2021 Best ATC CNC Routers with Automatic Tool Changer Kits

Are you looking forward to build a CNC automatic tool changer kit or buy affordable ATC CNC routers with automatic tool changer kits for wood, MDF, aluminum, brass, copper, foam, stone, plastic with routing, cutting, carving, milling, drilling, and grooving? Review 2021 top rated ATC CNC router buyer's guide for CNC machinists, fabricators, operators and beginners, we'll offer you the best CNC routers with ATC kits of 2021 at cost price with custom service to fit your CNC plans, projects, and ideas.

What Is Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)?

The full form of ATC is Automatic Tool Changer, which is a device for transferring, loading and unloading of tools between the spindle and the tool magazine. Automatic tool changer kit realizes the needs of continuous machining tool change between the part processes, that is, after each process is completed, the new tool used in the next process is automatically changed to the spindle, the exchange of tools is generally completed by the coordinated action of the manipulator, tool magazine and spindle. Compared with multi spindle CNC routers, ATC only needs one spindle in the headstock, the spindle components have sufficient rigidity to meet the requirements of various precision machining. In addition, the tool magazine can store a large number of tools for multi-step machining of complex parts, which can significantly improve the adaptability and machining efficiency of CNC router machines. The ATC system in the CNC machining center consists of two parts: a tool magazine and an automatic tool change device. It has two major advantages: the first is that only one spindle is reserved, which is beneficial to simplify the structure of the spindle and improve the rigidity of the spindle; the second is that a large number of tools with different types and functions can be stored in the library, which is convenient complete various complex and multi-step processing procedures. Automatic tool changer kit is composed of tool magazine, tool selection system, tool exchange mechanism and other parts, and the structure is more complicated. It is responsible for transferring the tool between the tool magazine and the spindle, pushing the tool to be used to the spindle, and then sending the replaced tool back to the tool magazine inside. Although this tool change method is not as straightforward as the previous one, it avoids the tool magazine and spindle from moving for tool change, and is replaced by an automatic tool changer. In this way, the movement range of the mechanical components is reduced, the tool change is completed faster, and the design layout is also more flexible.

What Is ATC CNC Router?

ATC CNC routers are a type of automatic CNC machine with tool changer for cabinet making, door making, furniture making, crafts making, decorations, musical instruments, sign making, windows, tables, and most popular woodworking projects & plans. The spindles usually carry tool magazines with 6 cutters or 8 cutters or 10 cutters or 12 cutters. The tools can automatically change according to the working requirements when the machine works, no need of manual operation. You will meet three most common types of ATC CNC router kits, which include linear ATC CNC kits, drum ATC CNC kits (rotary ATC CNC kits), and chain ATC CNC kits.

Features & Advantages

The high-power automatic tool-changing spindle is adopted, with good starting performance and large torque, which can give full play to the advantages of the machine's high speed and higher efficiency. It adopts high-torque servo motor made in Japan, which has the advantages of low noise, high speed and high positioning accuracy. Equipped with a unique tool magazine, you can exchange the required router bits at will. The tool change time only takes a few seconds. The standard tool magazine comes with 8 tools, and a larger capacity tool magazine can be customized.

Types of Automatic Tool Changers

Automatic tool changers are mainly divided into three common types: linear type, drum type, and chain type, we will introduce them one by one.

Linear Type Tool Changer

This is a type of in-line automatic tool changer, which used for magazines with 4 to 12 tools. It is featured by fast tool change and easy to use.

Drum Type Tool Changer

This is a type of rotary automatic tool changer, which is also known as CTM type ATC and disc type ATC. It is used for magazines with 8 to 20 tools.

Chain Type Tool Changer

It is mainly used for vertical CNC machines with lower tool changing speed. It is designed for magazines with more than 30 tools.

Applications

ATC CNC router machines can be used in various industries, such as furniture and home improvement, wooden crafts, cabinets, screens, advertising, musical instruments or precision instrument shell processing industries. And the materials that can be processed mainly include various non-metallic materials such as wood, glass, stone, plastic, acrylic, and insulating materials.

Woodworking

Home doors, 3D wave board machining, cabinet doors, solid wood doors, craft wooden doors, paint-free doors, screens, craft window making, shoe polishers, game machine cabinets and panels, computer tables and panel furniture making.

Mold Making

It can make metal molds such as copper, aluminum, iron and more, as well as non-metal molds such as wood, stone, plastic, PVC, and more.

Advertising & Hobbyists

Sign making, logo making, lettering, acrylic cutting, blister molding, and decorations.

Indsutrial Manufacturing

It can make all kinds of shadow sculptures and relief sculptures, which are widely used in the crafts and gifts industries.

Troubleshooting

CNC router with ATC is the most powerful classification of CNC machine tools. Although the machining strength and speed are incomparable to other CNC machines, as a fully automated mechanical equipment, daily inspection and maintenance are also very necessary. A CNC router with tool changer is completely different from the detection and fault diagnosis methods of ordinary CNC machines.

Machine Operation Inspection Method

The machine tool operation inspection method is a method of observing and monitoring the actual operation of the machine tool to determine the position of the malfunction and thus to trace the root cause of the fault. Generally speaking, CNC machine kits adopt hydraulic and pneumatic control parts, such as automatic tool changer, exchange table device, fixture and transmission device, etc., which can be used to determine the cause of the fault through motion diagnosis.

State Analysis Method

The CNC system can not only display fault diagnosis information, but also provide various states of diagnosis in the form of diagnosis address and diagnosis data. For example, when the system returns to the reference point incorrectly, you can check the status value of the relevant parameter to determine the cause of the failure.

CNC Programming Check Method

The CNC programming check method is also called the program function test method. It is a method to confirm the cause of the failure by compiling a special test program segment. You can use the manual programming method to compile a function test program for the system functions (such as linear positioning, circular interpolation, thread cutting, canned cycles, user macro programs, etc.), and run the test program to check The accuracy and reliability of the machine tool to perform these functions, and then determine the cause of the failure. Usually a test program is written with instructions for repairing the machine tool, and the program is run when a fault occurs to determine what the fault is.

Instrument Inspection Method

Instrument inspection method refers to the use of conventional electrical instruments to measure the voltage of each group of AC and DC power supplies, phase DC and pulse signals, etc., to find faults.

Numerical Control System Self-Diagnosis Method

The self-diagnosis of the numerical control system is a diagnostic method that uses the internal self-diagnosis program or special diagnostic software of the system to self-diagnose and test the key hardware inside the system and the control software of the system. It mainly includes power-on self-diagnosis, online monitoring and offline testing. The CNC machine tool uses the system's self-diagnosis function, which can easily display the interface signal status between the system and each part, and find out the general location of the fault. It is the most commonly used method in the fault diagnosis process.