to TTS, or not to TTS, that is the question......

You don’t have to have an ATC to benefit from the TTS system.

It allows you to work in terms of relative tool offsets. For example, I have a Tormach 1100S3 with no ATC. I have a tool table in Pathpilot LCNC) with the length of each item I use, measured from the base of the tts ring to the tip of the tool.

Then, so long as I always zero Z for the appropriate work offset (G54 for example), using tool 100 which is my Haimer, every other tts tool will follow.

Hopefully that makes sense. If you use standard R8 collets, you will be touching off at every tool change, which could be difficult especially if you mill away your initial Z Set point. That sort of defeats the point of CNC to me.

TLDR; +1 for TTS, it’ll save you a lot of time, they’re great.

I’ve gotten a lot of 10 Chinese clones before for pretty cheap. They’re fine for the work I do, no need to hold tenths.

Here’s a similar kit: www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-M12-R8-ER20-COLLET-...id=711-127632-2357-0

Disclaimer being I have no experience with their R8 adapter, I use Tormach’s. But my Chinese clones look just like those for ER20 holders.

I’d be interested in perusing the list.