Category Archives: Machine Tools

What are Bar Feeders in CNC Lathe?

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In the realm of modern manufacturing, automation plays a pivotal role in enhancing productivity, efficiency, and precision. One such automation tool that has significantly transformed machining operations is the bar feeder. Bar feeders are integral components in automated manufacturing systems, particularly in turning operations involving CNC (Computer Numerical Control) lathes. This report delves into the functionality, benefits, and types of bar feeders, providing a comprehensive understanding of their role in the manufacturing industry.

Functionality of Bar Feeders

A bar feeder is a device that automates the process of feeding raw materials, typically metal bars, into a machine for further processing. This automation is crucial in industries that require the use of long, cylindrical materials such as metal bars, tubes, or pipes. The primary function of a bar feeder is to ensure a continuous and efficient production process by holding and feeding materials into the machine, thereby minimizing the need for manual intervention.

Bar feeders are typically attached to the headstock of a CNC lathe through a lathe adapter. They consist of several components, including a bed that supports bundles of bar stock, a bar pusher that moves the stock through the feeder and into the chuck, a clamping mechanism, and a system to adjust the position of the feed. These components work in tandem to automate the loading process, allowing for uninterrupted machining operations.

Benefits of Using Bar Feeders

The integration of bar feeders into manufacturing processes offers numerous advantages, making them indispensable in modern machining operations. Some of the key benefits include:

  1. Increased Productivity and Efficiency: By automating the loading process, bar feeders significantly reduce the need for manual labor, allowing operators to focus on other priority tasks or monitor multiple machines. This leads to increased productivity and throughput.
  2. Cost Savings: The investment in a bar feeder is quickly recouped through reduced labor costs and increased production efficiency. Bar feeders enable manufacturers to remain competitive by meeting cost expectations and reducing piece part costs.
  3. Improved Accuracy and Consistency: Bar feeders enhance the accuracy and consistency of the manufacturing process by minimizing human error and ensuring precise material handling. This results in higher-quality finished products.
  4. Safety: By limiting worker-machine interaction, bar feeders reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries and other safety hazards associated with manual material handling.
  5. Increased Capacity: Bar feeders allow for longer unattended runs, enabling manufacturers to increase production capacity without adding new machinery. This is particularly beneficial for high-volume production runs.

Types of Bar Feeders

Bar feeders come in various configurations, each suited to specific manufacturing needs. The selection of a bar feeder depends on several factors, including production quantities, bar diameter, and length requirements, and the type of turning machine used. The main types of bar feeders include:

  1. Long Bar Feeders: These feeders are designed to handle 12-foot bar stock and are ideal for large quantity production runs. They enable longer periods of unattended operation and reduce waste by having one remnant. However, they require significant floor space and may not be suitable for profiled or non-straight bars.
  2. Short Bar Feeders: These are the least expensive form of automation for CNC lathes and are suitable for small production lots. They load spindle-length bars into the lathe and are ideal for applications requiring quick setup times and frequent changes in bar stock diameter or material.
  3. Servo-Driven Bar Feeders: These feeders use servo motors for precise control of the bar pushing process, eliminating the need for a physical bar stop in the lathe turret. They offer high accuracy and reduced maintenance requirements compared to pneumatic systems.
Barload Automatic Bar Feeder Manufacturer
Barload Automatic Bar Feeder Manufacturer

Conclusion

In conclusion, bar feeders are a vital component of modern manufacturing systems, offering significant benefits in terms of productivity, cost savings, accuracy, and safety. Their ability to automate the feeding of raw materials into CNC lathes and other machines makes them indispensable in industries that demand high precision and efficiency. As manufacturing continues to evolve, the role of bar feeders in enhancing automation and competitiveness is likely to grow, making them a valuable investment for any production facility.

Victor Taichung Vturn-F26 Horizontal Lathe: Versatile and Efficient CNC Turning Solution

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In the face of the challenging global economic landscape in 2023, marked by a significant slowdown in China’s economic growth and widespread inflation, the machine tool industry is confronted with unprecedented challenges. Customers are increasingly seeking flexible, cost-effective, and high-performance equipment to meet their diverse production needs. The Victor Taichung Vturn-F26 Horizontal Lathe emerges as a compelling solution, offering a robust and versatile platform for CNC turning operations.

