Fasteners & fixings
Screws, bolts, nuts, washers, rivets, inserts and pins for assembly, counting or packaging.
- Head-first or shank-first
- Thread protection
- Length and diameter variants
Part-specific feeding
Component bowl feeders for controlled orientation and presentation.
From fasteners and clips to caps, connectors and mouldings, the feeder is configured around the component's geometry, behaviour and final handover.
Component families
Common parts. Unique feeding behaviour.
Two visually similar parts can behave very differently in a feeder. Each defined component set is assessed against the production requirement.
Caps & closures
Screw caps, push-on closures, dispensing parts, plugs and overcaps for packaging lines.
- Open-side orientation
- Tamper-band protection
- Colour or feature inspection
Clips & mouldings
Automotive clips, plastic retainers, housings, buttons and injection-moulded parts.
- Asymmetric feature location
- Flash and mould variation
- Cosmetic surface control
Connectors & terminals
Electrical housings, terminals, contacts, insulators and small electronic parts.
- Fine orientation features
- Static and entanglement review
- Sensor or vision confirmation
Seals, O-rings & springs
Flexible, nested or tangle-prone parts needing careful separation and controlled track loading.
- Tangling risk
- Compression and deformation
- Alternative feeder review
Medical & clean parts
Device components, closures and clean manufactured parts with defined contact requirements.
- Material traceability
- Cleanability and access
- Controlled product contact
Caps & closures
Component condition
Test parts in the condition the feeder will actually receive.
Trial results are only meaningful when samples represent production. Lubrication, dust, flash, static, inconsistent mouldings, surface marks and packaging damage can all change how components separate and travel.
GeometryDimensions, centre of gravity, orientation features and tolerances
SurfaceFriction, cosmetic sensitivity, oil, coating and contamination
BehaviourNesting, tangling, shingling, bounce and part-on-part damage
VariationAll intended formats, suppliers, cavities and production conditions
Variant strategy
One feeder, change parts—or separate systems?
A single bowl may handle a compatible family when key orientation features and track dimensions are shared. Adjustments or interchangeable tooling can widen the format range, but every variant must be named and assessed before the design is fixed.
Where parts differ significantly, separate bowls, quick-change assemblies, a step feeder or a flexible vision-guided system may provide a more reliable result. The right answer balances changeover, operator skill, rate, validation and future product plans.
Do not specify a vague future range.
List the exact current variants and identify probable future parts separately. This keeps the acceptance test measurable and prevents unproven formats from being treated as included.
Component questions
What changes feeder design?
What information is needed about the component?
Supply drawings or dimensions, weight, material, finish, tolerances, all variants, photographs in the as-received condition and representative production samples where requested.
Can oily or dusty components be fed?
Potentially, but the real production condition must be disclosed. Oil, dust, swarf, moulding flash and static can change track friction, sensor performance, cleanliness and maintenance requirements.
Can delicate components be bowl fed?
Some can, using controlled fill level, coatings, brushes and careful tooling. If recirculation or part-on-part contact risks damage, a gentler feeding principle may be recommended.