NEW FANUC CNC

Making its market leading CNC control systems easy to work with and providing the control requirements to drive energy consumption down are the two main areas targeted by FANUC with its recent new product introductions. High machine availability and easy programming both support production efficiency while controlling energy efficiency is increasingly the big issue affecting unit costs.

Easier operation
New functions that simplify operation include enhanced position control, full remote control through an intelligent pendant, enhanced 5-axis machining control, simple icon programming, status monitoring with auto-correction and safety functions to prevent machine collisions.

FANUC's Power Motion i-A CNC motion controller has now been enhanced with its High Response Motion Control function allowing multiple axes to be synchronised and positioned faster. Polling information for synchronisation is now available in cycles of 1ms enhancing positioning and motion control.

The 30i series, FANUC's high performance level CNC controller, now uses a new generation servo processor offering advanced 5-axis functions. Machining tolerances can be accurately programmed in, allowing the system to manage relative processing time while optimising surface quality and cycle time.

Completely independent operation, from the main CNC panel, is now available using FANUC's iPendant. The pendants touch screen provides an identical image to that on the main panel screen providing greater flexibility for programmers and ease of operation. Further simplifying use and saving time, FANUC has also introduced 'smartphone type' programmable icons for calling up specific CNC screen content.

Safety receives attention with the introduction of the Safety machine Operators Panel; this is equipped with double contacts on all buttons and has provision to communicate directly with the CNC system using FANUC I/O Link i. Integration of the panel into FANUC's Dual Check Safety system is implemented automatically using the FANUC I/O Link i providing a proven safety solution for machine builders and OEMs. An additional machine safety function, FANUC 3D Interference Check, is built in to the CNC kernel of FANUC's mainstream 30i-B CNC controller family. The system prevents machine collision by constantly monitoring machine status and positioning during both set-up and operation.

Auto-correction is available on FANUC CNC Contollers using its Error Correction Code (ECC) function. Providing increased up-time the system monitors and corrects any internal data transfer errors that can occur as a result of oil contamination, electromagnetic interference, vibration and other typical conditions common in industrial environments. Engineers who need to be kept aware of the status can use FANUC Machine Status Monitoring which collects data from sensors and sends them via e-mail or to a smartphone.