Robust and Stable Bed Structure

The Vturn-F26 Horizontal Turning Lathe features a one-piece bed structure with a 30-degree inclined guideway design, providing superior rigidity compared to the previous generation’s modular bed and 45-degree guideway. The cast components are manufactured using the “Meehanite” process, ensuring a stable and high-rigidity foundation. The increased width of the hardened linear guideways further enhances the stability of the saddle and slide.

Powerful Spindle Configuration

The spindle assembly has been reinforced to boost rigidity, with an increased bearing span and the use of a toothed belt drive. These enhancements reduce the impact of spindle heating, extend bearing life, and improve the spindle’s radial load capacity. The spindle is powered by a βiIP30 motor, delivering 15/18.5 kW of power and a maximum speed of 3,500 rpm.

Enhanced Axis Travels and Rapid Feeds

The Vturn-F26 offers increased axis travels, with the X-axis travel expanded from 190+50 mm to 215+25 mm, allowing for larger turning diameters up to 430 mm. The maximum turning diameter has been increased from 380 mm to 430 mm, and the bed swing diameter from 520 mm to 600 mm. The rapid feed rates have also been improved, from 12/15 m/min (X/Z) to 15/20 m/min (X/Z), further enhancing productivity.

Flexible and Practical Turret Design

The Vturn-F26 features a 10-station turret with square tool holders (25 mm), providing increased flexibility in tool configuration and reduced tool interference. The practical hydraulic turret design also simplifies maintenance.

Ergonomic and User-Friendly Design

The machine’s exterior design incorporates Victor Taichung’s distinctive corporate elements, with rounded corners and a sleek, streamlined appearance. The active door window and LED lighting contribute to a bright and intuitive user experience, allowing operators to easily monitor the machine’s status.

Comprehensive Peripheral Systems

The Vturn-F26 is equipped with a new chip conveyor and coolant system, optimizing the filtration of chips and extending the coolant’s service life, thereby reducing maintenance requirements and increasing effective machining time.

In the highly competitive machining market, the Vturn-F26 offers a versatile and cost-effective solution that can accommodate the diverse needs of customers. With its robust construction, powerful spindle, and enhanced axis travels, the Vturn-F26 provides the necessary cutting power, precision, and stability for a wide range of turning applications. By offering flexible configuration options and integrating energy-efficient peripheral systems, the Vturn-F26 helps customers optimize their production costs and enhance their competitiveness.

If you have any questions or need further information regarding Vturn-F26, please do not hesitate to contact Victor Taichung – Taiwan’s leading Smart machine tools manufacturer.

Source: Victor Taichung

What You Should Know Before Buying A CNC Metal Laser Cutter?

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What is a Laser Cutting Machine?

A laser cutting machine is a CNC laser machine that adopts CO2/Fiber laser source to cut metal and non-metal materials into different shapes. A laser cutting machine is equipped with laser cutting machine frame, laser generator, laser power supply, reflector path, laser cutting head, control panel, water chiller and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) system.

 

A laser cutting machine is also called as laser cutting system, laser cutting equipment, laser cutter, laser cutter machine, laser cut machine, laser cutting tool.

 

Laser Cutting Machine Applications

Laser cutting machines are widely used in industrial manufacturing applications, school education, small businesses, home business, small shop, home shop and hobbyists.

 

Laser cutting machines with fiber laser source are mainly used for cutting metal materials (metal sheets, metal plates, round or square metal tubes/pipes) of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, gold, alloy, iron, etc. Laser cutting machines with CO2 laser source are mainly used for cutting thin metal and non-metal materials of wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, paper, foam, glass, etc.

 

Advantages of CNC Laser Cutting Services

CNC laser cutting machine compared to other laser cutting machines, it has unique features and advantages. Let’s take a look at the advantages of fiber laser cutting machine.

