Not every cutter maker offers a Fusion 360 library, and many shops track their cutters in Excel. This page reads such a list and builds a Fusion 360 tool library you can import, instead of creating each tool in Fusion's dialog.
How to turn a tool list into a Fusion 360 library
- Save the list as
.xlsx,.xls,.ods,.csvor.tsvand upload it. Several files are merged into one library. - Check the preview table. If the sizes are clearly in the wrong unit, open More options, set Units of the input file and convert again.
- Download the
.toolsfile; Convert to also offers Fusion's.jsonform. - In Fusion's Tool Library, right-click Local, choose Import libraries and select the file.
Which columns are recognised
The header row may sit below a title or logo, within the first 40 rows. Headers are matched by name in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, for example:
| Column | Header examples |
|---|---|
| Diameter (required) | Diameter, Dia, OD, D1, Ø |
| Flute length | LOC, Length of cut, LCF |
| Shank / overall length | Shank, SHK, D2 / OAL, Overall length |
| Flutes / type | Flutes, # of flutes, Z / Type, Tool type |
| Part number | EDP, Part number, SKU |
| Cutting data | RPM, Feed, Plunge, Stepdown, Stepover, Chip load |
Taper-mill tables with only a shank and a tip diameter work too.
Units and catalogue layouts
Units come from headers such as Dia (mm) or cells such as 1/4", 6 mm or 1-1/2. When
nothing says, a unit is assumed and you get a warning.
Catalogues often have one row per size and part numbers in variant columns like 2 Flute or
3 Flute - Uncoated. Each filled cell becomes a tool, with flute count and coating from the
header. Without a type column, the type is guessed from names and the file or
sheet name: a file called Ball Taper Mills.csv gives tapered ball mills. The notes say when a
guess was made; if one is wrong, add a Type column.
In a workbook, only the first sheet containing a tool list is read.
Cutting data and lengths
Feeds and speeds become Fusion presets. Consecutive rows for the same tool (same number, name and diameter), say one per material, become one tool with several presets. Check vendor values before cutting. Fusion needs consistent lengths, so missing flute or overall lengths get defaults, named in the notes. PDF catalogues can't be read.
More about what this tool reads and writes: CNC Tool Library Converter.