Automation’s benefits for your shop extend beyond increased spindle utilization and higher output for people and machines. Along with those production advantages, automation also yields improved part accuracy and consistency for better process control, reduces the potential for human error and enables you to schedule lights out production. Automation solutions from Mazak include a variety of options that can give you a competitive advantage without a substantial investment. Among these cost-effective solutions are bar feeders, gantry loaders and the company’s Multi-Pallet Pool (MPP) System.
Bar feeders offer a cost-effective productivity boost when you’re turning shaft-type parts. Load and feed bar material – up to four inches in diameter with our standard options – into your turning machine. Instead of individually fed slugs, you can sequence workpieces automatically, machine multiple parts from a single piece of bar material run at precision high speeds or process odd shapes and sizes of material. On some Mazak Multi-Tasking machines, bar feeders allow you to create prismatic components from round bar stock using a three-jaw chuck instead of machining center fixtures. You’ll also save workspace thanks to the ATC’s side storage.