High Density ATC Rack

[MikeXYZ]

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!

[Wood]

Hi @MikeXYZ I love what you did here, i got the regular cup holders but I wana switch to forks, if possible can you shae what guides or documentation you used to setup ?

[MikeXYZ]

I used the Masso documentation to set the tool load and unload logic. I find the Masso documentation is excellent and easy to work from.

As for the physical parts, I didn’t follow any kind of guide for this. This system is 100% home grown. Aside from the tool forks themselves, it’s all designed in SolidWorks, and made from scratch on the Onefinity. Creating a complete model of the CNC machine, spindle, spoilboard and of course the rack itself was a huge help in making sure clearances were all correct.

If you set out to make a set, I recommend starting with one section in wood/plastic, then (if you desire) re-cutting in aluminum like I did. Once a single set is done, it’s easy to repeat and expand to 20+ tools.

If you prefer to skip all the work, I’m happy to provide a quote for the whole system, or just some of the parts, leaving the rest to you. I run a home business that specializes in custom good just like this. Shoot me a message if your interested in that route!

[Wood]

Thank you for the information, im about to dig into the masso documentation and get my self a bit more familiar with everything. I’ll definitely reach if I feel like I can’t undertake it. Ps - I just realized your the mount extension creator and the cover for rails too….. great work