The centrepiece of the Fanuc stand will be a combined machining/turning cell featuring an advanced Robodrill

Industrial automation specialist Fanuc UK will showcase a range of real-world robotic innovations at MACH 2024, which is taking place 15-19 April at the NEC, Birmingham (Hall 6, Stand 350), 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, cut 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 will be an advanced Robodrill machine, equipped with a 24k spindle and mounted with a Nikken two-axis high speed rotary table, featuring a built-in direct drive motor that achieves 1,500rev/min. In operation throughout the entire five days of the show, the demonstration cell will produce finished scroll compressor aluminium housings, showcasing live to visitors the cost-saving and performance benefits to be gained from combining machining and turning processes.

Oliver Selby, head of sales at Fanuc UK, said: “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.

“At the heart of the solution is our D21LiB5ADV Plus Robodrill, which is a three-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. 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.”

Pictured right: Fanuc’s affordable multi-axis turning and machining solution combines a Robodrill with a Nikken 5AX-201 tilting rotary table, allowing users to turn and machine components on the same unit

Less than 3m long and a little over 2m wide, the Robodrill/Nikken solution is a truly lean machine with a compact footprint. It 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.

Other highlights will include: an aerospace drilling cell comprising a CRX-25iA cobot, developed by Fanuc partner Electroimpact, which delivers accessible and cost-effective pre-validated drilling functionality for the aerospace sector and offers manufacturers improved reliability, repeatability and traceability compared to current manual practices; and 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.