Bar Feeders

The most common automation accessory for high-volume turning, bar feeders provide a reliable way of delivering material in the form of bar stock to a lathe or turn-mill (or in some cases a CNC milling machine) for extended periods of time, saving an operator from continually loading blanks into a chuck. Minimizing operator intervention, even to the point of lights-out operations, is the main benefit of an automatic bar feeder. Generally, full-size bar feeders can feed 12-foot-long bars. Short loaders can handle up to 6 feet, while spindle-length bar feeders are designed for 3- and 4-foot lengths. With a servo-driven bar feeder, the control enables the operator to specify how far the bar should be fed through the spindle, based on what is needed for the next part. A pneumatic system uses air to drive the pusher and push the bar until it hits a turret stop.