 

  1. CNC laser electrical to optical conversion efficiency is high, conversion efficiency of more than 30%, the small power fiber lasers without to be equipped with chiller, air-cooled, greatly reduce the power consumption, save operation cost, and achieve the highest production efficiency.

 

  1. The operation of the laser only requires power, no need to generate additional gas laser, with the lowest operating and maintenance costs.

 

  1. CNC laser by semiconductor module and the redundancy design, resonant cavity free optical lens, does not require bootstrap time, with adjustment free, maintenance free, the advantages of high stability, reduce the cost of Spare parts and maintenance time, which is unmatched by traditional laser.

 

  1. CNC laser output wavelength of 1.064 microns is 1 / 10 of the CO2 wavelength, the output beam quality, high power density, is very conducive to the absorption of the metal material, has excellent cutting and welding ability, so that the least cost of processing.

 

  1. The whole optical routing optical fiber transmission, does not need the complex mirror and so on the light guiding system, the light path is simple, the structure is stable, the outside light road maintenance free.

 

  1. The cutting head contains a protective lens, the focusing mirror and other precious consumable little consumption.

 

  1. The light through the optical fiber are derived, the design of mechanical system is very simple and very easy to work with the robot or multidimensional integration.

 

  1. After a gate coupled with laser multi machine, light through the optical fiber, divided into multi Taiwan work at the same time, the function is easy to expand, upgrade convenient and simple.

 

  1. CNC laser has the advantages of small size, light weight, position mobile, small area.

 

If you have requirement of quality and efficiency CNC metal laser cutters, I can recommend you to visit Tailift Co., Ltd. – their laser cutting machines are famous in worldwide. Tailift offers to clients a wide range of laser cutting equipment and these laser cutters are designed for a variety of metal working applications. Today, contact with Tailift for more details!

 

Article Source:

https://www.stylecnc.com/products/laser-cutting-machine.html

https://www.quora.com/What-are-advantages-of-CNC-laser-cutting-services

3 Benefits of Automated Assembly

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Automatic assembly machine is a wonderful innovation. If a company is looking to turn to automated assembly machine, there are a lot of amazing benefits that the company will get out of it. Assembly machines offer a ton of pros for manufacturers.

 

One benefit of automated assembly is the quicker turnaround. As long as the machinery is used smart and efficiently, it reduces the turnaround time for projects. You are able to combine a number of assembly capabilities or production steps into one single step.

 

Automated assembly also offers higher quality production. It enhances the production quality. Certain tasks, such as aligned press fits, are difficult to be done when performed manually. Through automation, they can be done much more efficiently and accurately. It also provides a high degree of conformity across pieces. This is another aspect that’s difficult to achieve when performed manually.

 

One last benefit of automated assembly is that it reduces labor costs. Automated assembly offers both direct and indirect labor cost savings. The direct savings are very clear. When something becomes automated, it frees up time for employees. Employees no longer have to perform the automated task so they are able to perform other tasks that are unable to be automated and will help the company.

 

The indirect savings, while not as clear, are just as beneficial. Switching to automated assembly can reduce material handling and component orientation time, in-process inventory, when replacing batch operations, finished product inventory, scrap, defective pieces, and personnel training. All of these reductions can save manufacturers a lot of money in the end.

 

If you have requirement or need more information of automatic assembly machines, you can come and visit Detzo Co., Ltd. – they are the professional custom machine manufacturer in Taiwan. You can find a wide range of automated production lines at Detzo. Now, contact with Detzo at +886-2-22983317 for more details!

 

Article Source: http://www.norwalt.com/three-benefits-of-automated-assembly.html

Benefits of Using Automatic Lathes

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No matter their size, CNC lathes are designed to make intricate cuts on different types of material, specifically wood, plastic, and metal—making CNC machines key players in glassworking, metal spinning, metalworking, and wood turning. These machines can be used to produce anything from plane surfaces and screw threads to three-dimensional, complex products. And, because they’re easily set up and operated, CNC lathes are a growing necessity for companies of any size and production level.

These machines offer tremendous repeat-ability, top-notch accuracy, versatile functionality, and customized programming, making CNC lathes the perfect solution for the following industries: automotive, electronics, aerospace, firearm manufacturing, sporting and many others.

