If your shop still debates tool numbers every time you program a part, you are solving the wrong problem. In this episode of Chips and Tips, Justin and Zap continue their deep dive into tool libraries by breaking down the four-digit Tool ID, or TID, system and why separating tool identity from tool number changes everything. They explain how a TID represents the full rotating assembly, including holder and stick-out, why you should assign sequential IDs without overthinking it, when different setups require new TIDs, and how to start a tool library even if you currently have nothing documented. The conversation tackles common objections like “my shop is too unique to standardize” and shows how that mindset quietly limits throughput, first-part yield, and scalability. Most importantly, they reframe optimization: get the program running, get a good part, then optimize. If you want faster setups, more reliable simulation, and a clearer path from programming to shipped parts, this episode will challenge how you think about your tooling system. From estimate to machining, smarter and faster with Toolpath.