A bar feeder is the workshop equipment that undertakes the task of automatically feeding metal bars into CNC milling machines. Those types of tools are used to increase the productivity of a workshop and allow CNCs to work unattended and during the night or weekends.
Bar feeders are considered to be a CNC extension, so they are directly connected and controlled by the latter. Operators, however, may also set a particular feeding rate that is fit for an application manually. The metal bars are held on the storage chamber and are taken out one by one to be passed into the CNC milling chamber. Bar feeders today are capable of detecting abnormal operation, stopping the feed automatically.
Things to consider when buying one
There are many different bar feeder models in the market today, offering different production qualitative and quantitative characteristics. As these machines are destined to work together with CNCs, compatibility and sizing are especially important when considering buying one. Here's a list with the most significant factors to consider before making a bar feeder choice:
Magazine Size Needs
The size of the magazine that holds the bars is a critical factor to consider when buying a bar feeder. Determine what type of bars you want to process (gauge class) and calculate how many of them can be held on the magazine. Then consider the feeding rate to figure out how many hours of unattended operation you can get from the feeder. Usually, a minimum of 8 hours (night shift) should be preferred.
Lengths of Part and Spindle
Each part that is produced on the CNC requires a specific amount of bar length to be realized. Machinists should calculate the total bar size, subtract the length of the part that is held on the CNC spindle and divide with part length to determine the number of the workpieces can be produced with each bar. This can indicate if a bar feeder choice is good or not, as sometimes a slightly longer bar could be enough for one whole extra product.
Safety of Operation
As bar feeders are required to work well for long periods of time without the presence of personnel, it is very important to have safety features that monitor the operation and check for errors in the process. Some safety net mechanisms that are used by modern bar feeders include sensors, load meters, infrared beams and streaming webcams that send video technicians remotely.
Space Requirements
Floor area is sometimes a workshop's most limited resource, and bar feeders are known to challenge this. As the machines get fixed on the spindle side of the CNC and since they are relatively long in almost all cases, machinists should carefully calculate whether their workshops have enough space for the addition of a bar feeder. Not only should the bar feeder fit next to the CNC, but there should also be enough space for maintenance, access to all compartments, and space to clench/unclench bolts. If the bars are loaded onto the machine with the use of a small crane, there should also be enough space to accommodate its maneuvering as well.
Find bar feeders, rotary tables and more at www.cncindexing.com.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Vertical Machining Centers And Their Most Common Applications
Vertical Machining Centers (VMC) are most probably the most common metalworking machine found in every workshop around the world. Their operating principle is based on a rotating milling head that is placed on the top while the workpiece is mounted on an adjustable table at a plane that is parallel to the ground.
VMMs come in two types that boast different sets of capabilities and thus they are suitable for different applications. The first type is the "bed mill" that allows the workpiece table to move perpendicular to the rotating axis of the cutter. The other type is the "turret mill" that lets the workpiece table move parallel to the cutting tool in addition to the perpendicular direction.
Vertical Machining Centers (VMC) are most probably the most common metalworking machine found in every workshop around the world. Their operating principle is based on a rotating milling head that is placed on the top while the workpiece is mounted on an adjustable table at a plane that is parallel to the ground.
VMMs come in two types that boast different sets of capabilities and thus they are suitable for different applications. The first type is the "bed mill" that allows the workpiece table to move perpendicular to the rotating axis of the cutter. The other type is the "turret mill" that lets the workpiece table move parallel to the cutting tool in addition to the perpendicular direction.
Advantages over Horizontal Centers
Vertical machining centers are much faster and easier to set up compared to the larger and more heavy duty horizontal millers. This makes them ideal for the processing of smaller parts, or for performing less demanding metalworking tasks. In addition to this, vertical mills can perform much more intricate work at very tight tolerances, something that is practically impossible with most horizontal centers. Another significant difference is the retractable quill that is available in VMCs and helps in the accurate boring of holes.
Ways VMCs Are Used
Vertical Machining Centers can be used in a wide scope of metal processing tasks depending on the expertise and different cutting heads, rotary tables or offset boring heads that may be available. Here is a list with the most common uses for this type of machine tool:
1. Face or slab milling is the most obvious application of a VMM. The workpiece is mounted parallel to the working table as the cutting head removes material from the top surface, flattening, indentation or leveling the processed item.
2. In a similar way, if the workpiece is silently mounted, the milling is performed in an inclination. This angular cutting can produce dovetails for joints.
