One typical argument against the use of transfer machines in a shop has been lengthy setup times. It’s no surprise that excelling at long-running, high-volume jobs, as these machines are known for, might come at a price. But the fact that shops are trending toward lower-volume work these days is not lost on the suppliers.

Buffoli Transfer S.p.A. (buffoli.us) now offers the Trans-Bar flexible multi-spindle non-rotating bar machine that is designed to combine benefits of both a traditional transfer machines and a dual spindle CNC lathe. These horizontal axis transfer machines, while built for high efficiency, productivity, precision and complete processing of turned parts from bar, offer a range of quick-change accessories that allow practical production of batches as small as a few thousand parts, with tool change-over times averaging between 30 and 60 minutes.

Quickly re-tooled like a two-spindle CNC lathe, they are designed to go beyond the higher production benefits expected from a multi-spindle screw machine, including the complete processing of parts that may not be machinable on a conventional multi-spindle. They handle the machining of precision turned parts in both directions as well as transversally, without secondary operations.

As with the other transfer machines in Buffoli's lineup, the Trans-Bar machines are custom engineered specifically for the production of precision parts from round or profiled bar. Parts may be turned and finished on the front, on the back side and transversally (with rotating tools simultaneously machining in two, three or more directions). They are produced in 4 bar size ranges (7 to 32 mm, 7 to 45 mm, 7 to 55 mm and 15 to 75 mm) and in standard or special versions (as many as 16 machining stations). Some can be equipped with multi-axis multi-tool CNC machining heads.