Excuse my little curiosity about this tool, but I tried today on a new fortress to see if those "Ion Cannons" are working or implemented (never saw them being used anywhere, not even gnomes get those). So I spawned them in via hackwish (out of adamantine together with that what I assume is its ammunition, powercells) Couldnt select them for my military. Thought it might be just because they arent really in, so lets see with platemail and breastplates just to be sure...
Cant use those either... heck I cant even use a piece of wood I spawed in... anything I am doing wrong? I just want to test some of the items I found in the raws... I mean... Ion Cannons, laser pistols etc got tilesets when they are on the ground... but I cannot select them for my military... nor can I do with the regular breastplates, crossbows, javalin launchers etc... Anything I have overseen when trying to get them in? Items got a description and all (Crafted by Unknown Artisian, quality etc)