Overview of multitool assemblies

Multitools are tool assemblies that have more than one cutter.

Multitools save costs by reducing the need for extra tool components, and save setup time between operations that use different cutters. Using Resource Manager, you can create multitools in a way similar to the methods for creating other tools. Resource Manager displays the multiple cutters in one assembly. Each cutter is assigned its own tool type and is able to have its own attribute propagation start point (PSP) in the resource bill of materials (BOM) structure.

You can also search specifically for multitools in NX CAM and retrieve them from the Manufacturing Resource Library (MRL). The required tool parameters are passed from Resource Browser to each cutter in the multitool assembly. The multitool is then used to create and simulate the tool path.

Multitool classification

Multitools are stored in the existing tool assembly classes. In support of multitools, the following multitool attributes are available in the assembly classes:

• Multitool [MT]—Identifies a multitool

• Cutter ID [CID]—Unique cutter identifier used for multitools

• Cutter Name [CNA]—Description for a cutter typically used in a multitool

• Index Notch [INN]—Rotation angle around tool axis to position tool cutter

• Turret Rotation [TUR]—Incremental turret rotation angle to position tool cutter

Note

The attributes Multitool [MT] and Cutter ID [CID] are set to read-only. Resource Manager automatically updates these attributes.

How Resource Manager handles cutter IDs for multitools

Resource Manager manages multiple cutters by assigning unique cutter IDs for each cutter in the multitool assembly.

Example

The multitool with the item revision ID nxt_multi_04_00815/B has three cutters assigned, with these ID classification objects (ICOs):

• nxt_multi_04_00815/B#1

• nxt_multi_04_00815/B#2

• nxt_multi_04_00815/B#3

When you create multitools, the system first checks if the existing tool has multitool classification objects attached, and determines the appropriate cutter ID. The default cutter ID is 2, unless more than one cutter is already in the assembly. If more than one cutter is present, the next cutter added is assigned the next available cutter ID number. The assigned cutter ID is stored in the attribute Cutter ID [CID].

ICO assignment for multitools

When you create a multitool assembly, a new ICO is created and attached to the same classified tool item or revision as the original tool assembly.

By default, the new ICO resides in the same class as the original tool assembly. All shared values are copied into the new cutter ICO, while all other fields remain initially empty. One exception is the NX-Tool-Type, which is initialized according to the default value for this class.

Note

The above condition results in tools having multiple classifications defined to attach cutter ICOs. We do not recommend that you use multiple classification with tool assemblies in other scenarios.