FANUC NAMED TOP INNOVATOR BY FORBES AND THOMSON REUTERS IN 2012

Provided By FANUC FA America

FANUC Corporation, the world’s most diversified manufacturer of CNC systems, robots and machine tools, has again recently been named a top innovator by Forbes and Thomson Reuters in 2012:

                       *Forbes 2012 “The World’s Most Innovative Companies”

                        *Thomson Reuters 2012 Top 100 Global Innovators^SM

Forbes 2012 “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” list recognizes the world’s leading-edge corporations that are most likely to continue to succeed today and in the future. This recently released list by Forbes is based on a study completed by professors and advisors in which they determined that calculating a company’s value plus anticipated growth fueled by new innovative products will identify the most innovative companies. Quantifying their findings lead to developing a specific measure that was used to rank the world’s most innovative companies. Embedded in each of these companies is a code for innovation discernible in their people, processes and philosophies that drive them to keep innovation alive year after year. The end result is that innovation creates demand for their products now and in the future. 

Thomson Reuters 2012 Top 100 Global Innovators^SM program is an initiative that recognizes the world’s most innovative organizations as measured by a series of proprietary patent-related metrics. Thomson Reuter’s program methodology is based on four principle criteria: overall patent volume, patent grant success rate, global reach of the portfolio and patent influence as evidenced by citations. This award acknowledges innovation in its multidimensional form. Being recognized as a Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovator^SM confirms an organization’s commitment to progressing innovation globally and to the protection of ideas.

Since its inception in 1956, FANUC has contributed to the automation of machine tools as a pioneer in the development of CNC equipment. FANUC’s innovative technology has contributed to a worldwide manufacturing revolution, which evolved from the automation of a single machine to the automation of entire production lines. FANUC dedicates more than 30% of its employees to R&D to provide the most reliable, efficient and innovative CNC systems available - ensuring the very lowest Total Cost of Ownership.

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FANUC 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNC OFFERS NEW CNC PREDICTIVE AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE TOOLS FOR MOTORS AND FANS

Provided By FANUC FA America

FANUC FA America’s most innovative Series 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNCs offer new predictive and preventative maintenance tools for motors and fans. This allows maintenance staff to pre-plan servicing of a machine during scheduled downtime rather than when a machine has failed.

FANUC amplifiers address predictive motor failures by checking the resistance of the windings.  The greatest cause of servo motor failure is coolant infiltration into the motor. Coolant works its way into the machining process and deteriorates the windings until a short circuit occurs. The latest FANUC amplifiers are now able to record the winding resistance and predict when the motor will fail. This allows maintenance personnel to order a motor in advance and change the motor when it is convenient for them, not at an inconvenient time when the machine is down. 

The ability to monitor the speed of each fan in the amplifier and the CNC can prevent a failure. On the CNC and servo amplifiers that are contained within the magnetics cabinet, heat is the largest cause of failure. FANUC uses cooling fans to cool electronic components. A failure of the cooling fan can cause a failure of the CNC. By monitoring the speed of each fan that is in the CNC and amplifier, FANUC is able to judge when the fan will fail enabling maintenance personnel to do maintenance at their convenience. 

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FANUC INTRODUCES NEW OPTION ALLOWING SERIES 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNCS TO BE MONITORED REMOTELY USING TABLET-TYPE DEVICES

Provided By FANUC FA America

FANUC FA America has introduced a new option which allows the Series 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNCs to be monitored remotely using tablet-type devices. This latest advancement in remote monitoring greatly enhances the maintainability and production capabilities of the FANUC CNC.   

The most innovative CNC from FANUC, the Series 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNC, is now capable of acting as a web server. It allows you to display CNC screens on any device on your network; for example, over wireless Ethernet to communicate with a tablet-type device. This ability allows maintenance or production personnel on the shop floor to monitor all the CNC equipment from across the shop in one location and on one device. 

