Real Engineerings | Engineering & Technology & Gadgets & DIY on Instagram: "This is the true, unsung hero of the modern factory. ​What you're watching might look simple, but it's one of the most critical processes in all of mass production. This is an automatic parts feeder, (often a "step feeder" or "cleated chain conveyor"), and its job is the definition of efficiency. ​The Problem It Solves: On the floor, you have a massive, jumbled hopper full of thousands of raw metal billets (or "slugs").