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.
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
Bar feeders are available in various shapes and sizes as manufacturers try to offer a specialized solution for each workshop's special need. The aspiring buyer has to keep in mind that bar feeders were created to work well with CNCs, so the technical specifications are important or else the two machines could be incompatible. Find a list of the four most important things to consider when buying a bar feeder below:
Size of Magazine
The magazine size indicates how many bars of a specified diameter can be held in the bar feeder's storage chamber. This, combined with the feeding rate essentially gives out the hours of operation of a bar feeder before it required bar refilling. Although this may vary depending on a workshop's needs, a minimum operation of at least eight hours is generally suggested.
Part and Spindle Lengths
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
As bar feeders are required to work well for long periods of time without the presence of personnel, it is very important to have safety features that monitor the operation and check for errors in the process. Some safety net mechanisms that are used by modern bar feeders include sensors, load meters, infrared beams and streaming webcams that send video technicians remotely.
Floor Space
Workshop floor area is almost always challenged by the large pieces of machinery that are operating inside, and bar feeders are a classic example of this problem. Those machines are fastened securely on the one side of the CNC (spindle side), and they are generally long enough to hold relatively long bars. The size of the bar feeder should be considered in order to make sure that there's enough space left for the bar loading crane to maneuver into position and load new bars to the machine, and also for service technicians to perform regular maintenance work on the machine.
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
Bar feeders are available in various shapes and sizes as manufacturers try to offer a specialized solution for each workshop's special need. The aspiring buyer has to keep in mind that bar feeders were created to work well with CNCs, so the technical specifications are important or else the two machines could be incompatible. Find a list of the four most important things to consider when buying a bar feeder below:
Size of Magazine
The magazine size indicates how many bars of a specified diameter can be held in the bar feeder's storage chamber. This, combined with the feeding rate essentially gives out the hours of operation of a bar feeder before it required bar refilling. Although this may vary depending on a workshop's needs, a minimum operation of at least eight hours is generally suggested.
Part and Spindle Lengths
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
As bar feeders are required to work well for long periods of time without the presence of personnel, it is very important to have safety features that monitor the operation and check for errors in the process. Some safety net mechanisms that are used by modern bar feeders include sensors, load meters, infrared beams and streaming webcams that send video technicians remotely.
Floor Space
Workshop floor area is almost always challenged by the large pieces of machinery that are operating inside, and bar feeders are a classic example of this problem. Those machines are fastened securely on the one side of the CNC (spindle side), and they are generally long enough to hold relatively long bars. The size of the bar feeder should be considered in order to make sure that there's enough space left for the bar loading crane to maneuver into position and load new bars to the machine, and also for service technicians to perform regular maintenance work on the machine.
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