Extend Machine Lifespan and Value
A CNC mill retrofit or general machine retrofit saves long-term costs and significantly extends the functional lifespan of your machine.
Hardware
Retrofit Solutions
A CNC retrofit upgrades an existing machine tool by replacing outdated components with modern, high-performance FANUC technology. This typically includes the control system, servo and spindle motors, amplifiers, cables, I/O units, and the operator interface—improving reliability, performance, and functionality without replacing the entire machine.
What is a CNC retrofit?
A CNC retrofit is the process of upgrading a machine tool's outdated components. This typically involves replacing the following with modern, high-performance FANUC components: the control system, the servo and spindle motors, the motor amplifiers, cables and I/O units, including the operator’s panel.
Key Benefits of a FANUC CNC Retrofit
Upgrading your existing machinery with a new FANUC CNC control system provides immediate and long-term advantages. A retrofit CNC kit from FANUC is a strategic investment that delivers powerful results:
Boost Productivity and Efficiency
New FANUC CNCs feature high-speed machining functions, which can speed up processing and reduce cycle times by as much as 50%.
Maximize Uptime and Reliability
Modern, digital FANUC controls provide enhanced reliability, drastically reducing downtime compared to sourcing and repairing obsolete components for legacy systems.
Stay Competitive
A CNC conversion kit or full retrofit with FANUC helps businesses meet changing manufacturing requirements and customers’ evolving demands, enabling you to go after new business.
Cut Energy Costs
New digital drives regenerate electrical energy, and when combined with the CNC's low-loss power devices, machine electricity costs can be reduced by as much as 50%.
Superior Performance
Modern FANUC systems provide better stability and accuracy through features like block look-ahead, nano-interpolation, and high-performance 5-axis control (e.g., Tool Center Point Control).
CNC Retrofits: Extend the lifespan of your machine tools with a new FANUC control system
Retrofitting an aging CNC system with a new FANUC CNC will save long term costs and boost the machine’s productivity while adding to the uptime, reliability and efficiency. A CNC retrofit with FANUC’s products can help businesses meet changing manufacturing requirements and customers’ evolving demands.
Is A CNC Retrofit Right for You?
Equipment used in the heavy construction, power generation and aerospace industries can make good candidates for a retrofit since they typically are older, large machines made with “good iron,” and not easily replaced. Many of these start to fail due to their aging electronics, but due to their large size it is not cost effective to replace the entire machine. In these cases, a CNC retrofit is an excellent option.
CNC Retrofits vs. New Machines
A retrofit costs significantly less than a new machine, especially when taking into consideration the hidden costs, such as tooling, fixturing, rigging and foundation. Additionally, new machines may require additional training for the operators and maintenance personnel.
New FANUC CNCs Provide Better Performance
New FANUC CNCs feature high-speed machining functions, which can speed up processing and reduce cycle times by as much as 50%. New CNC technologies, such as block look ahead, acceleration and deceleration before and after interpolation, nano-interpolation, nano-smoothing and automatic feedrate control, can be applied to make machine tools more stable and accurate.
FANUC CNC Retrofits Benefit 5-Axis Machines
In the past, limited CNC technology made 5-axis machining inefficient, so that any changes in machine, workpiece, workpiece fixtures or tooling required revisiting the CAM system. With features such as tool center point control and 3D workpiece error correction, the 5-axis workflow can now be as efficient as 3-axis, with any changes adjusted right on the CNC.
CNC Retrofits Can Cut Costs
Continuing to run legacy equipment has a number of hidden costs, such as the time taken to source older replacement controls. This can lead to significantly longer total downtime and production losses.
How to Maximize A FANUC CNC Retrofit
To get the most out of a CNC retrofit, upgrading the servo and spindle system to a high-speed, digital interface is critical. If the servo and spindle system can’t keep up with the CNC block processing rate, the tool path will not be accurate. If an older machine tool is communicating through an analog interface to the servo and spindle system, this will impact the speed and accuracy of the system.
Modern FANUC CNCs are highly integrated and communicate over high-speed fiber optic cables to the servo and spindle system, which create the high-performance systems needed to deliver the smoothest surface finish on contoured surfaces.
Retrofits Can Save Energy
When servo and spindle motors of a machine tool continuously accelerate and decelerate as they change speed and direction during machining, they use energy and, respectively, give off energy as heat. However, new digital drives incorporate advanced electronics that regenerate electrical energy back to the factory when decelerating the servo and spindle motors. When combined with the low-loss power devices and machining processes provided by the CNC, machine electricity costs can be reduced by as much as 50%.
Is a CNC Retrofit and CNC Conversion the Same?
To perform a CNC retrofit, equipment must already have a CNC. A CNC conversion involves converting a manual machine into a CNC machine.
Talk to our retrofit experts today!
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