Your overall productivity depends on the efficiency of the tools you use, period. Ineffective equals slow. Slow equals less profit. In order to fulfill your work orders and gain higher production levels, you need to have the right machine, and that machine needs to be in the highest condition to perform.

Article Source: https://asimachinetool.com/blog/benefits-of-using-cnc-lathes/

Why Choose A CNC High Precision Grinding Machine?

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If you’re working on complex workpieces that normal centerless grinding machines can’t handle, CNC high precision grinding machines may be the best choice for your company.

 

CNC high precision grinding machines come in two types: cylindrical grinding machines and surface grinding machines. These devices perform a final, ultra-precise grinding stage that removes material to as little as 200 nm per pass. Also, at such rates of material removal (200nm/pass), there is only negligible heat generation – even without applying coolant. This makes it rare for the metallurgical characteristics of the workpiece to be affected.

 

In addition, CNC high precision grinding machines make it easy to machine components with intricate internal features. You won’t have to use several machines to carry out the external grinding and the internal grinding. One machine is enough to do both.

 

Also, due to the high precision of the machined parts, there’s a better consistency of what’s produced. Again, the entire grinding process is computer controlled with no human input that could lead to errors. Once the settings are made, every part is machined with exact dimensional accuracy.

 

CNC high precision grinding machines can be used on a wide variety of materials including steel, hardened aluminum, brass, plated aluminum, bronze, powdered metals, tungsten carbide, plastics, and titanium alloy. CNC high precision grinding machines are also the best choice for use in machining bearings, bushings, valves, shafts, pistons, sleeves, industrial nozzles, and industrial needles. These types of parts all require very high precision in both dimensional accuracy and surface finish.

 

If you need more information of high precision grinding machines, I recommend you to visit SIGMA CNC Technology Machinery Co., Ltd. – they are the professional manufacturer of specializing in grinding machines and machining centers. Now, check out their website and feel free to contact with SIGMA for more details!

 

Article Source: https://www.maxgrind.com/cnc-high-precision-grinding-machine/

Victor Taichung Sees 70% of Orders for Customized Machine Tools

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Taiwan-based machine maker Victor Taichung Machinery Works has coped with waning competitiveness in prices for the export markets by offering customized manufacturing services to create product differentiation, with around 70% of orders associated with customization, according to company chairman MH Huang.

 

Huang said that Taiwan machine tool makers used to see their quotes some 30-40% lower than those offered by their biggest competitors from Japan, but such a price competitiveness has been significantly undermined by the sharp depreciation of the Japanese yen. As a result, international customers have turned to Japan machine tool brands, directly squeezing the survival space for Taiwan makers.

 

Huang said that since 2013, Victor Taichung has maintained a customer value-creating application center, gathering the firm’s experienced sales staff and engineers to directly face customers and respond to their actual needs. This way, Victor Taichung can agilely adjust its product development strategies based on direct responses from customers, thus effectively boosting product values and customer loyalty through customized production services.

 

Huang stressed that Taiwan machine tool makers cannot compete well with China and Korea rivals in terms of production volume of low- to medium-tier models or with Japan makers in the market for high-end products. Accordingly, he indicated, it will be a major challenge for business transformation of Taiwan machine tool builders as to how they can work out differentiation to highlight corporate values and even develop the market for higher-end products.

 

If you have any interest in vertical machining centers and much more custom machine tools, come and visit Victor Taichung Machinery Works Co., Ltd. for more details!

 

Article Source: https://www.twmt.tw/victor-taichung-sees-70-of-orders-for-customized-machine-tools/

Do You Know What BTA Drilling Is?

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What is BTA Drilling?

Start Here: Deep Hole Drilling Overview

BTA drilling is a deep hole drilling process that uses a specialized drilling tool on a long drill tube to produce deep holes in metal, from holes with a diameter of 20 mm [0.80 in] and larger, up to depth-to-diameter ratios of 400:1. BTA drilling is the most effective method of drilling deep holes, as it is a cleaner, more reliable and capable process than conventional twist drills, and can achieve larger diameters and higher feed rates than the alternative gundrilling.

