Designed for feeding sliding-head and fixed-head automatic lathes with bar in the diameter range 2 to 16 mm, the new Turbo 2-16 from FMB Maschinenbau has been added to the lower end of the company's standard, full length bar magazine range. With this extra model there are now five Turbo models for handling material up to 100 mm diameter. Sole sales agent for the German manufacturer in the British and Irish markets is A and S Precision Machine Tools, Melbourne, Derbyshire, which is also exclusively responsible for service, spares and training.

Capable of feeding round, square or hexagonal stock, the magazine accepts bar up to 3.2 metres or 4.2 metres in length, according to the version selected.

A swing-out, quick change bar pusher system minimises the overall length of the magazine.

It is aimed primarily at manufacturers of such products as electronic components and watches, as well as those that specialise in precision, small-diameter turned parts.

In common with all bar magazines from this manufacturer, the new model is equipped with oil-filled plastic channels in which the bar rotates.

Bars within a large diameter range can be accommodated within one channel size.

Should the bar and channel diameters differ appreciably, oil turbulence created by the rotation centralises the bar, and the faster it spins the stronger the effect.

In cases where the diameter difference is small, a hydrodynamic bearing is formed which takes over the supporting role to keep the stock rotating in the centre.

The consequent absence of any discernible vibration results in a quiet working environment and improved machining accuracy.

Width of the inclined storage table is 180 mm, accommodating between 11 and 90 bars depending on diameter and allowing long periods of unattended production.

A new feature is the possibility to mount the load table on either side of the magazine.

Stock may therefore be loaded from the front or back of a turning machine to suit the layout of the shop floor, irrespective of whether the spindle through which the bar is being fed is on the left hand or right hand side of the lathe.

In line with today's need for ever higher production rates, forward feed on this new model is increased to 600 mm/sec, 50 per cent faster than for other FMB Turbo magazines.

Loading time shows a similar improvement at 26 seconds.

Extensive control options guarantee perfect integration of magazine and lathe, with parameters shown on a clear text display.

Inserting maximum and minimum component lengths into the control serves as an extra safety feature and reduces remnant length.