Tools

If your system uses tools, such as a laser or cutting tool, you can use Tools to configure CADFusion to generate code that executes at specified times when you move over a shape. You can supply your own AeroScript or AeroBasic code, or let CADFusion select the code to use. You can use more than one tool in your project.

The tools that you use in your project are contained in your Tool Catalog. Use the Catalog Manager to add, edit, and organize your tools. You can share tools with other users and other projects. When you use tools from different projects, version conflicts can occur. Refer to Catalog Item Versions and Resolve Version Conflicts.

Types of Tools

NOTE: At this time, bitmaps are only supported in CADFusion projects that target the A3200 motion control system.

Custom Tools — Use custom tools to supply AeroScript or AeroBasic code that you want to execute.
PSO Tools — PSO tools configure PSO on Aerotech motion control systems. For more information on PSO, refer to Automation1 or A3200 Help.
Bitmap Tools — Bitmaps and bitmap tools configure the A3200 PSO to mark a bitmap image by using a tool that is attached to your system, such as a laser. Refer to Bitmap Tools.

Phases of a Tool

A tool has four phases. The table that follows shows the code that is generated for each phase of each tool type and the specified time in a program when the code executes.

Table: Tool Phases and Code Execution

Tool Phase	Custom Code	PSO Code	Bitmap Code
Initialization	Tool Initialization Code	PSO Initialization Code	Not available
On	Tool On Code	PSO code to enable distance tracking, waveform generation, or set the state of the PSO output	Open .bit file PSO Initialization Code
Off	Tool Off Code	PSO code to disable distance tracking, waveform generation, or reset the state of the PSO output	Close .bit file
Teardown	Tool Teardown Code	Not available	Not available

Using More Than One Tool

When you export your project to AeroScript or AeroBasic, CADFusion moves through the order of execution to see if each shape uses the same tool as the immediately previous shape. Each time that the tool changes, CADFusion makes these changes to your AeroScript or AeroBasic program:

Adds the tool teardown code for the previous tool, if the previous tool is a custom tool.
Adds the tool initialization code for the next tool.

The execution of Tool On and Tool Off code does not change.

Example

If a shape uses the default tool (Tool A) assigned to the root group and the previous shape in the order of execution uses a different tool (Tool B), then the teardown code for Tool B executes and the initialization code for Tool A executes again.

More about Tools

Add Tools

Create new tools to add to your tool catalog, or add tools that exist in the open project.

Assign Tools to Groups and Shapes

After you create and add tools in the Catalog Manager, you can assign a default tool that is inherited and used by all of the shapes in your project. You can also override the default tool and assign different tools to specific groups or shapes.

Bitmap Tools

Bitmaps and bitmap tools configure the A3200 PSO to mark a bitmap image by using a tool that is attached to your system, such as a laser.

Custom Tools

Use custom tools to supply AeroScript or AeroBasic code that you want to execute.

Edit Tools

In the Catalog Manager, you can edit tools that you previously added to your project.

Export Tools

Use the Catalog Manager to export tools from your tool catalog to a catalog file.

How Tools Show in the Project Pane

In the Project pane, the icons adjacent to the tools in the Tools node show if the tool is assigned to a shape and if the tool is in your tool catalog.

Import Tools

Use the Catalog Manager to import tools from CADFusion project files and CADFusion catalog files.

PSO Pulse Settings Examples

You can use the Pulse Settings to configure the PSO pulse generator.

PSO Tools

PSO tools configure PSO on Aerotech motion control systems.

Resolve Version Conflicts

When you import catalog items from a CADFusion project file or a CADFusion catalog file, the file might contain version conflicts.

Tool Catalog

Before you can use tools in your CADFusion project, you must create them in the tool catalog.

Tool Inheritance

By default, all shapes in your project inherit the tool that is assigned to the root group. But, you can assign different tools to groups and shapes.