Hello Remi,
I initially had been using the Top Tool that came with my TopSolid install but recently when I told my VAR I had problems he gave me Top Tool Inches. This newer version is definitely improved in some ways. It is nice to have more tools and holders (links) available. I also like the new workpiece materials which are much more familiar to me than the old version...
The problems I am having could be my own fault but I don't know.
1. I can't find any help file or documentation for Top Tool so it is difficult to try to figure out what I am supposed to do.
2. After installing this new version of Top Tool, I created a new machine with a link type "CAT50" which I can only assume is a valid choice. This new machine won't import a holder (link) with a 50 taper. All I get is 40 taper holders. I suppose I could just ignore it and continue but that takes away some of the simulation benefits.
3. When defining sizes of anything in TopTool, I find I must type "in" after every value or TopSolid thinks that ".5" equals .5mm....... To get correct results I must remember to type ".5in"
4. This may belong in "enhancement request" but it's related so I will include it here. I often use counter-bores as shown below. I would like to be able to select a counter-bore like this in Top Tool, define the length of the "pilot diameter", and have TopSolid automatically manage the retract for me. In the machine we would set the "Z" from the tip of the actual "counterbore dia". I thought I saw some kind of counter-bore with a "pilot" in the old Top Tool but cannot find it now so I just use flat bottom drill. It works but it is not ideal.
5. I keep seeing symbols I don't understand in the link section of many areas of Top Tool. Click picture for better view...
6. There should be a way to update an old "machine" or "template" to fully take advantage of Top Tool. Maybe it's just my inexperience but my old machine files could import the new tools but would not calculate sensible speed / feed parameters. Every tool came in 9999 RPM. This was solved by creating a new machine after installing Top Tool Inch.
7. The Top Tool windows should be re-sizable so if we have lots of columns we could drag the window larger and view more columns at once.
8. This marker does not perform correctly. It moves back to the center position whether we are at the top or the bottom of the list...
9. When working in this dialog, I can't tell what type of holder (link) I am looking at without looking up a code in a Kennametal catalog. I would like to see a display like "Mill-cat50" with each tool. This would make it a lot easier to get the tool I am looking for. 3 pictures to show all of the columns in this window...
10. If I start Top Tool and select CUTTING CONDITIONS >> FEEDRATE, I get everything under that menu in French language.
11. If I start Top Tool and select DESCRIPTION >> CATALOGS >> WORKSHOP COMPONENTS, choose Database for Missler, OK...
That spawns a new window and if I then select CATALOG >> ALL TYPES, I end up in a third window. If I try to use "filters" from this window, I end up in a situation which I can't cancel out of and I have to CTRL-ALT-DEL (shut down TopSolid) to get out.
12. In the "Database for Missler" (DESCRIPTION >> CATALOGS >> WORKSHOP COMPONENTS, choose Database for Missler, OK) they have the #6 center drill as 5/8 dia. It should be 1/2. I would like to be able to re-name this tool to the correct name (#7) but it seems I am not allowed to.
13. What is "Top Draw" ? I find that if I select a tool and click "modify" then switch to the "general" tab, There is a Top Draw button which errors out when selected.
14. If I start TopTool and select CONFIGURATION >> DICTIONARY, There is a choice of "Default units" (none, metric, or imperial) and it is stuck on none. I cannot change it. Perhaps this could solve my issue #3 ?
15. In this picture, if I click a dropdown in the "test" column, as soon as I move my cursor into the small dropdown window, all of the choices disappear. It is difficult to make the correct choice.
I hope this post is not offensive to anybody. I am not trying to start trouble. I would just like to get TopSolid Cam to the point where I can use it with confidence.