Feature request: allow more than 200 tools in the tool library (I have 301 unique tools 😮)

[cnckeith]

yes 201 is an invalid tool number.

ultimate has the same max number, but that is a great idea. 2000 tools for ultimate 10x!

Yeah, and 5min time wasted to scroll the tool lib not to find the right tool

Uwe

yep, the customer is always right.

[Sergio]

ha! as soon as i make it 999 someone will ask for 1999

i put it on the to do list for investigation on how this could be done and how it would affect things.

Haha, fair enough! I totally get that no matter where the limit is set, someone will always need more.

But even 999 would be a huge improvement over 200 and make tool management so much easier. Thanks for adding it to the to-do list -- looking forward to seeing what you find!

[Sergio]

I second the increase the tool library request. I use Fusion to manage my tools, I then export the fusion library to HSM Advisor and again to CNC12 so they are all in sync. It's easier to keep everything straight that way. I don't have more than 200 tools (yet) but I do like to allocate 'blocks' of tool #s for similar types of tools with spaces left for future tools. Makes it easier to find them in Fusion. That eats up blocks of numbers quickly though.

That’s exactly how I was thinking about it too! Originally, I wanted to use a four-digit numbering system, where:

- The first two digits represent the tool type (giving me up to 99 tool types -- I wouldn't use any tool lower than 1000 so it always sorts correctly).
- The last two digits represent the specific size/model of that tool.

This structure makes it way easier to manage tools systematically and plan for future expansions, but the current 200-tool limit makes it impossible. Getting to 999 tools would already improve usability a lot though.

Really glad to see others thinking the same way -- hopefully, Centroid sees the value in increasing the limit! Nudge nudge @cnckeith

[Sergio]

Hey @cnckeith, just checking in -- any updates on the tool library limit investigation?

I know this might not be a quick change, but I wanted to see if there’s been any progress or if there’s anything I can do to help move it forward. A higher limit would be a game-changer for those of us managing large tool libraries.

Thanks again for considering it!

[cnckeith]

Hey @cnckeith, just checking in -- any updates on the tool library limit investigation?

I know this might not be a quick change, but I wanted to see if there’s been any progress or if there’s anything I can do to help move it forward. A higher limit would be a game-changer for those of us managing large tool libraries.

Thanks again for considering it!

sorry, no short term plans for this.
the all new tool library redesign and huge feature add is on the to do list for version v5.50.0
more info on that is here.
viewtopic.php?p=93812#p93812

link to proposed tool libr UI mock up pdf
download/file.php?id=30467

[Sergio]

Hey @cnckeith, thanks for the update!

I really appreciate all the work that goes into CNC12, and it’s exciting to hear that the tool library is getting a major redesign in v5.50.0.

One thing I wanted to mention: if there’s any way to expand the tool numbering to 4 digits (0–9999) in the new system, it would be a huge improvement for those of us managing larger tool libraries. With NNNN numbering, I could:

- Use the first two digits for tool type (e.g., drills, chamfers, ball nose, corner radius, etc.).
- Use the last two digits for size variations within that type.

That’s 99 tool types, each with 99 unique variations, which would make tool management a lot more structured and scalable.

I know it’s a big update, and I really appreciate the work going into this. Just wanted to share this as a use case in case it helps shape the new design.

Thanks again for all your efforts!

PS: Do you have a rough estimate release date for v5.50.0? Not looking for anything firm, just wondering if it’s something that might land this year, or if it’s further out.

[cnckeith]

yeah would be great to have the new tool library in 2025.