Gripper system to unload finished pieces

[cnc1968]

Hi everyone,
We are getting super excited as our DS30 SS and DS30 SSY are soon to be installed. There doesnt seem to be much information on this forum regarding these two machines, but any help with the following would be highly appreciated.....

1/ We are going to use the Royal Products Gripper to unload finished parts from the sub-spindle. Does anyone know if it would be able to reach the parts catcher in the door to drop part into?

2/ Does anyone have helpfull tips for using the DS's as semi production machines (barfeeeders and grippers)

[KenFoulks]

1. Which gripper model? How are you holding/actuating it?

2. Use G199 and do not stop the spindles to transfer. If your gripper is coolant actuated, be sure to test it at different times of the day, after periods of inactivity and at varying coolant levels.

[cnc1968]

Its the Grippex coolant activated model.

I come from a production shop that had barfeeders and twin spindle twin turret machines.
We are trying to use the DS's as best we can for production machining.
We have watched so many youtube videos of the DS, but none show a gripper unloading the subspindle and dropping the part in the door catcher.

Anyone out there using this type of machine for production machining we would love to hear from you.

[KenFoulks]

Just put a light spring in the back of the secondary chuck. When you open the jaws, the part will be pushed out.

[cnc1968]

Using Royal Collets not chucks and machining a lot of brass threaded pieces.

[cnc1968]

I have been given the dimensions for the head stock size for the DS's and told that using barfeeders the length of material should not exceed 33 inches long. To me that seems small and a waste. Has anyone ran longer bar lengths in the 300 series feeder?

[KenFoulks]

We recommend not to exceed the length of the liner which is 42". We also say to use bars that are 36" long for heavy large diameter steel rods. I would say 2" and above.

[cnc1968]

Thanks Ken, that makes more sense.
Within the next 2 weeks our machines will be on the floor and we can sort through the other issues, like automatic unloading of subspindle and clearance issues.