Auto tool changers

Hello list,

I downloaded two small videos of a Sirrus machining centre. Apart from
the truely terrifying speed the table moves at I noticed it made some
serious noise when it changed tools. I suspected it to be an air powered
tool changer. It may or may not be but why do so many new machines use air
powered tool changers and spindles? I remember one guy on here who owns a
?Haas? machining centre, is it Sven?, who said the noise of the compressor
almost drove him nuts.

How much are simple cheap and nasty tool changers for lathes? The lathe
in question is a 5" swing, 1/2hp deal and I'm thinking of three of four
tools. I've looked but not found any prices on the internet. It's school
this Monday and I'm hoping the DT technician has some good news for me about
a certain CNC lathe. It's getting very hard to sit still and be patient now.

John H.