HSMAdvisor Help Topics > Tool Database & Tool Inventory

An integral part of HSMAdvisor is its powerful Tool and Cut Database.

Tool Database allows you to store your tools in one convenient location, sparing you the time needed to key in your tool type, size, etc.
It is very flexible and, since its inception, has grown both in size and functionality.

With every update, the list of its features keeps growing, and at present, it can (among many other things) do the following:

Store and Edit geometric Tool data, Including automatic creation of tool data from a sample tool entry.
Store/Create/Manage Custom Tool Manufacturer Cutting data using Manufacturer Brand/Series names.
Store and Manage Tool Handling data like Number of Tools in stock, Ordering Vendor Information, Physical location in the shop
Set up Low Tool Stock warning levels and add tools that are low on the stock to a Request List to be ordered.
Create and Export customizable Tool Request Orders for use in purchasing.
Restock received tools into the Tool Database
Attach Cutting Data (Known as just "Cuts") to tools for various cutting scenarios in different materials.
Store complete MasterCAM Tool and ToolPath parameters for easy importing/Exporting of MC operations
Organize Tools into Libraries
Share a single Tool Database between many HSMAdvisor seats in real-time.
Import Tool Databases from Fusion 360 in .hsmlib (HSMWorks) format.

In the following articles, we will describe the main functions of the Tool Database.

Most Tool Database controls are located on the Tool Database tab.

Here is a quick overview of it's main elements:

HSMAdvisor allows users to create their own Speeds and Feeds tables for various Tool-material combinations.

Custom Speeds and Feeds tables (aka Custom SF Tables) are linked to the tool by using the combination of manufacturer's Brand Name, Series Name, and optionally Insert Name (aka. Manufacturer Names)

Whenever the tool's Manufacturer Names match one of the Custom SF Tables, HSMAdvisor tries to fetch the custom Speed and Feed information for the currently selected material. The Custom Speeds and Feeds panel will then display a green "M" icon.

If Custom SF Table contains a definition for a Material Group, all materials withing such Material Group will have the same custom Speeds and Feeds.
Is this case, the Icon will be Yellow/Green - A/M

Here is how the whole process looks like from the creation of the tool to the creation of the Custom SF Tables:

By logging in to HSMAdvisor Cloud on both FSWizard and HSMAdvisor using the same account name, the uploaded Tools will automatically synchronize between the two applications.

Currently, you can only have access to the tools you have created, but we are working on adding "companies" or "shops" where multiple user accounts can work in one shared cloud workspace.

Tool Libraries were created to better organize tools in the Tool Database.

"Tool Library" is simply a group of Tools that share the same "Library Name" tag.
You assign Library Name to a tool when you initially create it.

The main point of having a Tool Database is to streamline access to frequently-used tool sizes and custom cutting data, preserving your manufacturing knowledge for future use by you and perhaps to share it with your co-workers.

Tools have to be added by clicking the "Add Tool" button on the "Tool Data" panel of the "Speeds and Feeds" tab.

Once a tool has been loaded, you will not be able to edit it's Tool geometry or access the "Add Tool" functionality. Please click on the "Edit New" or "Reset" button on the Tool Data panel to unload the current tool.

You can manipulate a large number of tools simultaneously by selecting multiple Tool records in the Tool Database tab.

You can select multiple tools in sequence using your mouse and/or keyboard.

When one or more Tool and/or Cut rows have been selected, you can perform various actions on them by right-clicking on the Tool Table control.

HSMAdvisor's shared drive databases enable multi-user collaboration and data synchronization. When a tool database file is located on a shared drive, multiple instances of HSMAdvisor can read and write to it, allowing concurrent access. Any changes made to the tools within the database are automatically updated across all instances, ensuring data consistency.

Speed And Feed Calculator for Professional CNC Programmers and Machinists

About Tool Database

Tool Database Tab

Database Actions

Tool Ordering

Custom Speeds and Feeds

Cut Cloud - Syncing HSMAdvisor and FSWizard tool libraries

Tool Library Actions

Adding New Tools to the Database

Manipulating Tools and Cuts: Selecting/Copying/Moving/Deleting

HSMAdvisor Shared Drive Databases