Hi jugster,
I bought one of the water cooled atc from Asia. I say Asia because the parts for it was made in Japan and assembled in China, shipped to California then on to me! It used ER20 or 25 collets and uses a pull stud collet holder.
I am considering going to a 6 axis robot. I have a Bobcat T250 skid steer track machine that if I can sell, I will consider the jump. Not so much for the stock part of my business, but I also carve foam for sports car bodies to use for the buck to make molds from.
I shut my stock business down 4 yrs ago to take care of my dying wife who had breast cancer. Lost her about 18 months ago and am just now beginning to start the rebuilding of the business. My intent was to rebuild the rifle stock portion first, and sell it for a little then repeat with my pistol grip line, and after that concentrate on my foam. The foam took off so fast I can't spend enough time on my stock portion.
Mike