Industrial automation specialist FANUC UK will showcase a range of real-world robotic innovations at MACH 2024, including an affordable multi-axis turning and machining solution aimed at helping manufacturers in the aerospace, automotive, utilities and energy supply chains reduce cycle times, costs, save space and boost production efficiency.
As well as EDM wire cutting, aerospace cobot drilling and educational solutions, the centrepiece of the FANUC Stand 350 in Hall 6 will be an advanced ROBODRILL machine, equipped with a 24,000rpm spindle and mounted with a NIKKEN two-axis high-speed rotary table, featuring a built-in direct drive motor that achieves 1500rpm. In operation throughout the show, the demonstration cell will produce finished scroll compressor aluminium housings, showcasing the cost-saving and performance benefits to be gained from combining machining and turning processes.
“FANUC and NIKKEN have worked together to create a combined machining/turning cell with an extended range of functionality, offered at a fraction of the cost of machines with similar capabilities,” says Oliver Selby, Head of UK Sales at FANUC UK.
“At the heart of the solution is our D21LiB5ADV Plus ROBODRILL, which is a 3-axis machine in its core configuration. The NIKKEN table adds a further two axes, allowing users to turn and machine components on the same unit,” Oliver explains. “This is a real breakthrough, which brings the functionality of million-pound machines within reach of SMEs at a significantly lower cost, helping them to become more competitive and consider undertaking work that would previously have been unavailable to them.”
Less than 3m long and a little over two metres wide, the ROBODRILL/NIKKEN solution features a NIKKEN 5AX-201 tilting rotary table with pneumatic clamping, enabling difficult-to-hold components to be quickly mounted and changed. In addition, access from all sides means the majority of operations can be completed in one hit, optimising machine tool and operators’ time.
Also available to visitors to the FANUC stand at MACH 2024 will be an aerospace drilling cell comprising a CRX-25iA cobot, a FANUC C600iC ROBOCUT wire EDM and an automated robot machine tool loader, developed in conjunction with YMT Technologies, alongside a D21MiB5ADV Plus ROBODRILL.
Finally, as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to encouraging a pipeline of new talent into engineering, manufacturing and automation, the FANUC stand will also host a turning and milling education simulator and a new-to-market ROBOT G-code solution with a FANUC Education cell. Controlled by a proprietary FANUC CNC unit, it features all the real-world functions required to teach core robotics programming and operating skills and help inspire the next generation to realise their career ambitions.
