Barfeeder Side-By-Side

Shops that work with fixedheadstock turning machines increasingly are migrating toward multi-axis turning operations that use Swiss-type sliding-headstock machines. They are doing so to meet the growing demand for larger volumes of smaller parts coming from such industries as connectors and fittings, medical and aerospace.

Shops automate Swiss-style machines by adding barfeeders, and the type and size of the barfeeder must match the application.

The most common match for Swiss-style machines are 12-ft slidingheadstock magazine barfeeders that have maximum bar capacities of 20 mm, 32 mm, or larger.

When considering a sliding-headstock barfeeder, shops should familiarize themselves with a few key barfeeder functions and how the different brands address them. These include bar diameter changeover, headstock synchronization, and bar support.

Bar diameter changeovers should require as little time as possible whether they are done automatically or manually. To change diameters, most barfeeders use either blocks or channel-based systems, and shops must choose the one that makes operations easiest for them.

Swiss-style machine headstock travel rates continue to get faster, and barfeeders must be able to keep up, so synchronizing feeders with machine headstocks is more critical than ever. Some brands of barfeeders synchronize electronically with servo drives, while others use clutch mechanisms to accomplish the task mechanically.

A barfeeder’s bar-support system is important because of high spindle speeds, and support systems typically use hydrostatic, hydrodynamic or roller mechanisms.