Being as vast and as complex as it is HSMAdvisor Tool Database may seem overwhelming for many users despite all the benefits of using it.

To address this issue I have just added a new category to our HSMAdvisor on-line Help resource called Tool Database & Tool Inventory

Here is a the opening article of that category:

In all there are 5 articles in there already describing many of its functions in detail.
Please check them out if you are not sure what the Tool Database does and how to use it.

And as always: when in doubt - ASK :)

We have just released a pretty important HSMAdvisor v1.217 update!

I strongly encourage everybody to go ahead and install it as it contains some big improvements.

What is new and improved in this update:

• New Tool Database Status Indicator:
  Status Bar Indicator showing whether the Database file is being written, up to date or if write has failed
• A Warning now shows up when HSMAdvisor is closed with DB changes not saved.
• Now you can not close HSMAdvisor until Database file has been written to the disk
• A local backup copy of Shared database is now created on each computer for cases when connection is unavailable.
• Fixed the problem when new Tools and Cuts were not added to the shared database
• Fixed some (./,) locale-related problems.
• Fixed the problem of some settings not being saved.

I would like to explain one new feature here - The Tool Data Base Status indicator:

On the status bar of HSMAdvisor screen you can now see The Tool Data Base Status indicator (later DB Status) icon.

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HSMAdvisor the Hook for MasterCAM x9 has had massive changes since the last update

• Completely redone Operation Import/Export functionality
• Added "Insert Operation" command (Add it to MasterCam toolbar through Customize->Toolbars->HSMADVISOR->select item,select toolbar-> Add..)
• Reworked MC Toolbar Icons
• Better tool Recognition
• Added support for ALL milling (2d, 3d, HST) operations. 
• Fixed a huge number of problems including those with coolant, tool numbers and some unsupported operations.

HSMAdvisor hook for MasterCAM currently supports only MC x9.

Due to large amount of work I have done on x9 hook I decided to not port it to support x8. I simply have no time resources to do so. I only have one life you know!

Later versions of MasterCAM will, however, be fully supported.

Every month we are getting a good amount of feedback and suggestions.

Everything is getting prioritized and eventually implemented. Urgent stuff is getting done fast. And other "nice to haves" are getting pushed down according to their usefulness / difficulty (yes, everyone secretly wishes my program could also edit and create HSM g-code :)).

It is amazing, but almost half of HSMAdvisor's features were originally suggested by our loyal users!

The latest update HSMAdvisor 1.213 addresses some of the feedback I have received last couple of months.

So the New features are:

1. Smart Depth and Width of Cut (DOC/WOC) suggestion (user suggested)
2. Compressing of Shared Tool DataBases
3. Display of Stock status on Tool DataBase tables (user suggested)
4. Various little improvements like new Heli-Coil reference, better DOC/WOC calculation better multitasking, etc. (mostly based on user feedback)

Let's go over the most important ones here:

Read More 

I have just finished uploading the latest update for FSWizard apps to both iOS and Android stores.

Your iOS update should be available in about 3 to 5 days, while it is already available on Google Play.

As always my thanks go to Apple for killing 90% of my day on trying to find and fix stupid xCode quirks.
Thanks, apple guys! I wouldn't know what to do with all of my time if your stuff worked the way it was supposed to!

Here are just some of the changes in the latest version v1.40

• Added new materials
• Fixed Turning MRR/HP Calculation
• Fixed Sticky Lead Angle
• Changed WOC label in Turning mode to DOC

I have just uploaded my first FSWizard CNC MAchinists Speed and Feed Calculator video tutorial.

This is a quick walk through the basic functionality when using milling tools.

Please excuse my tired voice and occasional stuttering. This was my 9th take- every time either my computer crashed or i was interrupted by my kids running around and causing mess.

I am planning to release more videos. So please let me know what other topics i need to cover.

Amid the huge amount of work that has been put lately into development of HSMAdvisor and FSWizard Speed and Feed Calculators, I have completely forgot to mention something important.

Since version 1.37 iOS (as well as Android) version of FSWizard Lite Mobile calculator can be "unlocked" and upgraded to the full PRO version for free!

For that, you need to purchase an eligible License Package from our HSMAdvisor Online Store and follow these steps to enable the PRO features on your Android or iOS device: FSWizard PRO Bundled with HSMAdvisor

Yesterday I uploaded another update to FSWizard:Mobile app.

Apart from the newest materials and coatings that are already present in HSMAdvisor PC calculator, i also added Socket Head and Imperial Flat head screw reference.

You can download the updated app on Google Play appstore

FSWSHCS.PNG FSW82degFHS.PNG

Check it out!

FSWizard is now available not only online and on Android, but on ITunes as well.

For now only the free LITE version will be available.
I wanted to make sure everything is solid enough to roll out the PRO version.

FSWizard PRO, if everything goes smoothly, should be coming in a week or so.

https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=741521897&mt=8

By the way iOs and Android versions are being developed parallel to each-other, so they will be sharing identical functionality.

Iphone view

I have just completed revising HSMAdvisor's material library.

Around 20 different materials have been added.
Some speeds and feeds were adjusted as well.

New library is not yet available in the official release, but you cen get it as a separate file from here

Just scroll to the bottom of the page there and download the file.
Instructions of how to use it are there as well.

Once a new update is ready to be published i will include the new library into the official release.

The list of added materials includes Toolox, Weldox and other pre-hardened steels.

Also graphite was added to hard non-metals.