Machine Shop Bar Feeders
Almost every shop producing parts from barstock can profit from a bar feeder, but it must be the right one. A bar feeder appropriate for the type of work being done will help increase productivity and add turning capacity.
IEMCA makes the widest range of bar feeders in the industry. Whether the parts you're turning are large or small and the quantities many or few, IEMCA machine shop bar feeders will help you cut costs and grow your business.
Bar Feeder Systems for Machine Shops
Bar feeders automate lathe loading by feeding material through the headstock. Inside the lathe, when a part is finished, it gets parted-off and drops into a chute that removes it. The chuck or collet opens, and the bar feeder pushes another length of barstock through it. Chuck or collet then close, and the machining cycle repeats.
Standard-length bar feeders take a 12-foot bar, but IEMCA offers longer and shorter machines, as well. Longer bars extend the time that the lathe can run unattended. Magazine-style feeders can enable lights-out production. Shorter runs benefit from shorter feeders. Some shops use bar feeders on orders as small as 20 to 30 pieces.
Machine shops might prefer to put a bar feeder on single-spindle CNC machines. Others use them on multi-spindle, screw and Swiss-style machines. IEMCA CNC shop bar feeders work with all leading brands of lathe; they're almost certainly compatible with yours.
Biglia turning machines and IEMCA Boss
Machine Shop Bar Feed Applications
Turned parts from 0.8 millimeters to 100 millimeters in diameter, made in quantities upward of 20 pieces, are where machine shop bar feeders earn their keep. Connectors, couplings, retainer rings, spool valve components and custom fasteners are just a few of the parts produced with the aid of bar feeders.
IEMCA bar feeders are largely material-agnostic. Aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel and titanium are just some of the materials running in CNC shop bar feeders. (Primarily because weight can become an issue. If you anticipate running particularly heavy barstock, discuss this with your IEMCA sales representative.)
Barstock can be round, square or hexagonal sections. Asymmetric sections can also be fed and turned — subject to limitations. Turning at high rpms (as required to minimize part-to-part time) can make the bar whip and vibrate. IEMCA bar feeders are engineered to handle and minimize this vibration, letting your lathes run faster.
What to Expect From CNC Shop Bar Feed Systems
Eliminating delays for material loading means machines waiting less and cutting more. That translates to:
- More turning capacity
- Greater output per hour
- Less sawing before turning
- Higher labor productivity
In addition, material yield improves because the only waste is the bar remnant that can't be indexed completely through the headstock.
Miyano turning machines and IEMCA Master
Talk to IEMCA About CNC Shop Bar Feed Systems
IEMCA builds the widest range of automatic bar feeders in the industry, and we back them with a global presence. Since building the world’s first automatic bar feeder in 1961, we’ve grown to 500-plus employees, four manufacturing locations, and commercial branches and partners in 30 countries.
Whatever your needs for bar feed systems, we can help. Use our search tool to find the machine that’s right for you. Remember, we also offer used machines. Contact us today to learn more.