No, unfortunately, there is no hole down the center.......... thus my statement about major mods to the spindle.......
It uses a QC200 tool holder, so I would have to also remove the Ericson quick change chuck, and then re-bore the tool holder socket to
some standard like ISO 30, professional grind/hardened, and bore the entire spindle quill.......... Just FAR, FAR to many expensive mods
mechanically, that would cost FAR more than the machine is worth (to me at least).
PLCs/ATCs are a NON-ISSUE for me, but I have NO desire to try and make bricks without straw.
The amount of Labor, cost and down time for it would be prohibitive. It would be cheaper to buy a used BP that had an ATC in place and retro it than to redo this one.... again, that is in my opinion.........
I would like to find an Old Interact with ATC, or Mazak, or Haas VF4 or VF6 to retro, or especially an old Okuma Lathe with the five rail slides!
scott