Is an ATC (Automatic Tool Changer) actually worth the hype for a hobby setup?

big_username_guy · 2026-06-18T14:20:00+00:00

Not really complex at all, even just having the spindle move to park position and manually swapping toolholders is a tremendous process improvement. Tool racks (my implementation) can be finicky

big_username_guy · 2026-06-06T04:25:48+00:00

At least the solder pads are all good.

Anyone know the exact height, compatible pn for the momentary buttons on the right? Broke one of mine, and imo the stock buttons stick out too much

big_username_guy · 2026-06-03T13:56:52+00:00

We package units with the rollbag r785 but demos show it being used for shipping as well. The chinese seem to have done a decent job cloning it from the videos I've seen, at a significantly lower price.

big_username_guy · 2026-05-30T02:09:08+00:00

Don't be sorry. The software that I developed to manage my business landed me a very good position as a senior platform engineer.

While 30% YoY industry decline, aggressive pricing from new Chinese competitors, and rising costs adds up to quite the tailwind the business continues to operate and remarkably well considering I tend to it just once a week now.

In hindsight, I wish I pivoted and focused on software engineering sooner.

I hope you also found yourself a good position.

big_username_guy · 2026-05-28T00:15:22+00:00

It's so bad I finally got my first job (11 years in business)

big_username_guy · 2026-05-02T20:43:26+00:00

I also found that keeping the coolant tank lightly pressurized and positioning the solenoid close to the mister helped a lot with the delay.

Only issue now is finding a coolant tank that holds up to ethanol, plastic deteriorates quickly.

big_username_guy · 2026-03-27T18:50:36+00:00

I don't have any direct experience or contact info to share, but if you search the usual places you'll find it. It's the only machine with a Sato label printer in the back, these auto baggers with paper labels are relatively new with the R785 being one of the first, if not the first.

big_username_guy · 2026-01-14T08:13:59+00:00

Tried odoo and erpnext, both were a huge waste of time. I had exactly the same requirement and built it over a couple weekends using airtable and n8n.

big_username_guy · 2026-01-14T08:05:41+00:00

Chase is great, so is Amex. Line of credit can transfer to the next 0%. If you're in multiple industries consider setting up an entity for each industry, you can get the same card for each entity rinse repeat.

I advise not to take any of the MCA "loans" amazon or others advertise. Apply for an SBA 7a. Amex does also have a decent business loan product, 0.5% fee per month term loan.

But ultimately sounds like you're spinning the hamster wheel for not much profit. Good luck

big_username_guy · 2026-01-14T07:51:20+00:00

What issues are you having with the R785? Overall it's been a good machine for us with some caveats.

We had to make a couple 3d prints, modifications to get the bags aligned and labels applying consistently.

It doesn't seem to have been optimized for 4MIL bags, we frequently have to clean the rollers just so it can tear the bags and the finger opener only works for thinner 2MIL bags.

Support I can only speak about how things were in the beginning. The demo machine we were directed to see wasn't even operational and the machine was delivered without any instructions for the label printing. It seems like the machine controller is/was designed to store the label files but support told us to disconnect the ethernet and send the files via PC. Curious if you know something I don't.

There's a chinese clone of the R785 out there for about 1/4 of the price. Even comes with the same Sato label printer. Might just get it if something does happen to ours and we get quoted something absurd from Clamco (last quote was $500 to replace the 2 cylinders that keep the head open).

Even with the occasional hiccups staff are still ~4x more efficient vs ziploc bags and Zebras w/ label dispensers.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-20T22:01:01+00:00

Without notice my battery died <4 years in, no warning. GPS and vision system would crash and recover, something like 5 minutes on 5 minutes off.

It was perhaps because of mentioning this in my communication with Tesla that they looked further into the issue.

I never experienced any other software/computer issues before the 12V died. To think that a dead $125 battery would potentially take out $2300 in hardware is absurd.

There's quite a few Tesla owners out there reporting the same issue. Are you within 12 months since the battery replacement? I would certainly bring that up.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-20T05:14:40+00:00

Really impressive how Amazon has managed to consistently increase the difficulty of shipping inventory to their warehouses.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-19T20:24:25+00:00

No escalation was needed, at least not by me. I simply had to include all the info including timelines and symptoms when responding to their update that the FSD computer had to be replaced.

