB and import the correctly numbered tool from the TOOLDB. Use "edit selected operations" to apply the newly imported tool to the dirtied operations and regen.

Still a lot of work but I think it's easier than renumbering each tool individually.

[Jeff]

How many tools?
You could create a new tool library, save all of those tools to that library and renumber them, then in those 30 files select that tool library and tools.

Or if it's just those 30 files that need fixing, you just need to go into each file and renumber.
Unfortunately there isn't a quick way unless you're a whiz at programming scripts or maybe even a chook to automate it for you. But I know nothing about that it might not even be possible to do it that way.

[__]

How many tools?
You could create a new tool library, save all of those tools to that library and renumber them, then in those 30 files select that tool library and tools.

Or if it's just those 30 files that need fixing, you just need to go into each file and renumber.
Unfortunately there isn't a quick way unless you're a whiz at programming scripts or maybe even a chook to automate it for you. But I know nothing about that it might not even be possible to do it that way.

Yeah that would be be the way to go,
Could even be done in a script, the whole tool api is exposed to in netscripting (c#)

We finished an order for a customer to do exactly this just this week

[MIL-TFP-41]

Save the tools out of file#1 into a TOOLDB. Save tools out of file#2 into the same TOOLDB. When it gives you a "similar tool warning" select "no". After saving all 30 files to the same TOOLDB, you should have a list of all the unique tools.

Random rant. I hate the similar tool warning. Say you have a 1/2" 4 flute for roughing, and you have a 1/2" 5 flute for finishing. You wind up getting the similar tool warning. Or else a 1/8" short pilot drill, and a 1/8" deep hole drill. You wind up with the warning again.

That being said, what I have done in the past was to export all the tool lists into an Excel file, then organize, then create a new TOOLDB file. I imagine an Excel guru could automate the organization part of it. 

[Programinator]

Thanks for the ideas.  Good Suggestions.