3. For even more demanding and complex results, there is the straddle milling that involves two parallel milling cutters mounted on the same arbor and separated by an exact spacing. This makes the simultaneous cutting of two points possible, which is very useful when in need to mill hexagons of bolt heads for example. This will also need the addition of a rotary index table as the milling arbor is not rotatable.
4. In the same way, machinists can also achieve high fidelity concaves or simply remove any rough edges through corner rounding. This required good calculation and measurement skills to get right.
5. Using special key-slot cutting heads that boast certain diameter and width, machinists can mill keyways along the axis of shafts. These keyways can have different shapes such as squares or round-end for example.
6. Spline and gear milling is also possible using vertical milling centers following the straddle milling principles.
7. Finally, vertical mills can drill and bore holes thanks to their adequate speed and torque values, as well as their retractable quill that helps in the accuracy part of the process.
Learn more about CNC machine tools and which one meets your needs by contact Absolute Machine Tools Inc.
VMMs come in two types that boast different sets of capabilities and thus they are suitable for different applications. The first type is the "bed mill" that allows the workpiece table to move perpendicular to the rotating axis of the cutter. The other type is the "turret mill" that lets the workpiece table move parallel to the cutting tool in addition to the perpendicular direction.
Vertical Machining Centers (VMC) are most probably the most common metalworking machine found in every workshop around the world. Their operating principle is based on a rotating milling head that is placed on the top while the workpiece is mounted on an adjustable table at a plane that is parallel to the ground.
VMMs come in two types that boast different sets of capabilities and thus they are suitable for different applications. The first type is the "bed mill" that allows the workpiece table to move perpendicular to the rotating axis of the cutter. The other type is the "turret mill" that lets the workpiece table move parallel to the cutting tool in addition to the perpendicular direction.
Advantages over Horizontal Centers
Vertical machining centers are much faster and easier to set up compared to the larger and more heavy duty horizontal millers. This makes them ideal for the processing of smaller parts, or for performing less demanding metalworking tasks. In addition to this, vertical mills can perform much more intricate work at very tight tolerances, something that is practically impossible with most horizontal centers. Another significant difference is the retractable quill that is available in VMCs and helps in the accurate boring of holes.
Ways VMCs Are Used
Vertical Machining Centers can be used in a wide scope of metal processing tasks depending on the expertise and different cutting heads, rotary tables or offset boring heads that may be available. Here is a list with the most common uses for this type of machine tool:
1. Face or slab milling is the most obvious application of a VMM. The workpiece is mounted parallel to the working table as the cutting head removes material from the top surface, flattening, indentation or leveling the processed item.
2. In a similar way, if the workpiece is silently mounted, the milling is performed in an inclination. This angular cutting can produce dovetails for joints.
3. For even more demanding and complex results, there is the straddle milling that involves two parallel milling cutters mounted on the same arbor and separated by an exact spacing. This makes the simultaneous cutting of two points possible, which is very useful when in need to mill hexagons of bolt heads for example. This will also need the addition of a rotary index table as the milling arbor is not rotatable.
4. In the same way, machinists can also achieve high fidelity concaves or simply remove any rough edges through corner rounding. This required good calculation and measurement skills to get right.
5. Using special key-slot cutting heads that boast certain diameter and width, machinists can mill keyways along the axis of shafts. These keyways can have different shapes such as squares or round-end for example.
6. Spline and gear milling is also possible using vertical milling centers following the straddle milling principles.
7. Finally, vertical mills can drill and bore holes thanks to their adequate speed and torque values, as well as their retractable quill that helps in the accuracy part of the process.
Learn more about CNC machine tools and which one meets your needs by contact Absolute Machine Tools Inc.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Industries And Jobs That Deep Hole Drilling Machines Are Used In
Gun drills are basically straight fluted rods that use highly pressurized fluids to achieve cutting into great depth in metal materials. The depth to diameter ratios that can be realized by those specialized tools ranges from 250 to 500.
Around this fluted rod that is essentially the drill, circulates the coolant that keeps drilling temperatures below melting point for both the drill and the workpiece while the chips that are produced from the process flow outside the drilled hole.
Features
The tip of the gun drill itself is the point that is called to withstand the deformation forces generated by the extreme pressures. For this reason, gun drill manufacturers choose the strongest metal alloys and composite materials that stay unaffected by intense pressure and sudden temperature changes for many years of operation.
In order for a gun drill to deliver the required levels of drilling accuracy, everything has to work precisely as intended and the affecting factors must all be carefully calibrated. This suggests for extreme manufacturing quality and the cost is naturally the equivalent. The speed with which gun drill machines can cut through rigid metals such as steel can reach up to 75 cm per minute. This makes up for the increased cost as speed of processing dramatically increases.
