Part Straightening Device

[yoopertool]

I am trying to design a device to straighten parts off of our swiss lathes. Right now our operators are straightening thousands of parts manually by dial indicating and bending them. I was hoping to design a device similar to those used to straighten wire from a coil before they go into a machine such as this one:

http://www.simplexrapid.it/documenti...i/RTA//RTA.pdf

I have alot of questions regarding how to keep the parts and rollers from gulling and leaving marks. I have made prototypes out of plastic, but the friction between the plastic rollers and the part melts the plastic. Other than the melting everything worked great on a prototype level. If anyone with any experience in this area has any suggestions I would be greatful to hear them. Thanks.

[HuFlungDung]

Are the parts bending due to stress relief from machining, or was the original stock not straight? What diameter are you working with, and what material?

I don't think you can hope to use a continuous feed straightner to straighten short pieces. This is because the uncut end serves as an anchor against which straightening forces are applied farther out. As soon as you cut the piece off, then the cut end is free to move from straightening force, and it becomes nearly impossible to straighten right to the end. Perhaps you can cut overlength, straighten close to the end in some sort of through feed straightener, then recut the curled bit off each end.

[yoopertool]

The parts are indeed bending due to stress relief from machining. The parts range from .07" - .15" diameter and are made out of quite a few different types of stainless.

I agree that it would not work to do a continuous feed. I was referencing that machine by the way it distorts the part while spinning to straighten the part. What I would like to have is a machine that would auto-load each part into a spindle and straighten each one individually.

What I really need to know are any tips or tricks that people may know as to how to reduce heat generation and gulling in this type of process. Thanks again!

[HuFlungDung]

Have you considered using aluminum bronze for the contact rollers? It is supposed to be non-marking yet very tough and resistant to deformation.