Hardware from Machine Tokens (Overview)

Microvellum software can now accumulate and populate hardware to the work order database based on specific machine tokens. It is one of the useful new Microvellum features supported in build 15.6.2201 or greater.

This new ability works only with the machine tokens HOLES, PLINEFROMHOLES, SLIDE, and CAMLOCK. These token names must be modified to contain the name of the hardware to be added. See  Hardware from Machine Tokens (Reference) in the Microvellum Help Center for more information.

When you configure the token, add a set of curly brackets, including the Hardware names separated by a pipe symbol.  For every hole, a hardware item will be added to the product hardware collection. This results in hardware quantities based on those token parameters.

A good example of these machine tokens is the CAMLOCK token. As you probably know, the CAMLOCK token is associative and requires that there are two adjacent parts in which the existence of one triggers machining on the other. The two parts must be touching but not penetrating. The Camlock token is this kind of token, as the hardware requires machining in both of the parts.

Fig. 1 – Part Properties Showing the CAMLOCK machine token applied to the Left Side

Fig. 2 – Edit Design Data Showing the CAMLOCK machine token applied to the Left & Right Sides

Fig. 3 – Part Properties Showing That No Hardware Exists in the Product Outside of that Specified in the Token

This new ability eliminates the need to use various other methods to determine the hardware quantity for various items in a particular work order. Instead, the program automatically calculates the quantity required and populates them to the Hardware table of the work order database.

If your material file does not contain the hardware items as specified in machine token, the program creates them as the program executes and then adds them to the database. 

Microvellum calculates the total quantity of the individual cam connectors and cam screws based on how many times that machining for the connector and the screw pair occurs in the work order. It is also done similarly with the hardware specified in the other three tokens supported.

Fig. 4 – Work Order Database Showing Hardware Resulting from Camlock Machine Token

Once the data exists in the database, it also available in the Hardware Report and Work Order Summary Report, as shown below.

Fig. 5 – Hardware Report Showing Camlock Hardware

Fig. 6 – Work Order Summary Report Showing Camlock Hardware

You must use a Microvellum library containing the updated machine token data, or you must configure your library data to support this feature. See  Hardware from Machine Tokens (Reference) in the Microvellum Help Center for more information about using these tokens and their parameters. 

Cost-based Estimating must be active for your key in order for that particular feature to work. 

Fig. 7 – An inactive Cost-based Estimating module in the Help/About screen

• Related Articles

• Hardware from Machine Tokens (Reference)

  This document is a reference article explaining how to work with the machine tokens and their parameters to produce hardware items in a work order. It also explains the commands and properties that apply to these tokens. See Hardware from machine ...

• Overview: Adding a New Hardware Item to the Foundation Library

  The purpose of this article is to provide an overview on the process of adding custom hardware items to your Foundation Library. The process is similar for pulls, hinges, catches, locks, latches etc. A more comprehensive tutorial on working with ...

• Hardware Machine Tokens

  The following article highlights Hardware Machine Tokens. These tokens are directly linked with the hardware itself and each token has a unique set of parameters that provide instructions for the parts. While the tokens can be customized in the User ...

• Machine Tokens

  What Is a Machine Token? A machine token is a software feature in Microvellum Toolbox that allows users to add 3D representations of various machining operations to parts of a product. This includes aspects like cutouts, camlocks, dados, routes, and ...

• Understanding Machine Tokens

  Understanding Machine Tokens To view the machining tokens for a part, select the part from the parts list and click on the Machining Tab under the Parts tools. All machining operations are contained in machine tokens. There are machine tokens that ...

• Recent Articles

• Toolbox Release Notes | Build 25.1.1204.641

  The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 25.1.1204.641 Toolbox Login Screen Update Fig. 1: The updated Toolbox Login interface. The Toolbox Login interface has had several changes applied to it to enhance its usability and allow for greater ...

• Toolbox Release Notes | Build 25.1.1120.641

  The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 25.1.1120.641 Mouse Wheel Fix There was a reported issue in certain interfaces (such as report groups) in which hovering over a dropdown menu (such as Output Type) would result in the options within ...

• Dynamic Dimensioning in Toolbox BSB

  When applying dimensions to products and other solids in Toolbox BSB, by default, all dimensions are drawn in 2D on the Y plane, requiring one to switch to a top view (or an appropriately high isometric view) to see them. BricsCAD has a feature that ...

• Toolbox Release Notes | Build 25.1.1107.641

  The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 25.1.1107.641. Subassembly Prompt Fixes A pair of issues were reportedly occurring when attempting to work with subassembly prompts in the Edit Design Data interface. Subassemblies copied to the ...

• Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 25.1024

  The following release notes apply to the Microvellum Foundation Library build 25.1024. Additions Added Face Profile Options to the Door Wizard for enhanced design flexibility. Users can now apply decorative visual profiles to doors, drawer fronts, ...