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A Look at Current Rotary Transfer Machining

In the article, “Beyond One and Done,” we look at the evolving nature of CNC rotary transfer.

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inside a vertical axis machine

On this rotary transfer machine, CNC-controlled chucks enable multi-sided machining in a single handling.

In the article, “Beyond One and Done,” we look at the evolving nature of CNC rotary transfer. Traditionally applied to very high production, the rotary transfer, progressive machining, process is undergoing a transition.

There was a time these machines could be tooled up, proved out and then run for relatively long periods of time to produce very high volume part orders. It was a sort of “set it and forget it” production system.

Today, the manufacturing environment is quite different. Lot sizes are shrinking and parts are more complex with tolerances that are significantly tighter.

Rotary transfer machine tool builders are reacting to these trends with CNC technology that allows operation of the machines to be flexible. Flexibility is about handling the lower volume, higher mix that is increasingly the reality for precision machined parts manufacturers. Click here to read how one manufacturer is reacting to these changes.