Better Tool Library (BTL) is a FreeCAD addon (plugin) that replaces the built-in tool library for the Path workbench. It also provides a standalone tool if you want to use your library outside of FreeCAD.
Warning I advise you make a backup of your tool library. I guarantee for nothing, there may be bugs.
| Feature | Better Tool Library | FreeCAD internal library |
|---|---|---|
| Modern UI |  |
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| Provides a shape browser | |
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| Tool search | |
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| Powerful Feeds & Speeds calculator | |
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| Tool dimension sketch for built-in tools | |
|
| Can be used standalone outside of FreeCAD | |
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| Provides built-in common shapes | |
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| Store tool notes and additional info | |
|
| Auto-generates tool icons | |
|
| Can be used with no document open | |
|
| Provides CLI tool for import/export | |
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| Read BTL files | |
|
| Write BTL files | |
Deletes BTL extra data! |
| Import from Camotics | |
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| Export to Camotics | |
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| Export to LinuxCNC | |
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Better Tool Library (BTL) is compatible with FreeCAD 0.19 and 0.21.
- Open FreeCAD
- Open the Addon Manager via Tools -> Addon manager
- Search for Better Tool Library
- Click it
- Click Install
To run it, just open the Path workbench and there should be a new icon at the end of the toolbar:
To use via standalone, you will have to install BTL via setuptools.
pip install btl
Alternative installation for the development version:
git clone https://github.com/knipknap/better-tool-library.git
To run the UI, you need to point qbtl to your FreeCAD directories:
export PYTHONPATH=/usr/share/freecad/Ext/:/usr/lib/freecad/lib/
qbtl path/to/your/toollibrary/
Better Tool Library also comes with a CLI tool. After installation via setuptools (see above), you can use it as shown below.
btl --help
btl -f camotics create --help
btl fctooldir/ show all
(default for -f is freecad, so it can be omitted in that case)
btl fctooldir/ create tool endmill
btl fctooldir/ export -f camotics camoticstooldir/
btl fctooldir/ export -f linuxcnc linuxcnc.tbl
btl -f camotics camtest/ export -f freecad fctooldir/