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.
Things to consider when buying one
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:
Magazine Size
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 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 of Operation
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.
Space Requirements
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.
Things to consider when buying one
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:
Magazine Size
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 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 of Operation
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.
Space Requirements
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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