RapidChange ATC Documentation

Mach4 - Automatic Tool Change

Move Heights — Modular

Move Heights

The Move Heights section sets the Z heights used for travel in X and Y during a tool change.

On a profile with more than one magazine, these heights apply to every magazine.

Fields

Field Description
Z Clearance The MACHINE COORDINATE Z at which the spindle clears all obstacles. It is common practice to set this to the top of Z travel. By default, every move in X and Y during a tool change is made at this height.
Z Move To Load The height for moving in X and Y from the pocket of an unloaded tool to the pocket of the tool being loaded. Follows Z Clearance while synced.
Z Move To Measure The height for moving in X and Y from the pocket of the loaded tool to the tool setter. Follows Z Clearance while synced.

Z Move To Load and Z Move To Measure may not be higher than Z Clearance.

Synced / Overridden

Each move height has a chip in the section's header:

  • Z Move To Load Synced / Z Move To Load Overridden
  • Z Move To Measure Synced / Z Move To Measure Overridden

While a chip reads Synced, its field cannot be edited and the height is saved as Z Clearance. Click the chip to change it to Overridden and enter your own height. Both chips start as Synced.

Keep both heights synced to Z Clearance until you are comfortable with the tool change and confident that everything is working as expected.