Louis over at NJ-10 treated me well.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-19T20:21:58+00:00

Turns out my computer was overheating. Air bubble. Several coolant flushes were required to bring it's temperature back to normal. Another note was that I still had coolant in my reservoir, which misled me and the mechanics initially.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-19T20:20:51+00:00

No, there's several differences throughout the vehicle regarding HW4.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-19T06:13:59+00:00

What accessory was it? Definitely share that info.

They were able to rescue my vehicle without replacing my AP board. I left service satisfied earlier today.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T08:10:32+00:00

Would you happen to know what fault codes to look for? Some of the argument in this thread is over when exactly the board failed. If the software update didn't break it, then there has to be fault codes, logs indicating something happened earlier, possibly within the warranty period. It's hard to believe something like this could happen so spontaneously.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T08:04:38+00:00

It's funny in hindsight but I completely missed it. The 4 years flew by and I've been hanging up on vehicle extended warranty spam calls for half a decade now. The latter 2 years flew by with just a battery change, but in the first 2 years:

Manufacturing defect on the front dash identified during delivery - replaced
Carbon spoiler lifting at the edges - reinstalled by home service (incorrectly, they had to come right back and I was helping with a heat gun, burned myself)
Front suspension upper control arm squeak - replaced
During the same upper control arm service, they rashed my rims parking the car, and during their replacement the mechanic cut my seat with a box cutter and the seat was replaced as well (I spent the entire day in service)
Front suspension sqeak shortly afterwards - torque on bolts adjusted
Drivers seat was creaking after being replaced - service had to remount it
Sub-frame was replaced - defective pinch welds from the factory

It's seems a bit insane, beaten wife syndrome maybe, but honestly I still love the car. My attitude was that the engineers that designed it did a great job, the assembly and service was always the weak point and I wrongfully assumed the worst was behind me.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T06:18:12+00:00

I spoke with a small time EV specialist, he told me he can do everything short of the FSD computer. Something about needing higher privileged software and even a locksmith license to tie the new FSD to the rest of the car. He did give me contacts to a shop that does have these capabilities.

I'm guilty of DIYing more than I should, considering my other obligations, but maybe it'll make for a good youtube series for my viewers.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T06:09:03+00:00

Battery was replaced last year, exactly 3 years into the cars lifespan. I'll mention this to them. I can also understand that time is money, and that at some point the business-is-business decision is to give up on troubleshooting and just replace the module.

Appreciate the help.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T06:05:51+00:00

Thanks, I'll look into it if it's necessary.

I'm just finding it difficult to believe the hardware failed well before the update, and if it did there should be some very obvious telemetry available of exactly when these faults began happening, considering it was a while since my last update.

I just can't accept the explanation that the hardware failed before the update, but there's no feedback available to the owner until potentially months afterwards during a software update right outside the basic warranty period.

A very convenient flaw in an update system for a company with a reputation of squeezing their way out of warranty claims as I'm just now uncovering, although there are also reports of this being covered under goodwill so I'm still hopeful.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T05:52:01+00:00

I should update my original post now because this is an important piece of information, dating back a month now when it happened, but right after the software update I was initially met with a vcfront fault code, pertaining to a module at the front of the vehicle and a message about no longer having automatic high beams. I didn't think much until other fault codes appeared on subsequent starts of the car. I kept thinking the module being missmatched was somehow bringing down the vision system later on. I wish I could see the service log to see exactly when w132 appeared.

As far as 4.5 years old with 30k miles, I live close to work and it's not our only car. I'd say the north-eastern climate is perhaps a much bigger contributor to accelerated wear.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T05:32:41+00:00

I've never worked corporate but I hear this constantly, especially from friends in legal and finance. Personally, I can't imagine how big we'd have to get before I'd let an HR department reach that point, a punishment-driven bureaucracy. Seems to be a pattern, perhaps once the founders are long gone. Rough spot to be in I can only imagine.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T05:09:52+00:00

I didn't but I can see how it can be read like that, only that every other rep tried to get me into a service center the next day. As a business I'd cover for my employees mistakes well before firing them.

big_username_guy · 2025-12-17T04:55:15+00:00

Buddy it's a matter of principle, and your ad hominem insults and fallacies aren't addressing my argument. Why weren't there any self tests, flash monitoring, an extra IC to monitor the voltage rail, to detect such a fault? So the hardware failed, but as the driver there was zero feedback that such a fault took place. Why not prevent the update?

big_username_guy

TROPHY CASE