Answering Four Bar Feeder Questions
Machine shops have to answer a variety of questions to determine what bar feeder makes most sense for their production needs.
In simplest terms, bar feeders are “one-axis devices” that push bar stock into a machine tool’s workzone (like a lathe, multi-spindle, rotary transfer machine, and, in some cases, a CNC mill). But, they come in a variety of flavors, with the primary differences being bar length capacity (short loaders versus long ones) and bar storage capacity (single-barrel loaders versus magazine styles into which multiple bars can be loaded).
There’s more to it than that, though. Machine shops have to answer a variety of questions to determine what bar feeder makes most sense for their production needs. Click on my article “What’s the Right Bar Feeder for Your Machine Shop?” which answers these four:
- Should I go with a short or long bar feeder?
- How do I deal with small-diameter bar stock?
- What about legacy machines?
- Are there alternatives for small batch sizes?
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