A grooving template is a saved set of groove parameters that is then applied to the order parts so you do not have to type the same numbers again.
What the template stores
A name, the groove width, depth, offset and the color the template is marked with in the list. The groove type in a template is always "open".
The tool is not specified in the template. The tool width is filled in automatically: for edge sides the value comes from the company settings, otherwise the narrowest of the tools allowed for grooving is used. The operator does not choose it; in the form it only acts as the lower bound for the groove width.
How to create one
- In the "Groove" operation form there is a "Create template" button; it asks for the name only. The button is not always shown: the groove must be on a face (the front or back surface of the part), be of the "open" type, and the width, depth and offset must be filled in correctly. If the groove is made on an edge, the button is absent.
- On the separate "Grooving templates" tab the "Create" button opens the form for a new template.
Neither sides nor a material thickness range are specified at creation time — sides are chosen later, when the template is applied.
How to apply one
The part row has a "Grooving template" icon. It opens a window with the four sides of the part (top, bottom, left, right): for each side you pick the template you need and specify which face the groove runs from — the front or the back one. The parameters are taken from the template.
This interface is shown or hidden by the "Grooving template" checkbox in the project header.
How to change or delete a template
Only on the "Grooving templates" tab: it lists the templates with the columns "Drawing", "Name", "Width", "Depth", "Offset from the side" and "Groove color", and the actions column holds the edit and delete icons. A template cannot be changed from the part editor — there you can only apply it.
Where the templates live
Grooving templates are stored inside the order itself, not in a company-wide catalog: they are available in the order they were created in and are not carried over to other orders automatically.
If you just do not want to retype the numbers
For several identical grooves in a row a template is not required: the "Groove" form has a "Do not reset values when adding" checkbox — after you click "Add" the fields stay filled in.