 

BTA drilling tool heads are threaded or mounted onto long drill tubes, and use multiple cutting surfaces on a single tool to remove chips efficiently, exhausting them using high-pressure coolant through holes in the tool head, then out the drill tube and through the machining spindle. BTA tooling is available in brazed or inserted carbide configurations.

 

BTA stands for Boring and Trepanning Association, and is also sometimes referred to as STS (single tube system) drilling, as it uses one single drill tube for the BTA tool, compared to other processes such as ejector drilling, which use two.

 

BTA Drilling vs Gun Drilling

BTA drilling can achieve drill feed rates of typically 5-7 times faster than gundrilling at the same diameter, due to the tool design, more efficient chip exhaust, and machine design and power. BTA drilling machines introduce coolant around the tool head, and evacuate chips through the drill and machine spindle, compared to gundrilling, where coolant is introduced internally and chips exit through an external groove. BTA drilling is effective in holes from 20 – 200 mm [0.80 – 8.00 in], a greater size range than gundrilling.

 

Optimal Specifications for BTA Drilling

BTA deep hole drilling is the ideal process for a range of larger deep hole drilled depths and diameters. BTA drilling, and secondary processes, are capable of drilling extreme depth-to-diameter ratio holes while achieving strict tolerances.

 

BTA Tooling Diameter Range

  • 8 – 65 mm Brazed Disposable BTA
  • 10 – 114 mm Spade Drill BTA
  • 16 – 28 mm Indexable BTA, Single Insert
  • 25 mm +     Indexable BTA, Multiple Insert

 

BTA Drilling Equipment

Deep hole drilling machines that are designed to perform BTA and related processes are complex systems of high-precision components, designed and built for extremely deep holes and strict tolerances.

 

If you need more information of BTA drilling equipment, I sincerely recommend you to visit Honge Precision Industries Corp. – they can provide high-quality and high-performance BTA deep hole drilling machine for clients. To get more details of this hole drilling machine, welcome to check out their website and feel free to contact with Honge Precision Industries!

 

Article Source: https://www.unisig.com/information-and-resources/what-is-deep-hole-drilling/what-is-bta-drilling/

Buying a Wire EDM: Speed, Accuracy and Finish

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What kind of surface finish can the purchaser of a wire EDM expect with today’s technology?

 

The two things every wire electrical discharge machine (EDM) user wants are speed and accuracy. Unfortunately, these objectives are usually incompatible. You don’t get speed with precision, and you can’t achieve high accuracy without also achieving a fine surface finish. Accuracy and surface finish go together. Speed and accuracy do not.

 

Cutting Speed, Accuracy and Surface Finish

EDM units from the early 1980s might achieve cutting speeds of 3 to 4 square inches per hour. With changes in machine design and power supplies, speeds of 17 square inches per hour became attainable in the 1990s. Today, with improved power supplies, working in conjunction with sophisticated adaptive controls, it is not uncommon to achieve 24, 37 and in some cases 45 square inches per hour.

 

The type of material and the height of the part being cut are critical as well. It is generally easier and faster to cut hardened tool steel than cold-rolled steel, for example. The harder material is the better. Typically, tool steels, carbide and special alloys have fewer impurities and lower porosity, making them easier to cut. Cold-rolled steel may contain impurities, so wire cutting is slower, and the surface finish is poorer. Although aluminum is easy to cut at higher speeds, the material is so soft that it is very difficult to get a good surface finish. Even a 30-microinch surface finish is difficult to achieve in aluminum. In contrast, it is possible to cut a 3-inch-thick carbide workpiece, with accuracies of ±0.0001 inch, and still produce a of 5-microinch Ra surface finish.

 

A typical wire EDM process consists of several passes, traveling at varying speeds. The first pass is generally a roughing pass designed to cut as quickly as possible, while accuracy and surface finish are less of a concern. Each subsequent skim cut travels at progressively faster speeds, takes less and less material while steadily improving dimensional accuracy and quality of the surface finish.

