FANUC has announced it will present its new, all-electric ROBOSHOT α-SiB injection moulding machine and other new innovations at FAKUMA 2021, a German trade show for the plastics processing industry.
FANUC says the machine sizes will appeal to mould makers and high-precision plastic parts manufacturers in all industries, including medical technology and automotive engineering and that an important advantage of its all-electric injection moulding machines is their typically low energy consumption, which is “especially attractive for companies that want to improve their carbon balance”.
The new ROBOSHOT series starts with a total of five machine sizes between 50 and 220 tonnes clamping force and different injection capacities. The company will expand the range of the new ROBOSHOT α-SiB series further to give a total machine range covering 15 to 450 tonnes clamp forces.
The new, all-electric ROBOSHOT injection moulding machine contains a multi-functional 21.5″ HD FANUC PANEL iH Pro display, which users can operate either traditionally with buttons or as a smartphone via touchscreen and swipe functions. It also boasts multiple screw diameters, new injection unit sizes and higher injection pressures as standard, depending on the size with the option of four-axis servo core control.
FANUC will also showcase the new ROBOCUT α-CiC wire EDM machine for all mould and tool-making requirements. The machine features a revised design which means that it has a stiffer structure than before. For the operator, this extra rigidity offers “higher cutting accuracy and better repeatability”. Other improvements include a new function that compensates for table movement errors.
FANUC’S RS220IB, the 220-tonne ROBOSHOT injection moulding machine. Image: FANUC.
FANUC’s FAKUMA presentation will focus on “solutions” rather than products – all based on the overarching idea of ONE FANUC, a technology concept for complete automation with CNC machine tools, robots and software. A number of FANUC exhibits at FAKUMA will highlight this approach, including a ROBOSHOT α-S15iB application featuring a second, vertical injection unit (SI2iA), and a handling cell with an LRMate robot that demonstrates how FANUC machines and robots can be connected via the company’s QSSR (Quick & Simple Start-up of Robotization) concept.
In another cell, FANUC will give a live demonstration of the all-electric α-S15iB in an LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) version, automated with an M-2iD robot whilst ROBOCUT α-C40iC will simulate the cutting of mould inserts.
The Industrial IoT section of the FANUC stand will demonstrate product connectivity using the company’s ROBOSHOT LINKi2 software, which will receive its official launch at FAKUMA. The product can monitor the moulding process, as well as schedule upcoming jobs, analyse and evaluate historical data to help drive improvements, create customised reports, and issue downtime notification emails.
You can find more information about FANUC and the European debut of its new machines at FAKUMA on the company’s website.
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