Abstract: A plurality of bar stock retaining sleeves control the bar stock fed therethrough to a machine center to prevent excessive vibration and end-whipping during a cutting and machining operation. A first retaining sleeve is positioned within the feed orifice of the machine center, and includes a master bushing having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bar stock being cut, which master bushing is positioned adjacent the orifice outlet at the the cutting head. A second retaining sleeve is supporting exteriorly of the machine center in abutting relationship to the stock inlet of the feed orifice. The second retaining sleeve includes at least two bushings having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the bar stock, the two bushings being connected in spaced relationship to each other by an elongated cylindrical tube having an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the connected bushings.

Abstract: A workpiece positioner usable with a lathe having a headstock rotatable about a lathe axis has a base adjacent the lathe and defining an upright base axis offset from the lathe axis, a gripper support pivotal on the base about the base axis and defining a horizontal support axis, a positioner head pivotal on the support about the support axis, and a pair of grippers each including a respective pair of gripper jaws displaceable on the head transversely of the support axis.

Abstract: An NC lathe with a robot for automatically exchanging works and chuck claws comprising a numerically controlled lathe having a rotatable chuck, a robot disposed in the vicinity of the numerically controlled lathe, and a feeder disposed in the vicinity of the robot. Groups of works and magazines containing chuck claws are placed on the pallets carried on the feeder, forming respective sets. The robot executes the exchanging operation of the works and the chuck claws between the feeder and the chuck.