Just finished a second iteration of my ATC rack. Turned out great. Thought I’d share to help inspire others!
Strap yourself in because there’s a lot going on here!
This one is made from thick aluminum plates and HDPE plastic.
I scrutinized the distance between forks to jam as many tools in as little space as possible.
I prefer the tool forks over the cups, as they accommodate larger diameter tools. A cutout in the table allows using long tools.
I’ve worked with industrial routers for years, and let me tell you… the number one cause of “big issues” on the machine is tool mix-ups! I have learned that taking extra steps to avoid putting a tool in the wrong slot is very important.
On my ATC I clearly label the tool number and slot number. The black tool labels fit into pockets with magnets. When a tool is removed, the identifier tag stays with the tool. I don’t number any of my tools 1-20, to help reduce the risk of mixing the tool number up with the slot number.
The racks have a 3-bolt tripod of bolts that allow the height and orientation of the tools to be fine-tuned. I noticed the spindle can be a little fussy if the tool holders aren’t pointed dead straight.
Getting them dead-straight was easy with a rod and a level.
The ATC rack is made from 5 modular sections that can be removed to run longer material through the machine. They re-installed with alignment pins so there’s no need to fuss with the pick and place position.
There is a “chip-dump” under slots 1-12. This allows longer tools, but also collects and redirects chips into a garbage can below.
The first iteration of ATC rack worked well but the design has some flat surfaces that would collect and “dam” chips from being blown off the table. Also the forks are installed up-side down, exposing the molding ribs that would collect lots of chips.
The new design lifts the ATC rack off the tabletop surface, so chips can be blown under the rack and away from the machine. The “Slot” labels are also lifted for the same reason. The tool forks now have covers to reduce chip building in them.
Now I’m excited to spend more time cutting, and less time swapping tools around.
While I don’t have this item officially for sale on my etsy page, if someone is interested in purchasing the entire system, or parts of the system, feel free to reach out!