A bar feeder is a specialized piece of workshop engineering that does exactly what the names implies, which is to feed bars to CNC machines. By utilizing bar feeders, workshops can put a CNC into continuous and unobstructed operation without having to worry about providing metal bars that constitute the main workpiece material.
While bar feeders are usually operated by the CNCs control units, a machinist can set feeding rates manually as well. They feature bar pallet holders that are taken one by one and placed on the feeding chamber from where they find their way inside the CNC milling area though the spindle. Nowadays, bar feeders can also monitor the operation and immediately stop if anything goes wrong.
Consideration when selecting bar feeders
As with everything that can be found inside a workshop, bar feeders come in a lot of shapes, sizes, and different technical characteristics. Since this machine is something that is bought on the premise to work well in collaboration with another machine (CNC), buyers should be particularly cautious on what model they should choose. Here are some of the most important points for consideration:
Size of Magazine
First and foremost, machinists should consider the bar magazine size. Depending on the diameter of the bars used in an application, those magazines can hold different amounts of bars. This is very important for the determination of the maximum operation time before the bar feeder runs out of bars. Of course, the feeding rate is another important factor that affects this, so consider them both and keep in mind that frequent refilling means less productivity.
Part and Spindle Size
Each part that is produced on the CNC requires a specific amount of bar length to be realized. Machinists should calculate the total bar size, subtract the length of the part that is held on the CNC spindle and divide with part length to determine the number of the workpieces can be produced with each bar. This can indicate if a bar feeder choice is good or not, as sometimes a slightly longer bar could be enough for one whole extra product.
Safety Mechanisms
Unattended operation is the goal of every modern workshop out there, but this can never come without the machine being able to detect problems in time. If not, you may end up with tons of defect products, costing you a lot of time and resources. Check whether a bar feeder uses sensors, load meters, infrared beams and even webcams that can send video feed on a remote computer/device.
Floor Space
Floor area is sometimes a workshop's most limited resource, and bar feeders are known to challenge this. As the machines get fixed on the spindle side of the CNC and since they are relatively long in almost all cases, machinists should carefully calculate whether their workshops have enough space for the addition of a bar feeder. Not only should the bar feeder fit next to the CNC, but there should also be enough space for maintenance, access to all compartments, and space to clench/unclench bolts. If the bars are loaded onto the machine with the use of a small crane, there should also be enough space to accommodate its maneuvering as well.
While bar feeders are usually operated by the CNCs control units, a machinist can set feeding rates manually as well. They feature bar pallet holders that are taken one by one and placed on the feeding chamber from where they find their way inside the CNC milling area though the spindle. Nowadays, bar feeders can also monitor the operation and immediately stop if anything goes wrong.
Consideration when selecting bar feeders
As with everything that can be found inside a workshop, bar feeders come in a lot of shapes, sizes, and different technical characteristics. Since this machine is something that is bought on the premise to work well in collaboration with another machine (CNC), buyers should be particularly cautious on what model they should choose. Here are some of the most important points for consideration:
Size of Magazine
First and foremost, machinists should consider the bar magazine size. Depending on the diameter of the bars used in an application, those magazines can hold different amounts of bars. This is very important for the determination of the maximum operation time before the bar feeder runs out of bars. Of course, the feeding rate is another important factor that affects this, so consider them both and keep in mind that frequent refilling means less productivity.
Part and Spindle Size
Each part that is produced on the CNC requires a specific amount of bar length to be realized. Machinists should calculate the total bar size, subtract the length of the part that is held on the CNC spindle and divide with part length to determine the number of the workpieces can be produced with each bar. This can indicate if a bar feeder choice is good or not, as sometimes a slightly longer bar could be enough for one whole extra product.
Safety Mechanisms
Unattended operation is the goal of every modern workshop out there, but this can never come without the machine being able to detect problems in time. If not, you may end up with tons of defect products, costing you a lot of time and resources. Check whether a bar feeder uses sensors, load meters, infrared beams and even webcams that can send video feed on a remote computer/device.
Floor Space
Floor area is sometimes a workshop's most limited resource, and bar feeders are known to challenge this. As the machines get fixed on the spindle side of the CNC and since they are relatively long in almost all cases, machinists should carefully calculate whether their workshops have enough space for the addition of a bar feeder. Not only should the bar feeder fit next to the CNC, but there should also be enough space for maintenance, access to all compartments, and space to clench/unclench bolts. If the bars are loaded onto the machine with the use of a small crane, there should also be enough space to accommodate its maneuvering as well.
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