RapidChange ATC Documentation

Mach3 - Manual Tool Change

Manual Position

Manual Position

On a manual tool change (MTC) profile, every tool is changed by hand. The Manual Position section sets where the spindle goes for you to change the tool, and the height it travels at.

Profile Section

Fields

Field Description
X Position MACHINE COORDINATE X where you change tools by hand.
Y Position MACHINE COORDINATE Y where you change tools by hand.
Z Clearance MACHINE COORDINATE Z the spindle rises to before it moves in X and Y.

A Z Clearance more than 1,500 mm from zero is flagged as beyond reasonable limits.

The tool change and tool measurement travel in X and Y at Z Clearance. Set it high enough that the longest tool clears your work and clamps.

When you change a tool, the spindle rises to Z Clearance and moves to X Position and Y Position, and a message asks you to unload the current tool and load the new tool. Your controller's own pages give its exact sequence, including how you continue and when the new tool is measured.