Hi everybody,
I am thinking of building an automatic tool changer for my Sieg mini-mill. I read the thread about the Hoss ATC, seems sweet. But I do not like the massive bulk of the piston, levers, etc. on top of the mill head, plus requiring a compressor.
I was thinking, why not use ER collets ? Each tool in its collet and nut, and the tool changer just needs a mechanism to engage the nut and unscrew it. A set ring could be used on each mill to set the depth in the collet. On ER 25 the torque spec is 77ft/lb, which is not that huge. Using ball bearing ER nut would also help. So the changer would take the mill, collet, nut together, and exchange for a new set on each tool change. ER collet and nuts are cheaper than separate tool holder like the tormach ones.
Has anybody thought or tried this ? Any comments ? Would it work ? Do you see any problems with this scheme ?