hey has anyone made a do it yourself cnc machine with an automatic tool changer.
if so how did you do it.

Only one that I ever saw which looked promising for the average home CNCr was the one from http://www.hightechsystemsllc.com/rapid_changer.html

But had it's limits like 10k spindle speeds ect..

Was a video running around of it popping in and out bits. Looked real cool.

One down side would be the tools are held in with a set screw (not the way I'd like to see it)

b.

You might want to look into this one as well, designed for the 3 horse porter cable.

http://www.midwestrapidtool.com/

If it were me... I'd rather spend that kinda money on a VFD spindle and continue manually changing my tools then upgrade a PC like that.....

Not that a PC isn't a good router and all. But seems putting that kinda money toward one just to have tool changing is kinda a waist at least to me.



b.

You might want to look into this one as well, designed for the 3 horse porter cable.

http://www.midwestrapidtool.com/

I’m not getting any pictures on their website :confused:

John

I’m not getting any pictures on their website :confused:

John

Have you switched to FireFox yet? ;) The site worked for me.

Look here: http://www.buildyouridea.com/cnc/atc/atc.html

jgro

Have you switched to FireFox yet? ;) The site worked for me.

Lol no not yet :) I'm on my laptop and get the zone forum index ok on here with iexplorer. But thanks for checking the site for me.

John

Works for me (IE/7). :)

.

I really like the midwest system.

I wish you could get the spindle speed down lower than 10k though.

But all things considered, its still more than the cost of my router!

If it were me... I'd rather spend that kinda money on a VFD spindle and continue manually changing my tools then upgrade a PC like that.....

Not that a PC isn't a good router and all. But seems putting that kinda money toward one just to have tool changing is kinda a waist at least to me.



b.

I agree. I just put it forth as an option for people to look into. I considered the midwest system when the guy behind the product had just set up shop on the internet last year. Back then he was using aluminum tool holders which is one of the reasons I decided not to. But he's now making them out of steel which is a vast improvement. I actually almost went for it cause I thought the system was pretty damn cooool. But in the end I came to my senses and opted for a 5 horse Elte atc/quick change spindle. It was brand new surplus so I got it for a pretty good deal, $3k including vfd. Normally atc spindles are $5k and up. Tool holders and collets ran me about $100 each (www.maritool.com (http://www.maritool.com)). I haven't regretted one spending penny of it, since it is already paying for itself and has improved my speed and product quality unbelievably.

Not sure what the moral of my story is but you will defnitely have to pay up to get an atc system. Consider the cost of aquiring one versus the benefits. In my case it made perfect business sense.

Gil

I just finished mine, A lot of the work was in the spindle bit. The toolchanger is just a collet and air ram. See the bottom of my spindles page at http://www.cncathome.com

Cheers
PK

I just finished mine, A lot of the work was in the spindle bit. The toolchanger is just a collet and air ram. See the bottom of my spindles page at http://www.cncathome.com

Cheers
PK

nice job on the tool changer, but im unclear how you use thr gripper that grabs the pull stud on the back of the toolholder.

like to see more details, of how the tool is held back into place/ (released) and prevented from spining while in the chuck?

The toolholders have a plain 8mm shank. There is an 8mm collet in the spindle.
There is enough clamping force (>100lb) on the drawbar to stop it spinning.
When testing I had a cutter gum up in some aluminium, the 500W spindle actually stalled!

I (and Tormach) use this same system with 20mm collets and toolholders on larger machines at much higher torques.
Oh, and the tools are secured in the toolholders by ER11 collets.
PK