FANUC America introduces high-payload cobots and demonstrates industry-leading automation solutions at Automate

Manufacturer showcases NEW higher-payload-capacity cobots, along with the latest robots, software solutions and factory-automation technologies

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – FANUC America, the world leader in CNCs, robotics, and ROBOMACHINEs, introduced two new high-payload capacity collaborative robots and demonstrated a wide range of automation solutions at Automate 2023, from May 22 to 25 in Detroit, in booth #3232.

Cobot Zone Featuring Higher Payloads

FANUC has expanded the payload capacities of its CRX and CR cobot lines to handle products from four to 50 kg. FANUC now has 11 cobot model variations that can work in a variety of industrial applications including assembly, inspection, material handling, packaging, palletizing, sanding, welding, and more.

“Our collaborative robots are easy to use and flexible solutions for companies looking to enhance productivity and solve labour issues,” said Eric Potter, General Manager, General Industry and Automotive Segment, FANUC America. “We’ve seen substantial growth in the cobot space, particularly from companies who are new to robotic automation. We’re excited to introduce the CRX-25iA cobot with a 30-kg payload capacity and the CR-35iB cobot with a 50-kg payload capacity. Now, customers can easily handle heavier products with these models.”

FANUC CRX-25iA Cobot: New 30-kg Payload Capacity

The CRX-25iA cobot demonstrated its enhanced 30-kg payload capacity by easily handling a 30-kg kettlebell with full wrist articulation.

A second CRX-25iA equipped with the FANUC Servo Torch showcased its powerful capacity and long 1,889-mm reach in a hands-on welding demonstration to highlight easy lead-through-teaching of welding joints on a lawn mower deck.

FANUC’s entire series of CRX collaborative robots are reliable and flexible and can run for eight years without maintenance. Easy-to-use interactive programming allows operators to teach points using hand guidance or a Tablet TP with drag and drop icons.

FANUC CR-35iB Cobot: New 50-kg Payload Capacity

FANUC’s CR-35iB is the industry’s strongest collaborative robot featuring a new 50-kg payload capacity, a large work envelope and a small installation footprint which works well in small spaces. A streamlined and lighter mechanical unit includes FANUC’s latest sensor technology for safety.

At Automate, the CR-35iB using 3DV iRVision located and picked castings on a pallet and placed them on a shelf to represent a flexible Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). The cobot then recirculated parts back to the pallet. The demonstration featured the CR-35iB’s powerful lifting capabilities (up to 50 kg) and ability to adjust when the pallet location shifts. In addition, using a cobot in production allows operators to exchange pallets quickly and safely.

“We’re highlighting a flexible infeed system, which is key for customers looking to increase production rates,” said Christian Stevenson, Material Handling Engineer, General Industries and Automotive Segment, for FANUC America. “FANUC’s integrated 3DV iRVision provides that level of flexibility by precisely locating randomly placed parts.”

CRX Order Fulfillment, Bin Transfer and Shelving

Visitors using a Tablet TP selected from a variety of consumer items to pick orders. One of two CRX-10iA cobots with an iRVision® 3DV/200 vision sensor mounted on its arm scanned QR codes on a shelf to confirm that correct products are picked and scanned the items to transfer them to a bin on a table.

Next, a CRX-20iA/L cobot also used an iRVision 3DV/200 vision sensor to locate a full bin and place it on a Locus autonomous mobile robot (AMR). The cobot then found an empty bin on the AMR and placed it on the order table.

The AMR moves from the order fulfillment area to the shelving side where the CRX-20iA/L picks an empty bin and places it on the AMR and moves the full bin to a table.

The CRX-20iA/L uses iRVision to scan QR codes on the bins and locate the AMR. The CRX-20iA/L also communicates with the AMR to let it know when it has finished swapping empty bins and full orders. The AMR also tells the CRX when it’s in the correct position.

Finally, a second CRX-10iA with a fixed iRVision 3DV/600 vision sensor locates and picks products from the full bin, then scans each according to its RFID tag and places it back on the correct shelf.

The CRX-20iA/L can pick consumer items of varying sizes and shapes that weigh up to 20 kg. The demonstration highlighted its wide motion range and ability to handle small or large bins, relieving workers from physically demanding and repetitive jobs.