Uses
Gun Barrels
The most obvious use scenario for the gun drilling machines is for the drilling of gun barrels, which is where this specialized tool got its name from. Gun drills are ideal for the boring of such long holes into rigid metal materials.
The smoothness of the gun barrel's inner surface that only gun drills can achieve ensures that the projectiles will travel straight inside the barrel. The accuracy of the gun drills guarantees the homogeneous heating of the barrel, durability to explosive forces and long lifetimes. Before gun drilling machines were available, casting was used for the production of gun barrels.
Molds and Dies
Another case of gun drilling machine application is for the manufacturing of molds that are suitable for the production of metal parts or tools. In this case, gun drills are especially useful as the molten material may have to be inserted through a relatively long hole and into the casting mold.
Tool Manufacturing
A popular application for gun drills is tool manufacturing. There are several types of mechanical tools that feature deep holes that serve as fitting positions for extensions etc. Deep hole drilling machines can help boring the hardened alloys that tools are made of and can even achieve polygonal features.
Musical Instruments
Last, gun drilling machines are extensively used in the music instrument manufacturing industry and especially for wind instruments that require deep holes of small diameter. These instruments can be flutes, oboes, bassoons, saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, ocarinas and reeds. As most of these instruments are made out of brass and other soft metals, gun drill machines are required to work with precision and delicacy as the slightest deformation will result in wrong tonal performance.
If you're looking for a great deal on a gun drilling machine, visit Absolute Machine Tools Inc. for more information on their CNC machines.
Around this fluted rod that is essentially the drill, circulates the coolant that keeps drilling temperatures below melting point for both the drill and the workpiece while the chips that are produced from the process flow outside the drilled hole.
Features
The tip of the gun drill itself is the point that is called to withstand the deformation forces generated by the extreme pressures. For this reason, gun drill manufacturers choose the strongest metal alloys and composite materials that stay unaffected by intense pressure and sudden temperature changes for many years of operation.
In order for a gun drill to deliver the required levels of drilling accuracy, everything has to work precisely as intended and the affecting factors must all be carefully calibrated. This suggests for extreme manufacturing quality and the cost is naturally the equivalent. The speed with which gun drill machines can cut through rigid metals such as steel can reach up to 75 cm per minute. This makes up for the increased cost as speed of processing dramatically increases.
Uses
Gun Barrels
The most obvious use scenario for the gun drilling machines is for the drilling of gun barrels, which is where this specialized tool got its name from. Gun drills are ideal for the boring of such long holes into rigid metal materials.
The smoothness of the gun barrel's inner surface that only gun drills can achieve ensures that the projectiles will travel straight inside the barrel. The accuracy of the gun drills guarantees the homogeneous heating of the barrel, durability to explosive forces and long lifetimes. Before gun drilling machines were available, casting was used for the production of gun barrels.
Molds and Dies
Another case of gun drilling machine application is for the manufacturing of molds that are suitable for the production of metal parts or tools. In this case, gun drills are especially useful as the molten material may have to be inserted through a relatively long hole and into the casting mold.
Tool Manufacturing
A popular application for gun drills is tool manufacturing. There are several types of mechanical tools that feature deep holes that serve as fitting positions for extensions etc. Deep hole drilling machines can help boring the hardened alloys that tools are made of and can even achieve polygonal features.
Musical Instruments
Last, gun drilling machines are extensively used in the music instrument manufacturing industry and especially for wind instruments that require deep holes of small diameter. These instruments can be flutes, oboes, bassoons, saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, ocarinas and reeds. As most of these instruments are made out of brass and other soft metals, gun drill machines are required to work with precision and delicacy as the slightest deformation will result in wrong tonal performance.
If you're looking for a great deal on a gun drilling machine, visit Absolute Machine Tools Inc. for more information on their CNC machines.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Different Types Of CNC Lathes & How To Choose The Right One For Your Needs
If there is one machine that changed the way we produce parts and goods forever, that is the Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) lathes. These advanced pieces of machinery break free from the milling limitations of the traditional lathes that only offered axial cutting, and manage to mill, drill or cut from various angles and process on six axis. The cutting head movement and chock speed are automatically given by a controlling computer that manages the metal processing and the tool changes based on the given design.