FANUC Series 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNCs are the best in class for performance and reliability for standard CNC applications up to the most complex machine tools and non-traditional applications.  For advanced smooth and accurate simultaneous 5-axis high-speed machining, FANUC’s 30i-B/31i-B5 CNCs boast the new High-Speed Smooth TCP with new fairing technology. This drastically reduces cycle times while improving part accuracy and quality. For complex machining processes, this is the ideal combination of FANUC’s legendary reliability and modern high speed 5-axis features. In addition, FANUC Series 30i-MODEL B CNCs (this includes 30i-B, 31i-B, 31i-B5, 32i-B & 35i-B) offer a newly enhanced high-speed and large capacity, multi-path PMC offering large scale sequence control with a maximum of 5 concurrent independent ladders. Execution of common instructions is over 2.5 times faster than previous generation, with additional capability of high speed module executing every 1ms. 

By choosing a machine tool with a FANUC CNC it will be available for production more often, process more parts and use less energy.

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FANUC FA AMERICA TO UNVEIL CNC PRODUCTIVITY INNOVATIONS

Provided By FANUC FA America

FANUC FA America unveils CNC productivity innovations. These include: new enhancements to Series 30i-MODEL B CNCs for 5-axis and high-speed, high accuracy machining, introduction of the new Power Motion i–MODEL A motion controller for general industrial machines and introduction of the new iPendant for CNC for improved operability.

For advanced smooth and accurate simultaneous 5-axis high-speed machining, FANUC’s 30i-B/31i-B5 CNCs boast the new High-Speed Smooth TCP with new fairing technology. This drastically reduces cycle times while improving part accuracy and quality. For complex machining processes, this is the ideal combination of FANUC’s legendary reliability and modern high speed 5-axis features. In addition, FANUC’s Series 30i-MODEL B controls (this includes 30i-B, 31i-B, 31i-B5, 32i-B & 35i-B) offer a newly enhanced high-speed and large capacity, multi-path PMC offering large scale sequence control with a maximum of 5 concurrent independent ladders. Execution of common instructions is over 2.5 times faster than previous generation, with additional capability of high speed module executing every 1ms. Improved operability is also achieved with the Series 30i-B CNCs using the new hand held operator’s unit iPendant for CNC. The FANUC Series 30i-B controls are the best in class for performance and reliability.

New for general industrial machine applications is FANUC’s Power Motion i–MODEL A motion controller. Ideal for a wide range of general industrial machine applications with multi-axis and multi-path functions with a maximum 4 control paths, 32 total control axes, 4 simultaneous control axes - up to 16 axes by PMC axis control function that can be executed independently for each axis. Also optimal for applications with large servo motors – up to 10 large servo motors in one motion controller. The Power Motion i-MODEL A reduces cycle time with a high-speed response function for quick axis start/stop and high-speed execution cycle of PMC. Additionally, the Power Motion i–MODEL A has a pressure and position control function as well as a function for presses. Applications include: press machines, die cushion, loaders, wire saws and winding machines.

FANUC’s new iPendant for CNC is a hand held operator’s unit that offers mobile operability for large machine tools. The iPendant keyboard provides for both MDI data operations as well as well as manual machine control operation as integrated by the machine builder. 6.4” color LCD displays the identical screens used by the 8.4” or 10.4” control display, including machine builder’s custom screens for operator familiarity. Touch screen display is also available. Three position enabling switch on back can be integrated as required per safety requirements. Built in USB port supports I/O of data to standard USB flash drives.

