Geometry, material, finish, tolerance and sample condition.
Technical guide
Specify the result at the hand-off—not only the feeder hardware.
A clear application brief reduces assumptions, improves trial quality and helps the feeder and receiving machine work as one controlled process.
Application inputPart · orientation · rate · interface
Orientation, rate, position and availability at the defined hand-off.
Duration, sample set, interventions, recovery and quality acceptance.
Specification checklist
A / 01Describe what the production process needs to receive.
The strongest specification combines component evidence with a measurable downstream requirement. It states the presentation datum, sustainable accepted rate and system boundary before drive or track details are fixed.
Where information is unknown, identify it as an open item for trial rather than converting an estimate into a performance commitment.
Use accepted parts per minute at the final hand-off, with test duration and permitted interventions, as the primary rate language.
1 · Component
Define the part population.
01Identity
Part numbers, drawings, revision, supplier and production status.
02Physical data
Dimensions, tolerances, weight, centre of gravity, material and finish.
03Variants
Colour, coating, geometry, batch and acceptable supplier differences.
04Sensitivity
Cosmetic faces, seals, threads, pins, latches and permitted contact.
05Samples
Quantities, batches, worst-case acceptable parts and reject examples.
2 · Process
Define the production result.
01Orientation
Exact datum and rotational condition at the hand-off.
02Accepted rate
Sustainable usable parts per minute over a defined operating period.
03Buffer
Required autonomous cycles or seconds between defined sensor states.
04Release
Continuous flow, one part on demand, batch count or controlled pitch.
05Quality
Orientation, damage, contamination and wrong-part acceptance standard.
3 · Integration
Define the system boundary.
01Layout
Available footprint, track route, loading height, access and guarding envelope.
02Mechanical hand-off
Part position, tolerance, pick direction and mating tooling responsibility.
03Controls
Platform, voltage, communications, signals, modes, faults and reset sequence.
04Safety
Guarding boundary, emergency-stop interface and integrated conformity responsibility.
05Environment
General industrial, clean-area, washdown, noise or other special requirement.
Download-ready brief
The minimum first enquiry.
Part + orientation + accepted rate + interface + environment + timescale
Attach photographs or drawings and state which values are confirmed, estimated or still to be established through trial.
Common questions
Linear feeder questions, answered.
Practical guidance for an early project review. Final design and performance are confirmed against the actual application.
01Should I specify peak or average feed rate?+
Specify the downstream demand pattern and the required sustained accepted output. If peak demand is intermittent, include the cycle and buffer requirement so the system does not need to match an unrealistic instantaneous rate continuously.
02Do I need a part drawing?+
A drawing is useful, but representative production samples are usually required to understand friction, variation, nesting and surface condition.
03Who defines the feeder-to-machine interface?+
It should be agreed jointly between the feeder supplier, machine builder and end user, with clear ownership for mechanical tooling, signals, safety, acceptance and recovery.
Start with the component
Need a stable path to the next machine?
Send a part photo or drawing, the required orientation and sustainable rate. We will help define the right linear feeding approach.
Request an application review