Long time Avid owner, built this machine in 2017(?). When I saw the ATC system I said ”Shut up and take my money!!”. Tool changing was always the biggest pain point for me and ended up crimping my design work trying to do everything with one tool. Not to mention broken bits and ruined stock from forgetting to re-measure the Z . . . Did I mention I’m REALLY looking forward to using this?
In case anyone is perusing this forum trying to decide if you should go with AvidCNC, let me share my experience with them. Back in 2016 I was looking to build my second hobby CNC machine. I called a company named “CNC Router Parts” (Avid’s previous name) and was venting my frustration to the owner with how the manufacturer of each CNC part would blame the other on my previous machine. He said “Keith, if you buy our whole machine you will have ONE phone number to call.” I said “Sold”.
Now the reason I bring this up is that during the refit of this 9 year old machine I received some widgets that go between the AV40S and the Z-axis moving plate that did not fit. I sent a picture and email and they replied “We looked up your configuration and your machine is an older design. We’re enginerding you new parts and will send them out next week. There were also a couple other minor spots during the refit where my machine wasn’t “up to date”, but the Avid staff always knew exactly what I had before I knew it.
Anyway, here are some photos of the upgrade. My day job has been impeding my progress but hope to be making chips soon.
