FANUC brings automated CNC milling to education market

The new FANUC educational package combines a ROBODRILL machining center with CRX-10iA collaborative robot

Schools, colleges, universities, and training centers benefit from a new FANUC educational package that combines the company’s machine tool and collaborative robot technologies. Developed in tandem with several leading industry partners, the ROBODRILL Educational Cell brings automated CNC milling to the training marketplace at a special cost-competitive price.

FANUC is passionate about automation. FANUC‘s automated solutions drive productivity, enhance quality, and minimize costs by contributing massively to manufacturing efficiencies. Given the exciting future-facing industry, the company is also passionate about education. It is, in fact, a Global Partner of WorldSkills, which organizes the biennial world championships of vocational skills to help young people prepare for a career in the robotics industry. Upon this basis, FANUC is launching its latest educational package, combining a ROBODRILL vertical machining center with a CRX-10iA collaborative robot.

Hands-on experience

Designed for students, the ROBODRILL Educational Cell enables trainees to gain hands-on experience in programming and operating CNC machine tools and cutting-edge robots. The package content is highly relevant for modern factory applications and contains everything instructors require for teaching.

Worldwide, the demand for automation has increased dramatically during the past ten years. FANUC educational packages already exist based on stand-alone industrial robot and collaborative robot technologies. The addition of a CNC vertical machining center in the new package allows trainees to experience automated component manufacture, from the arrival of raw billets to the unloading of a completed workpiece, all driven by ISO-based programming via FANUC’s high-end 31i-B5 CNC system. The package is a state-of-the-art Industry 4.0 production cell with Ethernet ports and Ethernet software support as standard.

Five-axis machining

FANUC’s proven ROBODRILL offers five-axis simultaneous milling across travel distances of 500 x 400 x 330 mm in the three linear axes (X, Y, and Z). A Lehmann five-axis table provides the tilt and rotate axes (A and C), while an automatic tool changer ready-loaded with 21 tools serves a BBT30, 10,000 rpm spindle. Advanced machine functions include Tilted Working Plane (TWP) for 3+2 machining, High-Speed Smooth (TCP) for machining a plane with the side of a tool using center-point control, and AICC-2 200 Blocks Look Ahead for enhanced contour control.

To provide a complete learning experience, the ROBODRILL comes with a Renishaw OMP40-2 optical transmission probe and Renishaw OTS table-mounted optical tool setter. The machine also includes Renishaw’s AxiSet™ Check-Up, which offers an easy and reliable way of analyzing the performance of rotary axes and identifying problems caused by incorrect machine set-up, collisions, or wear.

To help with training, the all-inclusive package comes complete with an NC program for a defined workpiece, a vice to suit the component, five dedicated cutting tools, and five tool holders. FANUC even supplies the raw aluminum material. The package also features a GoPro Hero 9 waterproof action camera to help see inside the machine (via Wi-Fi connection), ensuring this plug-and-play solution is ready to use straight from the box. A further inclusion is FANUC’s CNC Guide Academic Package - intelligent PC simulator software that is ideal for both individual and group training.

As a point of note, those investing in the new package (premium or basic) will receive an attractive 60-month ROBODRILL warranty.

Collaborative working

Complementing the ROBODRILL machining center is the CRX-10iA collaborative robot, which offers a reach of 1249 mm and a 10 kg maximum payload. As the name suggests, collaborative robots can work safely alongside humans, coming to a safe and immediate stop in event of contact.

A single cable provides a communications link between the CRX robot and the ROBODRILL vertical machining center. Among the many advantages of selecting FANUC technology to deliver educational solutions is that the company manufactures machine tools, robots, and CNC units, thus facilitating seamless system integration.

Rich package content

The creation of FANUC’s new ROBODRILL Educational Cell has received extensive support from several industry partners who recognize the need to help prepare young people for a career in modern, automated industrial workplaces. Aside from Lehmann, as mentioned earlier, Renishaw and GoPro, these partners include Big Daishowa (tool holders), Schunk (vices), and Mitsubishi (DIAEDGE cutting tools). The world of component machining needs an ongoing source of new talent, which is why so many industry leaders have pooled their expertise in making this innovative educational tool available at a highly attractive price point.

About FANUC

The FANUC Corporation is one of the worldwide leaders in factory automation for CNC control systems, robots, and production machinery (ROBODRILL, ROBOCUT, ROBOSHOT, and ROBONANO). Since 1956, FANUC is the pioneer in the development of numerically controlled machines in the automation industry. With 271 FANUC locations worldwide and more than 8,200 employees, FANUC offers a dense network in sales, technical support, research & development, logistics, and customer service.