Understanding Machine Tokens

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 are non-associative and others that are associative. All machine tokens included with a part, whether associative or non-associative, will have a machine operation followed by a face, corner, or edge designation. An example of a machine operation applied to a face would be DADO3. This token will apply an associative dado operation on face 3 of the part. An example of a machine operation applied to a corner would be CORNERNOTCH5 1. In this case, the token will perform a notch on face 5 at the corner point 1. An example of token applied to an edge of a part would be MITER 1 2. In this case, the machine token will be applied on the edge of the part between points 1 and 2 – the points in this machine token must be listed from smallest to largest. For faces of parts and origins of machining, refer back to Understanding Machine Points.

  1. Non-Associative Machine Tokens – Non-associative machine tokens are used to perform routing, sawing, or drilling operations on a single face of a part.
  2. Associative Machine Tokens – Associative machine tokens are used to perform routing, sawing, or drilling operations on the part that contains the machine token and a part that touches or is penetrated by the part. For example, a dado machine token is associative. The dado is applied to an edge face, and the associative machining for the dado is applied to the part that is being penetrated. In the case of a construction hole token (dowel and/or screw), the token is applied to an edge face, and the associative machining is applied to the part that is being touched.

The image below shows both non-associative (green) and associative (red) machining.


When right-clicking in machine token list, the following menu will appear:


  1. Show All Tokens – Toggles the visibility of inactive machine tokens. By default, the inactive tokens are hidden.
  2. Show Activity Tokens – Toggles the visibility of activity tokens.
  3. Add – Adds a new machine token to the end of the list.
  4. Copy – Copies the selected machine token and pastes it at the end of the list.
  5. Delete – Deletes the select machine token.
  6. Copy Token to Clipboard – Copies the selected machine token to the MV clipboard.
  7. Paste Token from Clipboard – Pastes over the selected machine token with a token from the clipboard.
  8. Insert Token from Clipboard – Inserts a machine token from the clipboard above the selected token.
  9. Add Token from Clipboard – Adds a token from the clipboard to the end of the list.
  10. Select Edge – Allows you to select an edge from a menu (1-4).

When adding a new machine token, the following menu will appear and will allow you to select a standard token or a user-defined token, and the face in which the token will be located.


Standard Tokens are setup using default values in the parameters – the parameter values can be modified once added to a part. User-Defined Tokens can be set up before being added to a part and will be stored for future use. Machine tokens that have been copied to the clipboard are also stored for future use.

After adding a machine token, you will be required to populate the required parameters with a value or formula.

Remember : Machine token origins are based on the machine point.

User Defined Tokens

In the Add New Token window, you will notice two tabs below the list of machine tokens. The Standard Tokens tab contains the default machining tokens in Toolbox. Selecting the User Defined Tokens tab will allow you to create machining tokens based on the standard tokens. 

With the User Defined Tokens tab selected, right-click and select Add New Token menu item to display the User Defined Token screen. From this screen, you can select a token to use as a template. All the parameters for the selected token will be displayed, and you can now give this token a new name and modify the default values for each parameter. Using the formula bar across the bottom of the window, you can create formulas for each parameter. 


The User Defined Token window allows you to create machine tokens with custom parameters. 

  1. Token Template List
  2. Name of New User Defined Token
  3. Parameters for a Machine Token
  4. Formula Bar allows you to modify the default formula for the selected parameter

Once you have modified the token parameters, select the OK button to make it available in the User Defined Token tab. User Defined Tokens are available system-wide, so you will be able to add them to other parts in other projects. 


    • Related Articles

    • Associative Hardware Tutorial

      This document demonstrates how to apply associative hardware to a product designed with Microvellum Toolbox. The tutorial will add the following hardware to the doors of a 2-door base cabinet: • Hinges • Double Touch Latch • Lock • Elbow Catch • ...
    • 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 ...
    • 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 ...
    • EDGEARRAY Machine Token

      EDGEARRAY Machine Token Microvellum uses machine tokens to identify the type and frequency of machining operations necessary to construct your products. This article explains the Associative Edge Machining Array (EDGEARRAY) token.  Description There ...
    • CAMLOCK Machine Token

      Microvellum uses machine tokens to identify the type and frequency of machining operations necessary to construct your products.  One of these is the associative CAMLOCK token we use for creating the machining necessary to assemble your products with ...
    • Recent Articles

    • Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 24.0322

      Additions Added the Master Angled Ends Cabinet. Added a Global prompt, "Hinge Plate Offset From Front" for easier control. Added “Double Division” option to Horizontal Designer Cabinets, 3 Door Cabinets, and other similar products. Added a new ...
    • Common Floating License Connectivity Issues

      This document lists common issues reported by users regarding the topic of Microvellum’s Floating License Activation (FLA) and the connectivity required for FLA to function. Firewall Blocking Activation of Floating License Some users have had an ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0318.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0318.641 Shadowline Fix Figure 1: Shadowline shaping issue (left) and fixed (right). There were reports of users experiencing issues with products having incorrectly shaped shadow lines when the ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0312.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0312.641 Processing Station IDs Processing stations will have IDs added to them as an option within the Toolbox UI, to better distinguish between different processing stations. Perfect Graining ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.0306.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.0306.641 Destroy Offal Fix Figure 1: Destroy Offal arc part issue. There was an issue reported by users utilizing nesting with the “Destroy Offal” setting applied during processing. ...