Extensive R&D Feeds Hydrafeed Success
26 March 2011
Since the recent launch of its new 5-51 Autofeed Long Magazine Barfeed,
Lathe automation specialist Hydrafeed has witnessed exceptional sales for the innovative new barfeed.
Capable of feeding round, square and hexagonal bar stock into CNC turning centres, the exciting new bar feed has been developed to accommodate the individual needs of the customer catering for bar lengths 3.8, 3.2 or 2.5 metres to suit the needs of the end user. The 5-51 is part of a series of barfeeds that also includes the 3-26 and the 3-38 Series for holding bar diameters from 3 to 26 and 3 to 38mm respectively. With a bar capacity from 5 to 51mm, the 5-51 Series has proven a resounding success in the marketplace, especially among manufacturers of fixed head turning centres demanding the automated production of larger bar stock.
Hydrafeed worked closely with customers in the turned parts industry to develop the new design and the research and development work has evidently paid dividends for the Milton Keynes Company. Customers acquiring the Autofeed 5-51 have significantly improved productivity and reduced production costs, credit to the enhanced automation potential and innovative new features on the Autofeed 5-51.
New innovations on the barfeed include a double pusher system that drastically reduces the overall length of the barfeed by up to 1.2m. An innovation that is ideal for machine shops working with long bars and limited by the available space for a barfeed system. The double pusher incorporates a short pusher that pre-feeds the bar and then retracts. At this point a second full length pusher lowers into position to continue the feeding process. The bar pusher is equipped with a standard rotating tip that ensures smooth running at high RPM.
The Autofeed 5-51 has a dual anti-vibration device that stabilises the bar stock at two different points to maximise the RPM potential. The adjustable roller design provides superior support and improves the set-up of bars of all diameters without the cost of multiple bearing blocks. The first roller steady is located inside the front of the barfeed to support the bar as it enters the telescopic nose. The second roller is mounted at the rear of the sliding headstock to follow the material as it moves along the Z-axis. This significantly enhances the feeding process, improves stability and rigidity and thus surface finishes whilst operating at higher speeds to competitor barfeeds.
For highly automated environments, the new Autofeed incorporates a remnant retracting gripper. The gripper holds and inserts the new bar into the collet and then extracts the post-production remnant. The gripper is self-centring, so requires no adjustment for different bar diameters. It withdraws the remnant to the back end of the magazine and deposits it in a well hidden remnant basket, leaving the machine to efficiently continue production without operator intervention.
The new Autofeed 5-51 has a user friendly touch screen control system that has a memory capacity for 36 different jobs to simplify changeovers. The control system supports all trouble shooting and diagnostic features. It is linked to an innovative remote pendant that allows manual and automatic operation with bar pusher movement; emergency stop and manual load/unload functions. Both control systems operate the robust and reliable Mitsubishi controller and servo drive that improve the functionality and movement of the Autofeed.
Additional features on the new Autofeed include stock alignment guides for reducing set-up times plus quick change guide channels with a ‘U’ shaped bottom guide channel to enable the sections to efficiently slide out of their base. This cuts noise and vibration to improve operability for the end user. All these innovative features are built upon a rigid and robust construction that makes this a truly unique barfeed system – as bar turners across the UK will testify.
For manufacturers with bar turning demands beyond 51mm diameter parameters, Hydrafeed will be launching an even larger barfeed system later in 2011 to compliment the existing Autofeed series. The new development will be a welcome sign for large component manufacturers aiming to automate their turned parts machining. For further information, please contact your local Hydrafeed representative.