Kiwi 'smith Dean
Cast Iron
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2011
- Location
- Tauranga, New Zealand.
Hi Guys,
So I acquired a used CNC lathe a few months ago, but just getting around to setting it all up now that the new workshop is finished. (Yama Seiki GLS-150). It came with a Fedek DH65L bar-feeder. I have never used a bar-feeder before or had to set one up.
Looking at some of the newer machines out there now like Haas and others, the smaller type bar feeders often seem to be set up on a sliding ways system whereby you can disengage some locking latches and push the bar feeder back in the direction of the x-axis, so that you can then easily access the rear of the spindle in order to change spindle liners, etc. On the machine that we uplifted, it was bolted firmly in place to the concrete floor. I don't really want to duplicate that set-up, as I would prefer to not have to bolt into the floor if possible. I also want to make it easy to get the BF out of the way without having to resort to a crane or some other method of lifting and sliding it out of the way.
So, my question is, are there any companies that are making a sliding-rails type of conversion kit for the Fedek barfeeders, or anything else that may be similar? Sure, we could make and design something ourselves if required, but like most small shops I am so maxed-out on time as it is at the moment, that i would prefer in the first instance to try to see if there is anything available commercially, before sinking a huge amount of time into another project that may take me 12-18 months of spare time to sort out, if I have to design and build something from scratch. Pics attached. Thanks in advance. Regards, Dean.
So I acquired a used CNC lathe a few months ago, but just getting around to setting it all up now that the new workshop is finished. (Yama Seiki GLS-150). It came with a Fedek DH65L bar-feeder. I have never used a bar-feeder before or had to set one up.
Looking at some of the newer machines out there now like Haas and others, the smaller type bar feeders often seem to be set up on a sliding ways system whereby you can disengage some locking latches and push the bar feeder back in the direction of the x-axis, so that you can then easily access the rear of the spindle in order to change spindle liners, etc. On the machine that we uplifted, it was bolted firmly in place to the concrete floor. I don't really want to duplicate that set-up, as I would prefer to not have to bolt into the floor if possible. I also want to make it easy to get the BF out of the way without having to resort to a crane or some other method of lifting and sliding it out of the way.
So, my question is, are there any companies that are making a sliding-rails type of conversion kit for the Fedek barfeeders, or anything else that may be similar? Sure, we could make and design something ourselves if required, but like most small shops I am so maxed-out on time as it is at the moment, that i would prefer in the first instance to try to see if there is anything available commercially, before sinking a huge amount of time into another project that may take me 12-18 months of spare time to sort out, if I have to design and build something from scratch. Pics attached. Thanks in advance. Regards, Dean.