Italian manufacturer Iemca has improved the performance of its KID 80 short-bar magazine to keep pace with the higher performance levels of modern CNC turning centres.

It is available in the UK and Ireland from sole agent, Salisbury-based 1st Machine Tool Accessories Ltd (www.1mta.com).

The KID 80 IV is designed for feeding stock between 5 and 80mm in diameter, and from 250 to 1,615mm long. It integrates with fixed-head and sliding-head CNC turning machines, but it can also be used with cam-operated lathes.

According to Iemca, pre-existing capabilities include speed, simplicity of use, precise mechanical bar location and no compressed-air connections. The unit is targeted at short to medium-size batch runs.

A notable design improvement on this latest unit avoids the need for the bar pusher to move during component transfer between the main spindle and the sub-spindle; most short magazines have to check the position of the material in the spindle during transfer, requiring the lathe to decelerate the spindle, thereby increasing non-cutting time.

Productivity is therefore higher with the KID 80 IV during single-hit machining of components requiring operations at both ends.

A further innovation is the ability to load a new bar while the last part is being machined, reducing change-over time; it is also possible to feed into position without a bar stop.

Meanwhile, a new quick-change connection system eliminates the need to use tools when changing the bar pusher, reducing set-up times even further.

Other new features of the KID 80 IV include an increase in rack capacity from 250 to 400kg, thus extending output
during unattended running. The software in the Siemens control has also been improved, and a 7in touch-screen has been fitted.