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FANUC INTRODUCES iLimitS CNC SOFTWARE OPTION FOR MACHINE PROCESS MONITORING AND SPINDLE LOAD LIMITING FOR MACHINE AND PART PROTECTION

Provided By FANUC FA America

FANUC Factory Automation (FANUC FA America) introduces iLimitS CNC software option that provides machine process monitoring including spindle load, spindle speed and up to 4 coolant flow devices. iLimitS monitors the process and protects the machine, parts and fixtures. If an abnormal process is detected, a warning can be displayed or an alarm will stop the process before damaging the machine. iLimitS is a cost effective solution made by FANUC for FANUC CNCs. It is seamlessly integrated into the CNC, so no external PC  is required.

 iLimitS process monitoring includes real-time monitoring of the spindle load, spindle speed and coolant flow from up to 4 different coolant sources. “iLimitS provides real-time monitoring of the machine and part to protect them from abnormal conditions”, states Paul Webster, Engineering Manager at FANUC FA America. Monitoring parameters are provided so that warning and alarm thresholds have a time delay before alarm and tolerances can all be set. iLimitS samples the process at a rate of <48ms – this provides superior resolution and reaction time for abnormal process detection. The sampled data is compared to the user defined threshold settings and when a violation is detected, the FANUC machine interface (PMC) is signaled to stop the machining process. In the situation of an alarm, the operator must clear the condition before machining is allowed to resume. A macro interrupt mode is also provided that allows for a customer designated macro program to execute in the event of a monitoring alarm condition. This allows the customer to take corrective actions programmatically or even send a text report of the condition for traceability.

iLimitS is set through parameter settings and activated by macro calls within the part program, this allows for a high degree of flexibility for the operator and programmer. “iLimitS is seamlessly integrated into the FANUC CNC and provides a high degree of operational flexibility from basic spindle abnormal load monitoring to load, speed and coolant monitoring with macro interrupt”, states Webster. Since iLimitS is embedded into the CNC itself, no external sensors are required when using a FANUC serial spindle interface.  For analog spindles and coolant monitoring, external sensors can be added as needed for the application.

iLimitS meets the stringent GE Aviation P11TF12 specification requirements. Additionally, iLimitS supports a wide range of applications from simple spindle loading monitoring to extensive process control and traceability. The intuitive user interface screens are integrated seamlessly into the CNC and provide access to all setup and monitoring information without the need for an external computer or extra hardware.

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FANUC INTEGRATES iAdapt®S ADAPTIVE CONTROL SOLUTION IN THE CNC FOR INCREASED MACHINE TOOL PRODUCTIVITY

Provided By FANUC FA America

FANUC Factory Automation America (FANUC FA America) has integrated their new iAdapt^®S adaptive control solution into the CNC system for increased machine tool productivity.  The iAdapt^®S improves material removal and minimizes cycle time by automatically optimizing the cutting feedrate based on the actual spindle load.  Additionally, integration of the iAdapt^®S product within the CNC now eliminates the need for mounting space, simplifying installation while improving the capabilities of the original iAdapt^® product.

The original iAdapt^® product introduced the concept of roughing cycle productivity to CNC customers.  The “On Demand” control feature simplified the use of the adaptive control by making it easy to setup and operate.

The new iAdapt^®S has an arsenal of improvements which allows the operator to improve machine cycle time and tool life.  By automatically optimizing the cutting feedrate based on the actual spindle load, iAdapt^®S improves material removal and minimizes cycle time.  In fact, productivity is increased as cycle times are reduced by up to 40% as every part is automatically optimized in real-time, including the first.  iAdapt^®S compensates for material and process variations including: material hardness, tool wear, depth of cut and width of cut.  Additionally, feedrate control is 100 times finer which increases the responsiveness and accuracy of the adaptive control.  To view and improve the machining process, a graphing feature has been added, which displays both the spindle load and feedrate override versus time.  A new 64-entry setting table has been introduced in iAdapt^®S which allows easy saving of settings for later use and recall.  A new Torque Override feature has been added to allow the operator to dynamically modify the adaptive control set point during the machining cycle.

Additionally, iAdapt^®S keeps roughing tools fully loaded, putting the heat into the chips rather than the part, thus extending tool life.  As a result, there are fewer minor stoppages which further increases productivity and reduces labor costs.

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