FANUC Paris Airshow

For several years, the world leader in numerical control and industrial robots has been promoting the vision of CNC-controlled assembly operations, a vision that fits perfectly with the aerospace industry's digitalisation strategy. The solution has been used by Airbus to create its first drilling cell, which was presented at the Paris Air Show. FANUC continues to support finishing processes by offering aircraft manufacturers collaborative robots that assist operators.
 

At the heart of innovation: a new generation of numerical control

More powerful and faster than any other control system, numerical control is set to play a major role in aerospace processes. The new generation of FANUC FS500𝑖-A CNC meets this demand with very high computing power and a new architecture. It enables increasingly complex movements to be controlled with ultra-precision and perfect synchronisation. It also allows automation to adapt to the arrival of artificial intelligence in design assistance software.

A new robot for assembling structural components

FANUC will also be presenting a new addition to the R-2000𝑖C robot range, well known in the aerospace industry for its high rigidity and precision. With a payload of 270 kg and a reach of 2655 mm, the R-2000𝑖C/270F is capable of handling even the heaviest equipment. For the occasion, it will be equipped with an effector specially developed by Seti-Tec for drilling and riveting operations. 

Controlling a robot in G code: the example of a cell built by Airbus

This is the first industrial robotic drilling cell built in-house by Airbus with the support of FANUC. Designed for aerostructure components, it consists of an M-800𝑖A/60 robot controlled by a FANUC CNC, as well as a drilling effector and a mobile platform, both designed and built by Airbus. 

This cell demonstrates how FANUC is responding to the evolving needs of the aerospace industry by combining the worlds of CNC and robotics. It is the first in a series of industrial projects based on this concept.

Collaborative robots: when robotics assists operators 

CRX collaborative robots will be highlighted for their ability to assist operators in tasks such as deburring, sanding and machine feeding.

Easily movable and reconfigurable, CRX robots address the issue of automation for small batch production. Another advantage is that they can be operated directly by operators, without the intervention of a robotics engineer. The process is set up directly by the expert and their robotic assistant.
 

A long-standing partner of the aerospace industry, FANUC continues to innovate.