My Best Project...Until Now

An automatic tool changer for my CNC router was on my "I want it" list for over a year. Now it's done, and I love it!
My Best Project...Until Now

Enjoy the video!

Video links
Spoilboard v2: soon
Operator console: soon

Affiliate links for router bits:

[MariusHornberger]

There's also additional content. Thanks to everybody who's already there.

[chrisjinks]

It's the year 2213, Marius has CNCed himself a new body, he has just completed his 3723rd version of the spoil board, definitely his best one yet.

[james_harcombe]

Marius, you are, unequivocally, an inspiration to all of us. I'm old enough to be your dad and if I lived another 3 lifetimes I don't think I could get close to your sheer brilliance in conceptualising, designing and producing. Not only that, you're presenting it all for us in a second language!! Bravo to you sir, and bravo to your parents!!

[StuffMadeHere]

I really enjoyed the “like it’s nothing cam” (also, awesome tool changer!)

[Dgboss]

Amazing project.
Little note from a dev : You didn't need to make the distinction between a big tool and a small tool. You could just always make the big tool move even for small tools. It doesn't matter for a small tool if it makes the big tool move.

[nachtdiertje]

Marius, what a tremendous amount of work and great enginering. I am an engineer myself by proffesion, but seeing you do this, takes my respect. Considering, 2 years ago, you were making shelves and those little "simple" projects and now achieving this, my deep and honest respect and compliments. Only a few will do this and this demands great perseverance. You're really a champ.

[mantynen]

This is the pure art of engineering. It really inspires people to start planning more advanced projects themselves. Keep going, Marius! I am looking forward to what you can do with this machine.

[slickkrickkk]

Wow, you just always raise the bar, the fact you engineered this from scratch is quiet unbelievable, you are a huge talent Marius, great content and great guy, can’t wait for the new apartment over engineering vids 😜

[tonypittsley]

That is absolutely some of the best machining and engineering I've ever seen! I can't believe that Hammer hasn't reached out to you to add that tool changer to their lineup. You've done all the work, they should just pay you a huge amount and employ you full time! Amazing!

[StefanGoersdorf]

Marius du bist ein Genie...
Hoffe du kannst mit dem Wissen auch in deinem Job irgendwann mal gläzen... Bewerbungsmappe brauchst du nicht, die ist ja online. :)

[novisiblemeans]

My father was an engineer and, like you, seemed able to make just about anything with his lathes and drills. I'm no engineer myself, and often have only the vaguest notion of what you are doing, but I am always impressed by your skill and problem solving abilities.

[Mike--K]

In my experience, projects like this are developed and tested by a team. The fact that you are the team is very impressive! Well done!!!!

[fuppading]

I’m not even halfway through the vid yet, but I simply have to compliment you for the genius work with how you have clipped all the video material and named the cams so far. Love the subtle hints and humor and the quality of not just your work on the project but also documenting it, is amazing!

[stuffandthings]

I can't imagine how much it must have cost to buy all those specialist cameras.

[Sylwester]

All I can say is that the video is 36 minute, 29 second and I enjoyed every second of it...
The project itself is a big challenge and you made it seem soo easy.. You are very talented and professional. BRAVO ( welldone )

[andrewpullen]

I’m sitting here with a huge smile on my face watching this amazing young man do quite extraordinary work. Your skill, ingenuity and presentation skills are a pleasure to behold. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next, though this one will be tough act to follow.

[SavvasPapasavva]

Absolutely brilliant, and always so funny. I'd only warn of maintaining the collets every so often in case they built up with compacted dust, and begin to push the tool out - that was a problem I had at my workplace. Congratulation again on a successful upgrade.

[NickSeee]

First class tool changer, all that amazing work, all that editing and what am I going to praise? That's right, it has to be 'screwdriver cam' - awesome! Thank you Marius :)

[Subsonic-cden]

This is some next level engineering. Watched the whole thing because it was very interesting and well done. One note about your final test however - your before ATC cut was a one sided cut - the bit was not cutting a slot it was cutting on an edge. Your after ATC cut was cutting a deep slot. You actually expect the cut quality to be better in that scenario - the bit is essentially supported on both sides by the material leading to very little possibility of chatter. It's much more load on the spindle, but it should be a great surface finish. I have no doubt that it's much more capable now, but it wasn't an apples to apples comparison. Regardless, amazingly well done!!

[lukemeissner]

I love this, less complicated than the cnc machining centers I run at work. Sometimes they alarm out during the tool change and the swing arm gets stuck, and it can sometimes be time consuming and difficult to fix. I would love to have a home workspace and do all sorts of DIY stuff like this, but alas I have neither the time, money, nor room.