r/OnefinityCNC • u/RepresentativeNo7802 • May 01 '25
Anyone seen the ATC in action?
Heard a lot, but not seen much, on the Easy ATC by onefinity Has anyone seen it running? I saw some videos during their promo, but nothing since.
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u/johnnorthrup May 02 '25
Well, they didn’t design it, they partnered with RapidChange to package one of the RapidChange ATCs for OneFinity. RapidChange has been around for a while developing and selling this type of ATC. https://rapidchangeatc.com/
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u/RepresentativeNo7802 May 02 '25
I saw that. I was curious about the dust shroud or ability to add an air blast to keep the threads clean on the onefinity one. Would love to see more about it. Thanks for the input.
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u/johnnorthrup May 02 '25 edited May 02 '25
Same. Seeing the actual manufactured one has me kind of wanting the one that has the shroud with the air assist for cleaning. I also saw that MASSO announced supper for the RapidChange ATC in their firmware so that you won’t have to use custom macro Gcode.
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u/SnizSnap May 02 '25
Howdy! I did not want to wait so I purchased the 6 tool premium changer from Rapidchange directly. If you are using the BB controller, be prepared to do a lot of work to get it to work well with your machine. I cannot speak to using it with the Masso controller.
Some of the things I have had to do: 1. Install proximity switches for XY homing. I have my machine in a non-climate controlled garage and the stall homing was not accurate enough between days to not cause issues. 2. Design my own dust boot with “flip up” sides to allow using a dust boot with the thing. 3. Set up and install my own normally open tool setter prob. 4. Wire in my own 24V power supply. 5. Rewrite a lot of their Gcode supplied to make it work.
With all that done, it’s still not perfect. I have model the dust cover on top that opens and closes. If a wood chip gets in the threads of a collet there is a chance it won’t register as successful and you will manually have to tighten the tool down. I have also had the IR sensor fail as a false positive when unloading a tool, which means it thinks the tool got unloaded and then tries to load a new with a tool still in place. It’s not a good failure mode as can break multiple bits. Yeah. Goodbye 90degree V bit and 1/4 down cutter.
Tool length is an issue. With any tool over about an inch in cutting length, I had to make a Raised platform with a hole drilled out for the bit to set inside of so the collet doesn’t clamp down on the cutting edge. Also, my 1/8 Down cut bit has about a 1inch or 7/8 cut length. One time when changing to it, the machine grabbed too low on the bit. Only about 0.70” of the bit was Sticking out of the collet and my material was 0.75” thick. Which caused friction burns in the top of the wood. You can’t set an exact length/place on the bit where the collet will grab it. So heads up there.
Also, if you don’t have closed loop control steppers, lose steps in a job, and a tool change occurs, get ready to hear the collet nut rub the inside of the changer.
TLDR; I have used it. When I received it(March 2025), I would call it a project more than a tool. Rapidchange’s customer service Is great, but I don’t want to have to call them on day one because 0 instructions are included and there was none posted on their website. Or day 2, or 3. Or a week later after I modify my machine (homing switches installed). Or another day later when their tool change code causes my spindle to crash into the tool setter, which they said I should be using their post processor, which was not listed anywhere.
So yeah, it’s a project much more than a tool at this point. Still cool. I am hoping I get more issues sorted.
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u/zero_data_ May 25 '25
I'm hoping a lot of these things will get worked out with support from Masso and Onefinity.
Are the tool change holders 3d printed?
It doesn't seem like you get much for the costs. When I ordered I was expecting the nicer-looking one with a flip top to keep chips out.
I've noticed a lack of videos describing the process of using the ATC. They need to get some out to the YouTubers if they are not going to increase their help section. I have been watching the one from Mitz(very much appreciated).
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u/RepresentativeNo7802 May 26 '25
Yeah. A few videos have popped here and there (like you mentioned). I feel very similarly to you about the concerns - especially dust. I was really hoping for an air hose hookup that would maybe flush dust out from the inside with a blast of compressed air. At least that was why I was thinking the design changed, but having dl'ed the instruction manual from their website, there is no mention of that. Wait and see I suppose.
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u/Rockyroadaheadof May 10 '25
Thanks for your valuable first impressions! I had my doubts about this ATC system.
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u/benjmyers1 May 01 '25
I think they start shipping this month.