/better-tool-library

A FreeCAD addon and command line tool for managing tool libraries

Primary LanguagePythonMIT LicenseMIT

Better Tool Library (BTL)

Better Tool Library (BTL) is a FreeCAD addon (plugin) that replaces the built-in tool library for the Path workbench. It also provides a standalone tool if you want to use your library outside of FreeCAD.

Warning I advise you make a backup of your tool library. I guarantee for nothing, there may be bugs.

Feature Comparison

Feature Better Tool Library FreeCAD internal library
Modern UI X -
Provides a shape browser X -
Tool search X -
Powerful Feeds & Speeds calculator X -
Tool dimension sketch for built-in tools X -
Can be used standalone outside of FreeCAD X -
Provides built-in common shapes X -
Store tool notes and additional info X -
Auto-generates tool icons X -
Can be used with no document open X -
Provides CLI tool for import/export X -
Read BTL files X X
Write BTL files X Deletes BTL extra data!
Import from Camotics X -
Export to Camotics X X
Export to LinuxCNC X X

Screenshots

Library Editor Shape Browser Tool Editor Feeds & Speeds

Installation

Prerequisites

Better Tool Library (BTL) is compatible with FreeCAD 0.19 and 0.21.

Installation via the FreeCAD addon manager

  • Open FreeCAD
  • Open the Addon Manager via Tools -> Addon manager
  • Search for Better Tool Library
  • Click it
  • Click Install

To run it, just open the Path workbench and there should be a new icon at the end of the toolbar:

Toolbar

Installation in standalone mode

To use via standalone, you will have to install BTL via setuptools.

pip install btl

Alternative installation for the development version:

git clone https://github.com/knipknap/better-tool-library.git

To run the UI, you need to point qbtl to your FreeCAD directories:

export PYTHONPATH=/usr/share/freecad/Ext/:/usr/lib/freecad/lib/
qbtl path/to/your/toollibrary/

CLI tool

Better Tool Library also comes with a CLI tool. After installation via setuptools (see above), you can use it as shown below.

Show the command line syntax

btl --help
btl -f camotics create --help

Print the whole library

btl fctooldir/ show all

(default for -f is freecad, so it can be omitted in that case)

Adding a tool to an existing library

btl fctooldir/ create tool endmill

Converting from FreeCAD to Camotics tool table

btl fctooldir/ export -f camotics camoticstooldir/

Converting from FreeCAD to LinuxCNC tool table

btl fctooldir/ export -f linuxcnc linuxcnc.tbl

Converting from Camotics to FreeCAD tool table

btl -f camotics camtest/ export -f freecad fctooldir/

Links