Insert Cluster Tool

Inside the Punch tab, navigate to the Insert Cluster Tool icon.

This command is used to insert cluster tooling into the part. Cluster tooling is a part with geometry and tooling, that has been saved earlier using the Export to Cluster Tooling menu item. These tooled-up components can be used as building blocks when creating parts. The cluster can also define a cutting sequence for the tooling within it and it can have other attributes as well (these attributes are defined when the cluster is created).

The Import Cluster Tooling lists all the clusters available and shows a graphical preview of them. If the cluster is not compatible with the currently selected machine, it is indicated with an asterisk mark. (These clusters can also be inserted, but their tooling will be deleted and only the geometry will be inserted). After a cluster is selected, you can then insert it by clicking on the part, or you can also insert it by typing in the position and rotation angle and pressing Enter.

After a cluster is inserted into a part, each entity in the cluster is inserted as a separate entity into the part. These can then be edited, moved, or deleted independently. In other words, after a cluster is inserted, its components are not bound together (unlike a block) and can be edited individually.