Build a tool assembly

Select and connect products from the Tooling Metrics Library to form a complete tool assembly with geometry and connection codes.

Updated October 29, 2026

Prerequisites: The products (holder, adaptor, cutting edge) you need exist in the Library.

Required permission: Library → Tool Assemblies — User or above. Admins can edit any tool assembly; Managers and Users only the tool assemblies they created.

Create the assembly

In the sidebar, click Library → Tool Assemblies.
Click + Create.
The Designation is generated automatically; optionally enter a Name for this assembly (e.g., CAT40 12mm End Mill).
Click Create. The Assembly Builder opens.

The assembly’s classification isn’t picked up front — it’s derived automatically from the components you add in the next step.

Add components

In the Structure panel, click ⊕ Add. The Product List shows every compatible product unfiltered — search or filter by Manufacturer and Operation to find the first component (typically the cutting tool). Click ⊕ on its row to add it.
On that component’s card in the Structure panel, click Add to Machine Side. The Product List now shows only products whose connection code matches the open connection — add the next component.
Repeat Add to Machine Side on each new component until the stack reaches the spindle interface (cutting tool → adaptor → holder).

Connection-code matching is automatic: only compatible products appear in the filtered list, so an incompatible combination can’t be added by mistake.

Build the assets

With all components in place, click Build Assets in the bottom toolbar.
This runs inline for up to 28 seconds; if it takes longer, a flash message reports “Assets build is taking too long. Job enqueued.” and the build falls back to a background job — the button disables until it finishes. While it runs, the Bill of Materials and Parameters tabs stay usable.
When the build completes, open Drawing Viewer for the generated 2D drawing, or the 3D model icon in the CAD toolbar for the assembled model.

Assets must be built before the assembly can be exported — see Export the tool library to CAM.

Add cutting data

Click the Cutting Data tab → ⊕ and use the machining calculator to define Vc, fz, ap, and ae for an operation and workpiece material. See Use the machining calculator for the full field reference and formulas.

Release the assembly

When the assembly is ready for production use, click Release in the action bar. Releasing syncs every component product to an inventory Item first, then flips the assembly’s status from Draft to Released — a flash reports how many items were created or updated. Released assemblies can be picked for a project operation or used to build a physical Tool at the WAP kiosk.

The assembly reaches Active on its own the first time a physical Tool built from it is itself released — this isn’t a manual step. See Tool Assemblies Reference for the full status flow.