FANUC Introduces New DR-3iB/6 STAINLESS Delta Robot for Primary Food Handling at Automate 2022

FANUC Will Demonstrate its Latest Robots, Cobots and Factory Automation

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – (May 18, 2022) – FANUC America, the world leader in CNCs, robotics, and ROBOMACHINEs, will introduce the new DR-3iB/6 STAINLESS delta robot for primary food handling at Automate 2022, June 6-9 in Detroit, in booth #3323.   FANUC will also demonstrate its latest products including the new CRX cobot series and CR-35iB collaborative robot, the new M-1000iA heavy-payload robot, the new LR-10iA/10 material handling robot for machine tending and warehousing applications, and much more. 

NEW FANUC DR-3iB/6 Stainless Delta Robot

The new DR-3iB/6 Stainless is FANUC’s first stainless steel food-grade delta robot for picking and packing primary food products. Rated IP69K, the robot meets USDA and FDA food safety standards, and sets a new benchmark for robotic food handling in terms of payload, speed, reach and sanitation. 

The DR-3iB/6 STAINLESS features a fully enclosed stainless steel body that is resistant to the chemicals and high pressure/temperatures required in strict wash down environments.  The robot’s mirror-like surface finish ensures that any microbial contaminants can be washed away cleanly.  With additional features such as NSF H1 food grade lubricant, secondary oil catch basins (with viewing windows to monitor potential leaks), self-draining surfaces, and many other small details driven by USDA/FDA standards, the DR-3iB/6 STAINLESS is ideally suited for primary food handling applications. 

“The new DR-3iB/6 STAINLESS robot combines FANUC’s industry-leading performance and reliability with a food-safe stainless steel construction,” said Jessica Juhasz, staff engineer, FANUC America.  “We’re happy to offer a food processing robot that will help companies maximize production efficiencies without compromising food safety.”

The DR-3iB/6 Stainless has a 1200mm reach (400mm height) and a powerful four-axis design allowing it to handle 6kg payloads at high speeds.  The new robot operates with FANUC’s latest R-30iB Plus controller with integrated intelligent functions such as iRVision®, Force Sensing, Robot Link, Collision Guard and Zero Down Time (ZDT).

At the show, the new DR-3iB/6 Stainless delta robot using a Soft Robotics gripper will pick bakery, dairy and meat products from the middle section of the demonstration’s work area and place them in specified zones.  

COBOT ZONE:  CRX and CR Cobot Demonstrations

FANUC recently expanded its popular series of CRX collaborative robots with the new CRX-5iA, CRX-20iA/L and CRX-25iA. The new CRX cobots complement FANUC’s existing line of CR and CRX cobots that now total 11 model variations able to handle products from 4 to 35kg.  Designed for companies looking to increase their capabilities and overcome labor issues, FANUC’s CRX cobots are extremely robust and can run for up to eight years without maintenance.  In addition, interactive programming enables users to teach points using hand guidance or a tablet interface with drag and drop icons.  

FANUC will demonstrate a wide range of CRX cobots to address a variety of industrial applications.

The new CRX-5iA cobot, featuring a 5kg payload and 994mm reach will make its first appearance in North America at Automate.  The CRX-5iA will pick and assemble small gears using integrated force control.  First, the CRX-5iA with integrated force control will pick different height gears (short and tall) from a stack.  Using the “touch skip” feature, the cobot will determine the height of each gear.  Next, the CRX-5iA will assemble the selected gear using integrated force control’s “Phase search” function.

A CRX-10iA welding cobot will provide attendees the opportunity to teach weld joints using hand guidance or a new tablet interface with drag and drop icons.  The CRX welding cobot supports several of FANUC’s advanced features including iRVision, Torch Angle Control, Touch Sensing and Thru Arc Seam Tracking (TAST).  The CRX is shown with Lincoln Electric’s Power Wave® R450 robotic power source, and the new Lincoln Electric Smart Torch.  Built for the industrial space, the CRX-10iA welding cobot is compatible with all of Lincoln Electric’s weld programs to help customers maximize productivity. 