A CNC lathe can be programmed through the inputting of a series of commands that correspond to specific positioning and processing activities. Alternatively, a CAD file can be imported to the CNC software and a processing procedure will be generated automatically. The benefits of this automation for the workshops that utilize CNCs are multiple with the most important being the freeing of human resources and the improved production rates.
Because of the wide range of available CNC lathes in the market, buyers may have a difficult time choosing the right one for their needs. The following types are the most commonly used lathe categories that can serve different purposes:
Flat Bed Turning Centers
Flat bed lathes are the most commonly used type of CNC lathes. Their working bed is positioned perpendicular to the ground plane, enhancing the stability of the working piece that is pushed downwards due to the cutting forces. This stability has beneficial effects to the life cycle of the equipment as it works almost free of any vibrations. The only element that makes flat bed lathes problematic under certain conditions is their high spacial requirements.
Slant Bed
To address this problem when dealing with confined space in workshops, you could go for the slant bed choice. This is basically a lathe with an inclination on the X axis and from this difference derive great benefits and also some disadvantages. The benefits include less chip accumulation on the bed and much less floor area occupied. The drawbacks concern vibrations and greater wear and tear rates.
Vertical Turning Centers
Another choice could be the vertical turning lathes (VTL). This approach puts the cutting head on a perpendicular position to the workpiece that is placed on a rotating bed. Cutting vertically enhances the rigidness and allows for great milling precision. VTLs can cut at high rates (cut deep) and require the least floor area from all the described types.
Multitasking Turning Centers
Why go for a milling head when you can two or three of them working together though? Apart from the raised cost of purchase, multitasking CNC lathes are the best available solution for high manufacturing rates. Boasting the ability to auto-change tools and perform multiple machining tasks at once makes this type of CNCs the most efficient automated machine in a workshop. All that they require is some monitoring and validation work from the operator.
CNC Swiss Lathes
Swiss type lathes are high-precision tools that can produce workpieces of unprecedented dimensional accuracy, in the rate of tenths of thousandths of an inch. This is achieved through the combination of multiple holding points and guides that make the workpiece rotate at zero deviation from the set center point. If swiss type lathes are combined with "live tools," manufacturing rates of small products can reach very high levels.
Find top of the line lathes and other CNC machine tools at Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. Contact us today for a free quote.
A CNC lathe can be programmed through the inputting of a series of commands that correspond to specific positioning and processing activities. Alternatively, a CAD file can be imported to the CNC software and a processing procedure will be generated automatically. The benefits of this automation for the workshops that utilize CNCs are multiple with the most important being the freeing of human resources and the improved production rates.
Because of the wide range of available CNC lathes in the market, buyers may have a difficult time choosing the right one for their needs. The following types are the most commonly used lathe categories that can serve different purposes:
Flat Bed Turning Centers
Flat bed lathes are the most commonly used type of CNC lathes. Their working bed is positioned perpendicular to the ground plane, enhancing the stability of the working piece that is pushed downwards due to the cutting forces. This stability has beneficial effects to the life cycle of the equipment as it works almost free of any vibrations. The only element that makes flat bed lathes problematic under certain conditions is their high spacial requirements.
Slant Bed
To address this problem when dealing with confined space in workshops, you could go for the slant bed choice. This is basically a lathe with an inclination on the X axis and from this difference derive great benefits and also some disadvantages. The benefits include less chip accumulation on the bed and much less floor area occupied. The drawbacks concern vibrations and greater wear and tear rates.
Vertical Turning Centers
Another choice could be the vertical turning lathes (VTL). This approach puts the cutting head on a perpendicular position to the workpiece that is placed on a rotating bed. Cutting vertically enhances the rigidness and allows for great milling precision. VTLs can cut at high rates (cut deep) and require the least floor area from all the described types.
Multitasking Turning Centers
Why go for a milling head when you can two or three of them working together though? Apart from the raised cost of purchase, multitasking CNC lathes are the best available solution for high manufacturing rates. Boasting the ability to auto-change tools and perform multiple machining tasks at once makes this type of CNCs the most efficient automated machine in a workshop. All that they require is some monitoring and validation work from the operator.
CNC Swiss Lathes
Swiss type lathes are high-precision tools that can produce workpieces of unprecedented dimensional accuracy, in the rate of tenths of thousandths of an inch. This is achieved through the combination of multiple holding points and guides that make the workpiece rotate at zero deviation from the set center point. If swiss type lathes are combined with "live tools," manufacturing rates of small products can reach very high levels.
Find top of the line lathes and other CNC machine tools at Absolute Machine Tools, Inc. Contact us today for a free quote.
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