Not sure off the top of my head which bits I use the most (I’m sure it’s less than 10 out of the 60 I have defined), but for those occasional odd bits in case the rack is already full (like dovetail bits?)….
Is it possible to swap out individual tool holders quickly and then tell the system which ones are loaded in which spots? Ie, I’m guessing you would just have a dedicated (not sure of the term) tool mounts for bits? As opposed to having to chuck a bit up in one of the 10 holders?
Kosh,
With my Masso controlled Avid, I have a 12 tool holder where my most used tools are defined as 1 to 12. I then define tools 13 to 24 in the same positions as 1 to 12. As long as I remember to swap out tools as required, tool changes happen smoothly and tool lengths stay defined. I imagine the technique will work with the Avid controller.
Mike
The ATC will swap rack tools back and forth automatically. If you want to use a tool that isn’t in the rack it’s super easy: just give it a number that is higher than your rack. For example if you have a rack with 10 tools then give the “loose” tools a number higher than 10.
When it’s time to switch to a tool higher than 10 the controller will put the rack tool away and then move to a place on the table that you set and ask you to install the tool.
Since we have a smart spindle we can detect when the tool is installed. After it’s installed you tap the smart spindle button one more time and the machine will go measure the tool and you can continue cutting.
The same happens in reverse if you have a non rack tool in the spindle and you’re switching to a rack tool.
Bonus info:
You can also have tool holders that aren’t in the rack. So say for example you want a huge surfacer bit that can’t fit in our vertical tool holders you could mount a fork tool holder somewhere else on the table and that could be considered a rack tool that would be changed automatically. This will require a little DIY work but the functionality is there.
Ok, thanks. Just to clarify now that I’ve figured out better terminology….
Tool Holders can be easily removed or installed in the rack and will be available to purchase individually?
Yup! If you break one we’ll sell you a new one. Pricing is very reasonable on them. We will not be selling forks (at least at launch)
Does Avid’s software support tool numbers not matching pocket numbers?
When I set up my rack back when (er, linuxcnc, so consider this philosophical instead of instructional ;), the terminology was a problem until I figured out what the “industry standards” were for them. Tools had tool numbers. Pockets were the fixed locations where tools could be stored (i.e. in the rack). Tool N doesn’t have to be in Pocket N. On my machine, I have more tools than pockets, and each tool has its own number, and if I swap a tool into the rack I just tell the software which pocket I put it into. In fact, since the probe (tool 99) is always in pocket 1, the tool numbers never match the pocket numbers, which keeps my software honest and makes the distinction more obvious.
So knowing that, it becomes “obvious’“ that if you ask for a tool that isn’t in a known pocket, the machine should just ask you for it. It also means the machine can “know” that a tool goes in the spindle, or is mounted next to it (i.e. my laser, tool 998 - my first experience with X and Y tool offsets).
I’ve seen many videos of the pros doing it, and for each job they set up they load whatever tools they need from their master collection, into the machine wherever the machine wants it, so you might have tools 13, 47, and 154 loaded into a machine along with some leftovers from the previous jobs and/or “common” tools that stay there.
The advantage of consistent numbering of tools is that the CAD software need not know what’s loaded where; you tell it which tools you want and let the machine worry about how to get them. It does get expensive having to buy an ISO30 holder for every router bit, though 
Tool management is an art form 
Technically yes, but this is not going to be exposed to users on launch. This is something that you will have to set on your own.
Centroid actually has a pretty advanced “random access” logic built into the PLC that is available if you want to tackle getting it setup.
Router users typically operate one a Tool Bin = Tool Number. It’s much simpler to setup, understand and troubleshoot.
To help users out we have a “swap tool” utility that will quickly let you swap in other tools into the rack if you want, and as I stated in my earlier post you can easily use tools that aren’t in the rack.
Fusion 360 and Vectric allow renumbering tools very easily should you want to swap a rack tool.
One last question (sorry, I’m not seeing a whole lot info on that website). If there has been a thread on this, please let me know:
”The Auxiliary Control Box (Aux Box for short) is the command center for our Smart ATC System. Powered by a Centroid Ether1616, this box gives your EX Controller expanded I/O far beyond what’s available in a standard setup.”
So I’m guessing this will require the EX controller (not the legacy one that I have)?
This is correct. We’ve been talking about/working on ATC for years. We originally started work on Mach with it, but realized that platform didn’t have the requirements we wanted for ATC.
One thing that was a hard requirement was industrial grade reliability, as changing tools correctly is really important. Centroid gives literal industrial grade controls.
To answer a question you didn’t ask: It took so long for us to ge to ATC because we switched control platforms.
To answer your question directly: You’re going to need to be on EX for ATC to work (at least 1st party ATC from us, there are 3rd party solutions out there for Mach)
Not sure if you’ve priced out an upgrade, but we do a trade in which helps lower the price. Not to sound sales-y, but our folks can get you a no pressure quote if you’re interested.
Thanks. Not sure I could justify the extra upgrade as a hobbyist though.