The drawing below illustrates an actual case where this principle was applied. The initial cost to modify the part was more than offset by the savings in the tooling cost. Inexpensive parts feeders replaced the slow and more costly orientors. The feeders ran at twice the rate of the orientors and reliability was no longer a concern. Adding a lip to the closed end of this part resulted in less costly and more efficient feeding.
Some parts are inherently difficult to feed.
Lead wires on electronic components, for instance, tend to tangle. Unfired ceramics and unsintered pressed metal parts are very fragile and may be damaged. Parts coated with heavy oils tend to adhere to conventional bowl tracks and must be supported on thin rails. Fortunately, many parts can be classified into one of eight categories, according to their configuration and dimensions. See the accompanying illustrations on the next page which show typical tooling techniques when feeding these parts.