- Joined
- Feb 1, 2015
- Messages
- 9,578
With a CNC mill with reproducible tool offsets, it makes sense to dedicate a tool holder and tool position to a particular tool, used for multiple jobs. You only load the tool in the tool holder and enter the offset once rather than doing it for each job.
It is the same principle as setting up multiple QCTP holders for a lathe. You can get by with the basic set that comes with the lathe but it is much more convenient to have multiples and dedicate a tool holder to a specific tool.
Especially in an industrial setting, where time is money, it doesn't take too long to pay back the cost of a tool holder.
As a hobbyist, we can get by without having a 40 position ATC but the cost is having to rewrite the tool table with each new tool requirement.
I have 26 assorted tool holders for my Tormach and six generic QCTP holders for the lathe and it isn't enough.
It is the same principle as setting up multiple QCTP holders for a lathe. You can get by with the basic set that comes with the lathe but it is much more convenient to have multiples and dedicate a tool holder to a specific tool.
Especially in an industrial setting, where time is money, it doesn't take too long to pay back the cost of a tool holder.
As a hobbyist, we can get by without having a 40 position ATC but the cost is having to rewrite the tool table with each new tool requirement.
I have 26 assorted tool holders for my Tormach and six generic QCTP holders for the lathe and it isn't enough.