[mioduz]

Yeah, it would suck to break a tool while trying to make sure it wasn't broken.

What do the "big boys" do? I've seen videos where machines automatically check tool length and diameter, but maybe those videos were produced by companies trying to sell tool-setters.

Of course, this would be useful in a non-production environment as well. I generally trust the code that my CAM program spits out, but I am still usually not willing to leave my machine running unattended for long periods. I imagine this unwillingness would be multiplied if I had an ATC. It would be nice to load up an NC file and walk away with the confidence that the machine will stop itself if something catastrophic goes wrong.

A dedicated video camera might be a good companion to this setup.

I know Haas Mini mill has the capability to check tool width and Length before and after each operation.