Automation in Precision Machining

The advantages of automation on the shop floor can run deep, yet many shops question whether or not it’s right for their applications.

Increased use of automation is allowing U.S. manufacturing to bring back work that it has lost in the past because of low-cost labor in other parts of the world. It’s a good idea to take the time to evaluate your production process and give deep consideration to how you can take advantage of what automation offers in achieving your goals.

Source: A Lesson about Automation

The integration of collaborative robots or “cobots” has become increasingly popular for machine shops looking for ways to automate machine tending.

Although cobots vary in design, they all feature some combination of technologies that enable them to function safely alongside humans in a shared area, unlike conventional industrial robots that operate autonomously inside a safeguarded cell. Mostly resembling and functioning like a human arm (having six or seven axes), they are easy to program. Many cobot manufacturers boast that operators need little to no experience with robot programming to successfully set up and program them.

Source: 4 Questions About Cobot Integration

A bar feeder seems like a relatively simple device. The most common automation accessory in our world of high volume turning, it provides a reliable way of delivering material to the machine tool for extended periods of time, saving an operator from continually loading blanks into a chuck.

In reality, bar feeders have many nuances from one to another to make them more suitable for certain shop environments. Length and capacity are only the beginning. Other factors should be considered during the purchasing process as well.

Source: Bar Feeder Basics

Other available features on bar feeders can affect how accurately the bar is fed through the machine. With a servo-driven bar feeder, the control allows 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, on the other hand, uses air to drive the pusher and push the bar until it hits a turret stop. Both styles have their advantages, whether cost, accuracy or speed.

Depending on the diameter of the barstock and spindle, spindle liners can be used to compensate for considerable differences. The liner is installed into the spindle, holding a good fit for the bar to help keep it straight and keeping the centerline of the material fed in on the chuck’s centerline.

Source: Bar Feeder Basics