A new CRX-25iA robot, offering a 25kg payload and 1,889mm reach will demonstrate case palletizing.  Guided by a 3DV/200 vision sensor mounted to the arm, the CRX-25iA will palletize boxes to nearly 7’ high. 

“FANUC offers the widest range of cobot solutions to help companies achieve their manufacturing goals, offset labor challenges, and re-deploy workers to perform other valuable roles in their facility,” said Eric Potter, general manager of FANUC America’s General Industries and Automotive Segment.

A CRX-20iA/L with FANUC QSSR (Quick & Simple Start-up of Robotization) will demonstrate how easy it is to connect a FANUC CRX cobot and a machine tool.   QSSR simplifies the automation of machine tool load/unload applications using the CNC controller’s easy guidance functionality for quick connectivity, start-up and operation. 

Additional CRX demonstrations include a CRX-10iA packing health and beauty products.  Attendees can try the cobot’s intuitive hand guidance and easy-to-use tablet programming.    

NEW FANUC CR-35iB – the Industry’s Strongest Cobot

FANUC’s new CR-35iB collaborative robot with a 35kg payload can work in a variety of applications that typically require lift assist devices or custom equipment, including higher payload machine tending, mechanical assembly, palletizing, packing, and tote or carton handling.   In addition to being the industry’s strongest cobot, the CR-35iB has a very large work envelope, and a small installation footprint, making it ideal for companies looking for a cobot solution to do the heavy lifting – even in tight work spaces.  A more streamlined and lighter mechanical unit includes FANUC’s latest sensor technology for safety.

At Automate, the CR-35iB will help an operator assemble a bicycle.  The operator will program various assembly positions with the easy-to-use tablet TP featuring the latest “drag and drop” user interface.  The demonstration underscores the cobot’s ability to make the assembly process quicker while eliminating ergonomic stress.    

NEW FANUC M-1000iA Robot - Battery Assembly

The new M-1000iA robot is capable of handling very heavy products including automotive components, construction materials and battery packs for electric vehicles.  At Automate, the M-1000iA equipped with iRVision will highlight the EV battery assembly process including vision inspection for the hole, thread, bolt presence, bar code and simulated electrical connection. 

The M-1000iA’s serial-link construction gives the robot a wider range of motion in every direction.  It can extend its arm upright or rotate it backwards, which is not possible for typical heavy-payload robots with a parallel-link mechanism.  With a 1000 kg payload, a 3,253mm horizontal reach, and a 4,297mm vertical reach the M-1000iA is ready to go to work for manufacturers looking to increase output and maximize their production line’s efficiency. 

NEW FANUC LR-10iA/10 Robot: Vision-Guided Piece Picking

FANUC’s new LR-10iA/10 robot is a great solution for machine tending and a variety of picking applications found in the warehousing and logistics markets.  Weighing just 46 kg, the LR-10iA/10 robot mounts to the floor, upside down, or on an angle. It’s also very easy to mount the robot to an AGV or other mobile platform to accommodate a variety of repetitive tasks or automate machines that are standing idle. 

The LR-10iA/10 has a 10 kg payload and a large work envelope with a long reach of 1,101 mm.  Its compact size makes it an ideal solution for companies with limited floor space, and the slim arm fits into machine tools to load and unload parts.  In addition, a fully enclosed structure features built-in airlines, solenoid valves and electrical utilities for easy integration, and an IP67 rating allows it to operate in industrial environments with dust, water and oil mist.     

A new FANUC LR-10iA/10 robot guided by four 3DV/400 vision sensors mounted over the workcell will pick various combinations of products from four separate totes to demonstrate order fulfillment.  When the order tote is completed, it moves to the opposite side of the cell, where an LR Mate 200iD robot picks and places each item back onto the conveyor, sorting them by color to refill the pick totes.  

Additional Robotic Demonstrations at Automate

M-2000iA/1700L: Handles a Chevrolet Corvette

FANUC’s M-2000iA robot series is ideal for automotive and other large component manufacturers with super heavy-payload applications looking to reduce costs associated with conventional conveyors and lifting devices.

At Automate, the FANUC M-2000iA/1700L will handle a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette to demonstrate how assembled automotive bodies are commonly handled in automotive OEM facilities. 