“This system is an example of what can be achieved when cobots, AMRs and vision sensors work together, resulting in a highly flexible autonomous solution that can be easily scaled up or down,” said Stacey Harimoto, Material Handling Engineer, General Industries and Automotive Segment, for FANUC America.

FANUC CRX-10iA Assembly with the Power Motion i-Model A

A CRX-10iA with the Power Motion i-Model A (PMi-A) simulated brake-rotor assembly. The PMi- A moves parts into position for the CRX, presses a simulated rivet into the part and performs quality inspection of the rivet press. The demonstration shows the versatility of the CRX cobot combined with the PMi-A, a high-performance and scalable general motion control supporting applications that require one to 32 axes.

The PMi-A, which offers CNC-style motion control for automated assembly and other applications, integrates seamlessly into virtually any production system using ethernet connection for easy communication between robots and machines. Users who trust FANUC’s reliable control and servo technology along with overall support for machine tools can expect the same performance and value in general purpose motion control.

FANUC CRX-10iA Deburring, Kitting and Interactive Programing

Deburring: A CRX-10iA used 3DV iRVision® to locate a randomly positioned bicycle disc brake rotor and move it to a regrip stand. The CRX then took the part to a deburring spindle and deburred it using integrated force control. After deburring, the part was dropped in the random location dome for the next cycle.

Kitting and Interactive Programming: Two additional CRX-10iA demonstrations gave attendees the chance to try the cobot’s intuitive hand guidance and easy-to-use Tablet TP programming. In one cell, the CRX is used for kitting various cosmetic items and candles. A second hands-on demonstration will use the CRX to pick and place stress balls located on a hopper.

FANUC R-2000iC/165F – Realtime Visual Tracking

A FANUC R-2000iC/165F robot uses a FANUC iRVision 3DV sensor to locate and pick a wheel from an infeed conveyor, and detect the tilt and rotation angles of a wheel hub on a moving conveyor. A 2D sensor provides visual feedback, enabling the robot to track and load the wheel as the conveyor moves, removing the need for a stop-station operation. The robot uses FANUC’s FS-250iA Force Sensor and Force Control Software to load the tire, then retracts and waits for the conveyor to stop. The robot then uses 3DV to locate and remove the tire from the hub, returns it to the infeed conveyor and the cycle repeats.

The demonstration featured several intelligent products including FANUC’s new Realtime Visual Tracking software, the latest Industrial PC (iPC), iRVision and Force Control. It also featured encoder-less tracking, meaning instead of using physical encoders to track, 2D iRVision tracks the 2D target and the high-speed FANUC iPC processes the information.

“A key customer benefit to this type of tracking is that it can adapt to 2D variances caused by unstable conveyors, as well as adjust to slight speed variations in real time.” said Jennyfer Pina, Material Handling Engineer, General Industries and Automotive Segment, for FANUC America.

FANUC M-1000iA Robot – Battery Assembly

The powerful M-1000iA robot offers a 1,000-kg payload, a 3,352-mm horizontal reach, and a 4,297-mm vertical reach, making it an ideal choice for handling very heavy products including automotive components, construction materials and battery packs for electric vehicles. The M-1000iA’s serial-link construction allows a wider range of motion in every direction. It can extend its arm upright or rotate it backwards, which is not possible for typical high-payload parallel-link robots.

At Automate, the M-1000iA demonstrated EV battery conveyance during the assembly process. The robot showcased its vertical lifting capabilities and excellent motion performance as it stacked the batteries in a storage and retrieval system.

LR Mate 200iD/7LC and SR-6iA/C Robots: Breakfast Sandwich Assembly

An LR Mate 200iD/7LC and SR-6iA/C – both cleanroom robots – assembled four breakfast sandwiches. Two slides move the sandwiches between the two robots for assembly. First, the LR Mate 200iD/7LC uses iRVision 3D to pick and place four english muffins on a plate. The SR-6iA/C SCARA robot then pickd and placed a sausage patty on top of each muffin. The robots alternated placing the remaining elements on each sandwich including an egg, a slice of cheese and a top muffin. Once all four sandwiches are completed, the robots remove items in reverse order and the cycle repeats.

