A bar feeder is the workshop equipment that undertakes the task of automatically feeding metal bars into CNC milling machines. Those types of tools are used to increase the productivity of a workshop and allow CNCs to work unattended and during the night or weekends.
Bar feeders can be connected to a CNC for automated control, or can be set to feed at a specific rate, depending on the application. They can hold many bars on their magazines and feed them to the CNC one by one. Modern bar feeders have the capability to detect if anything is wrong in the process and essentially stop automatically.
What to think about before purchasing
There are many different bar feeder models in the market today, offering different production qualitative and quantitative characteristics. As these machines are destined to work together with CNCs, compatibility and sizing are especially important when considering buying one. Here’s a list with the most significant factors to consider before making a bar feeder choice:
Magazine Size Needs
The size of the magazine that holds the bars is a critical factor to consider when buying a bar feeder. Determine what type of bars you want to process (gauge class) and calculate how many of them can be held on the magazine. Then consider the feeding rate to figure out how many hours of unattended operation you can get from the feeder. Usually, a minimum of 8 hours (night shift) should be preferred.
Lengths of Part and Spindle
To minimize material wastage and maximize the production efficiency, machinists should consider the following values: total length of the bar, length of the bar that is held on the CNC spindle, and length of the bar needed to produce one item. This consideration is not only about saving material from avoiding to generate a lot of unusable pieces of bars every day, but also about saving time as less frequent bar changes will be required.
Operational Safety
Bar feeders are machines that are left to operate by themselves for many hours, or even days in some cases. For this reason, they should boast advanced safety features that ensure their good operation while workshop personnel is busy doing something else. Some of those features could be sensors placed in key points, load measurement equipment, and infrared beams that check the position of the bars. Modern bar feeders can even have webcams used for remote monitoring.
Space Requirements
Bar feeders are installed right next to the CNC, so considering if a workshop has enough floor space for such a machine is imperative. Also, remember that it’s not only about fitting a machine in a corner, but also providing for enough space for regular maintenance and access in the compartments. Finally, if a crane will be used for the feeding of the magazine, enough maneuvering space should be considered.
Visit CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies today to learn more about our CNC accessories, including bar feeders and rotary tables.
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