The demonstration will also feature Dual Check Safety (DCS) Speed and Position Check software, which limits the robot’s envelope within a compact workspace.   

Paint Mate 200iA Robot: Visual Tracking

The FANUC Paint Mate 200iA is a flexible and compact six-axis paint robot that offers a 5kg payload and 892mm reach. Ideal for small paint booths, the Paint Mate’s versatile mounting options include floor, wall, inverted or at an angle. The Paint Mate is part of a series of painting robots designed and built by FANUC in Rochester Hills, Michigan since 1982. Ideal for a variety of painting and coating applications – even hazardous environments, the Paint Mate 200iA offers the same reliability and proven technology as all FANUC products. 

At Automate, the Paint Mate 200iA robot will use iRVision 3DV and line tracking to paint ACT test panels placed randomly on a conveyor.  First, the integrated robot vision system 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. 

R-2000iD/210FH Robot: Automotive Spot Welding 

The FANUC R-2000iD/210FH is part of an extensive family of industrial robots offering a variety of payloads and reaches.  The robot offers a compact design with a hollow arm for better cable management, which minimizes interference with system equipment and allows the robot to operate in tight workspaces.  Featuring a 210kg payload and 2,605mm reach, the R-2000iD/210FH is ideal for spot welding and material handling applications.

At the show, the R-2000iD/210FH robot equipped with integrated FANUC Servo Gun Control and a hollow arm for spot welding dress out will perform simulated spot welding in and around a truck cab. 

SR-12iA SCARA Robot: Packing and Unpacking

FANUC’s family of 4-axis SCARA robots includes the SR-3iA, SR-6iA, SR-12iA, and SR-20iA models with 3kg, 6kg, 12kg and 20kg payload capacities, and a 400mm – 1,100mm reach, respectively. FANUC’s SCARA robots are designed to help customers increase productivity in a number of industries including consumer goods, batteries and other auto components, plastics, lab automation, appliances and medical devices.

The small SR-3iA and SR-6iA SCARAs have a compact footprint and space-saving design for maximum efficiency.   In addition, the SR-3iA/H and SR-6iA/H are 3-axis variants that provide strong performance and an affordable alternative to small linear slide products.  The higher-payload SR-12iA and SR-20iA robots provide flexibility with a large vertical stroke, and an Environmental Option for withstanding moisture and dusty conditions.  All of FANUC’s SCARA robots provide excellent robot motion, speed and precision.

Powered by the R-30iB Compact Plus controller, FANUC’s SCARAs have the same intelligence and reliability that’s available on all FANUC robots, including integrated iRVision, conveyor tracking (iRPickTool), and most other software options. FANUC’s SCARA iRProgrammer user interface makes it easy to setup and program the robot on a Tablet or PC (Teach Pendant is optional).

At the show, FANUC’s SR-12iA SCARA robot will pack and unpack four-packs of two liter pop bottles. The demonstration shows the SR-12iA’s ability to handle heavy products in a wide operating area at high speeds.

Factory Automation Demonstrations at Automate

Linear Motor Demo

See our new Linear Motor demo arranged in an X/Y table application.  FANUC’s LiS-B series linear motors have set new standards for acceleration, precision and speed, delivering high gain and rigidity with excellent path accuracy. Unlike conventional drives, these motors work without any force transmission mechanisms, making machine design and maintenance easier (no ball screws, no backlash). The linear design enables rigid long-stroke axes, increased thrust force and multi-head configurations by arranging multiple coil sliders on a single magnet track.

Panel iIndustrial PC Wall

See all the industrial PC options FANUC provides for its CNCs at the Panel iIndustrial PC demo. Designed with the latest technology, these industrial PCs provide a powerful platform for custom developments and are available in a variety of display options. Plus, if you have legacy PCs, check out our Panel i Upgrade program to keep your operations safe from cyberattacks.

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

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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 help manufacturers maximize productivity, reliability, and profitability. Headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan, FANUC America has facilities throughout North and South America. Learn more at www.fanucamerica.com or explore collaborative robots at crx.fanucamerica.com.

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