The popular LR Mate 200iD series of tabletop industrial robots offers a “best in class” work envelope for both upright and invert mount installations. Ten models include clean room and wash proof versions, each with various wrist speeds and reaches to accommodate even the most limited workspace. The LR Mate series, introduced over 30 years ago, is one of FANUC’s most popular robot models with over 70,000 units installed globally.

The SR-6iA/C has a six-kg payload and 650-mm reach. It features a white epoxy coating and is rated IP54, meaning it is protected against contamination from limited amounts of dust and other particles as well as water spray. The SR-6iA/C can meet ISO Class 2 to ISO Class 5 for cleanroom operation and uses NSF-H1 food-grade grease and anti-rust bolts for food-handling applications.

SCARA Robot Demonstration

FANUC’s latest SR-3iA/U SCARA robot used iRVision 3DV/200 and iRPickTool to pick various parts from a moving circular conveyor. The robot passed each part above a 2D iRVision camera to inspect on-the-fly to determine if each part is a pass/fail.

The SR-3iA/U ceiling-mount SCARA robot has a three-kg payload and 350-mm reach. Featuring a full 360-degree work envelope with no dead zones, the robot can access any point within its reach.

Robotic Painting with Visual Tracking

A FANUC P-40iA paint robot uses iRVision 3DV and a new software feature called Visual Tracking for PaintTool to paint parts attached in random orientations on an overhead conveyor. First, the integrated robot vision sensor identifies the part type and orientation. Next the robot’s HVLP spray gun simulates painting the part. The demonstration highlights the robot’s ability to quickly adapt to randomly oriented or shifting parts.

FANUC’s PaintTool™ software simplifies the setup and operation of FANUC paint robots. Combined with the power of iRVision’s 3DV Sensor, the new Visual Tracking for PaintTool enables customers to quickly and reliably track and paint random parts. This results in significant improvements in consistency and throughput.

The P-40iA robot has a 1,300-mm reach and a five-kg payload, while offering a compact arm design that fits into small work areas. It includes a cast aluminum body, purged and pressurized arm, FANUC’s purge module, and integrated solenoid valves for gun trigger. Whether the application calls for liquid, powder, FRP chop or gel, the FANUC P-40iA is ready for any applicator and application equipment, making it a complete solution for painting.

In addition, the P-40iA robot can be mounted in a variety of positions including floor, invert, wall or angle mounts to accommodate small or narrow workspaces. In addition, the P-40iA can be programmed offline using FANUC PaintTool robot software and uses FANUC’s latest high-performance R-30iB Mate Plus robot controller.

Since 1982, FANUC has designed and built its paint robots in the U.S. at FANUC America’s headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Learn more about the P-40iA.

Intelligent Software and Factory Automation Demonstrations at Automate

FANUC also featured intelligent software such as iRVision, ROBOGUIDE, and Zero Down Time along with its latest factory-automation products including:

• MT-LINKi, a fully scalable, out-of-the-box machine tool monitoring solution that can monitor, collect and manage data from one to two thousand machines.
• Industrial PCs for All Needs: FANUC offers industrial PCs providing a powerful platform for custom development in a wide variety of applications. Available in several different sizes and options, FANUC’s industrial PCs are fast, secure and easy to use.
• The FANUC Digital Servo Adapter-Model B, a motion-control device that enables the integration of a FANUC servo system with an existing, third-party control.

FANUC experts participated in a variety of conferences, panel discussions and advanced courses at Automate.

Education Pavilion

FANUC sponsored the Education Pavilion at Automate. FANUC and over a dozen schools will provide hands-on demonstrations featuring FANUC’s latest robots, cobots and CNC educational tools. Other participants include MSSC, NOCTI Business Solutions, The ARM Institute, and Focus Hope. Learn more.

About FANUC America Corporation

FANUC America Corporation is a subsidiary of FANUC CORPORATION in Japan and provides industry-leading CNC systems, robotics and ROBOMACHINEs. FANUC’s innovative technologies and proven expertise help manufacturers in the Americas maximize productivity, reliability and profitability.

FANUC America is headquartered at 3900 W. Hamlin Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, and has facilities throughout North and South America. For more information, please call: 888-FANUC-US (888-326-8287) or visit our website: www.fanucamerica.com. Also, connect with us on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.