Choose between manual replacement of end mills on CNC machine tools and investment in expensive automation solutions? Not suitable for [Frank Herrmann], he invented XATC, which is an extremely simple automatic tool changer. [Frank's] A clever hacker achieves the same function as an industrial tool changer, using only cheap standard hardware that you might place around the workshop.

Like many ATCs, this ATC has a tool turntable. The turntable is not electric. Store each milling bit in the center hole of the Gator Grip wrench tool. To change the tool, the fork wrench driven by the RC servo will jam the spindle, just like changing the tool manually. The machine then positions the current drill bit in the empty Gator Grip on the turntable and releases the chuck by performing a circular "magic move" around the turntable. This action uses the carousel as a wrench to unscrew the chuck. The short reverse rotation of the main shaft takes care of the rest. Then it selects another tool from the carousel and executes the whole trick in reverse.

The servo is controlled by the NodeMCU board connected via WiFi, and it accepts commands from its CNC controller via HTTP. The custom tool change sequence is provided by some JavaScript macros that are written for the TinyG workspace on the browser-based G code host chilipeppr.com. Enjoy the video of [Frank Herrmann] explaining his construction!

Thanks to [Arthur Wolf], the creator of Smoothieboard, who is currently working on a similar project and provides tips!

The clever use of alligator grips-also very suitable for this.

Why does he use an alligator clip instead of a normal 17mm sleeve?

When I make cnc, I will definitely study this.

I guess non-critical positioning. You don't have to sense the correct angular position of the nut and have better tolerances in the x/y plane.

Of course, I tried this with a normal socket, but you must know the correct position of the nut to the socket. I found a (ugly) solution with a stopper, check out this video:

"The servo is controlled by the NodeMCU board connected via WiFi, and it accepts commands from his CNC controller via HTTP"

Wow! The highest score for hard work, but if there is no Rube Goldberg communication path, is this definitely possible? ?

But this requires opening a socket or more programming, and there is no ready-made library in which you can paste the code into the template... I believe [Frank] can do this task, but obviously he just doesn’t like "real "Programming" and more interested in hardware, he can do really amazing things. When hacking, remember: "If it looks stupid but effective, then it is not stupid."

I don't think so. In my XDisPlace project, I try to produce a complete PCB (milling, drilling, solder distribution, pick and place, soldering) in one process. This means that I used and controlled many additional components and tools on this machine to make this project possible. Using esp8266 (nodemcu) to control the servo is an experiment of simple communication between the main controller (chilipeppr, which runs in the browser and communicates with the server on the Raspberry Pi through REST). The communication path of the servo is the same:)

I never let the tool fall out of the chuck after loosening a quarter turn...forever. Either dust sticks it well, or thermal expansion. I like this idea, but at least for the DW660 spindle on the router, I doubt it is feasible. What about a large drill bit like a 1-inch 90* Vcarve?

For me, this is the bane of using Dremel drill presses to make through-hole plates. These drills are as fragile as glass, and the drill bit will fall and break within a quarter of a turn.

Do you think the friction between the drill bit and the clamp holding it will be greater than the dust/thermal expansion friction between the chuck and the drill bit you mentioned? This should solve the problem because it is a combination of gravity and z-axis motion of the tool that separates the drill bit from it.

@Mike, please check the video at 08:42, you will see... after the "magic movement" of the back, the spindle rotates for 200 milliseconds, "the short reverse rotation of the spindle will handle the rest...."

This will only work in concert with ER-type chucks, which are seated in the nut before inserting the drill bit and then screwed in the spindle. Many woodworking routers do not use this type. Bosch and Porter-Cable are two of them, but they are more difficult to control the speed in the 200 millisecond unscrewing motion. You need to use a suitable spindle with VFD control to perform the tool changer tp work as expected.

"No need to say more, take my money!" Very good idea, those ATC pneumatic spindles are not cheap. There is a lack of complete mechanical solutions out of the box on the market.

very good! Good job, sir! When I finish my CNC build, I will definitely check it.

"Choose between manually replacing end mills on a CNC machine tool and investing in expensive automation solutions?"

How expensive is ATC when you already have CNC? You can buy rubber chuck holder handles and park several chuck holders at the end of the table. Add a little G code subroutine and "look".

Also, unless you like dull knives, it is a very bad idea to stuff sharp tools into those Gator Grips.

This is the perfect entrance to the "Cr@pA-Day" website. Then apply a layer of tape and particleboard waste brigade. I don't respect anyone who has CNC but makes such rubbish... and I am willing to show off in the video. Process one with HDPE and aluminum and add stepper motor control? Cool, show it off.

You know, you are better. It's a pity that you are an unbearably picky thing about them.

Unbelievable, you don't know anything about torque? The cost of CNC 3040 is about US$700, and the cost of ATC spindle is US$3000... But I understand, you are a troll :)

Ignore the trolls and continue to do a good job. The conversation is cheap, and I can assure you that no hater has made their own sweet WiFi controlled ATC.

Someone should make a daily website to display all your cool comments. But I think you will complain about the layout.

Wow, nospam, you have a very big misunderstanding about the cost of the automatic tool changer. Frank’s design is excellent, and I think it sets the direction for many tool changers in the maker community.

I have not been misled. If you buy a ready-made closed 20-knife rotary ATC with an automatic measurement system and you must add a pneumatic spindle lock, then the ATC may be very expensive.

Take a look at the photo below to see what I am talking about: http://www.technocnc.com/CNC-Routers/HDS-CNC-Router-Tooling.jpg

The cost of these rack clamps is almost zero, just the space on your CNC workbench. Yes, I have used them on multiple machines before and they work well. Not as good as the closed rotary type, but they do work. Again, if you buy a fixed chuck spindle cheaply, you can start. Have you ever made an automatic tool length measuring instrument?

Yes, I am very strict. I still don't understand why a person who spends money on a CNC table cannot spend time milling parts with aluminum instead of fiberboard. I can almost forgive him if he said that this was just a proof of concept prototype before cutting parts with aluminum.

Projects like this remind me of people who use tape and cable ties for car repairs. I just have no impression of the final product.

Of course, this is just a prototype. @hackaday Everything here is a prototype. Yes, if my CNC can handle aluminum, I would be happy to mill it. However, you prefer this way: https://discuss.inventables.com/t/auto-tool-changer-works-great/22518 ... The problem, you must invest 700 USD ~ 8x 30 USD for the fixed chuck . This is great, but my solution costs about $100. This is just an idea how we can change tools on a small desktop CNC.

You only see the used materials, but you can't see the idea behind this... Your way is okay, but this is not the only way to shine gold :)

By the way, it is easy to add such a plastic tip inside the handle: http://www.repona.fr/fichiers_site/a2432hor/produits/bouchon_sterile_seringue_individuel_jaune.jpg to protect your sharp tools from friction and contact with the metal part of the grip .

Frank made custom 3D printed tool holders for each end mill size he used. Those slip into the middle of the alligator clip.

Very suitable for light milling. But some of the ER chucks have considerable torque specifications. We have developed something similar that can handle up to ER-20 chucks and tighten them to specifications. You can check it on our website!

Check it out here: https://plus.google.com/ FrankHerrmann1967/posts/bYGRKJ7MLJo

Thank you for shouting to Herman! Hope to see more of your works soon :)

The rotational movement of tightening the collet nut using the shaft is inspired. I don't care about the rest of the implementation, just take this idea out to make this article worthy of publication. A solid end mill holder suitable for the largest chuck can add tools of consistent length for this purpose, although there is a good space in the middle of the turntable to add a tool length probe as a more flexible alternative.

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