 

During the finish cuts, the tension on the wire is increased, the current is reduced, and the voltage gap narrowed, allowing the user to refine the spark and the distance the spark jumps from the wire to the part. The offset applied to the last finish pass might be as small as 3 microns. To achieve a 4- or 5-microinch Ra finish, as many as six or seven skim cuts might be necessary. Whereas the diameter of a cutting tool determines the offset in milling, the EDM controller applies a cutter comp based on the diameter of the wire. For example, if a 0.010-inch-diameter brass wire is used, the cutter comp will approach 0.005 inch plus a spark gap as the wire gets closer and closer to the part surface, and possibly finish at 0.0051 inch.

 

To achieve these close tolerances and super-fine surface finishes, every parameter must be properly set. The right type of EDM wire must be selected. The wire must have the right diameter and tensile strength. The power setting and tension of the wire must also be right. The condition of the deionized water and flushing arrangements must be optimized, as well.

 

Machine Accuracy

When attempting to hold ±0.0001-inch positional accuracy with wire EDM, the shop environment becomes a factor. For example, both steel and carbide have a thermal expansion coefficient of ~6.8 ppm per degree Fahrenheit. This means that, for every 2°F change in shop temperature, a 12-inch part could grow as much as 0.00016 inch, putting the operation over the 0.0001-inch tolerance it is trying to hold. To be successful under these conditions, a shop must be able to hold its ambient temperature within 1°F in either direction during an eight-hour period. Controlling the temperature of the dielectric solution to ±1°F also helps control the temperature of the machine and the workpiece.

 

The two most common machine designs use either ballscrews or linear-motion systems. In terms of machine accuracy, each design has pluses and minuses, which must be explored when choosing a wire EDM unit.

 

High-precision glass scales are used to negate the effects of pitch error or backlash on the linear feedback. On the best machines, high-resolution servodrives with fine increments are used to position the wire, thus improving surface finish and accuracy. Adaptive controls can compensate for thermal growth. High-speed circuitry in servomotors enables them to react instantaneously for finer control of the spark. High-peak power supplies can now put more electrical energy into the wire, greatly enhancing productivity.

 

If you need more information of EDM machine manufacturers, I sincerely recommend you to visit Excetek Technologies Co., Ltd. – the company specializes in manufacturing high-quality EDM machines. To get more details of EDM machining, welcome to check out their website and feel free to contact with Excetek!

 

Article Source: https://www.mmsonline.com/blog/post/buying-a-wire-edm-speed-accuracy-and-finish

Machining Performance Reveals Opportunities for Efficiency Gain, The Value of Tooling Choices That Save Time Will Be The Important Key

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As more sophisticated insight into machining performance reveals opportunities for efficiency gain, the value of tooling choices that save time will become increasingly clear.

 

The promise of Industry 4.0 is great news for the adoption of advanced cutting tools. The reason: In interconnected manufacturing systems in which comprehensive data reveal the performance of the system, the impact of an advanced tool becomes clear.

 

Historically, the lack of clarity about manufacturing performance has been the main impediment to shops embracing high-end cutting tools. Tools typically account for just 3 percent of the per-piece production cost of a machined part. However, a tool’s price tag is more visible than its benefits. This fact leaves manufacturers frequently pursuing cost-saving steps that have little impact. For example, at 3 percent of unit cost, finding tooling that is one-third less expensive will only cut the per-piece part cost by 1 percent. Something similar is true of tool life: Even doubling tool life will only cut cost per part by 1.5 percent. However, finding tooling that provides for significantly faster machining or reduced non-cutting time enables each unit of machine and labor time to deliver more parts, likely cutting the cost per piece by 10 or 15 percent.

 

This argument makes sense in the abstract. The problem is, it can be hard to marshal the data to prove this case as it applies to a specific tool in a specific cut. That is where Industry 4.0 comes in. We are moving into a world in which manufacturing systems increasingly do marshal data such as this, and manufacturers increasingly make use of it.

 

To get more efficient cutting tools, come and visit Shin-Yain Industrial Co., Ltd., they can meet all your requirements of cutting tools.

 

Article Source: https://www.mmsonline.com/blog/post/iscar-leader-describes-tool-technology-for-machine-shops-acting-on-data