posted 23.8.2023

FANUC to Provide Glimpse of Future CNC Platform at EMO Hannover 2023

Discover the Future of CNC Technology: FANUC’s FS500𝑖-A Series at EMO Hannover!

Completely new iterations of CNC systems do not come around very often, which makes a visit to the FANUC stand (C54, Hall 9) at EMO Hannover essential this year. On 18-23 September, the company will present a tantalising glimpse into the future of CNC technology, as represented by its in-development FS500𝑖-A series.

Optimised for performance, the new FS500𝑖-A will offer a number of important innovations. For instance, operators are set to benefit from FANUC’s new 𝑖HMI2 CNC interface, which maintains the appealing look and feel of FANUC’s 𝑖HMI but combines it with the familiar operability of legacy systems. For every task, all interactions can be handled on one screen so that there is no need to jump between several of them.

The FS500𝑖-A

The FS500𝑖-A will also provide the potential to program PMC (programmable machine control) systems using ISO-defined Structured Text language, while a further new function is the simplification of processes that require programming in five axes. Specifically, using a special tool, the future FS500𝑖-A offers the ability to accommodate any arbitrary machine kinematics.

On display at EMO in stand-alone and LCD-mounted format, the FS500𝑖-A series remains in development. And yet there is good news for those anxious to access some of its capabilities now as FANUC is constantly innovating to improve the capabilities of its products and therefore offers enhanced versions of the company’s current generation advanced FS30𝑖/31𝑖/32𝑖-B Plus and standard FS0𝑖-F Plus CNC solutions.

Several of the latest improvements for these series will also feature in the FS500𝑖-A, such as functions for energy saving and digital twin technology, providing direct end-user benefits. The new CPU, combined with newly introduced features and capabilities, improves basic performance and drives cycle time reductions.

Picture of FANUC series 500i-A.
EMO press release. To be used only for EMO PR/Marketing purposes!

FANUC 𝛼𝑖-D Series SERVO

FANUC 𝛼𝑖-D series SERVO is the company’s new servo system increasing high speed and high precision performance. And it offers not only integrated power regeneration capability but also a 10% reduction in power loss across the servo control system. As a result, users can expect the same performance with less electricity consumption, delivering energy savings and reduced carbon footprint. FANUC 𝛼𝑖-D series SERVO will be available with FANUC’s enhanced current-generation CNC systems, as well as the future FS500𝑖-A series.

The same is true of CNC Reflection Studio, where end users can take advantage of a feature-rich digital twin environment to simulate all machine processes, even high-speed ones, in a safe and reliable way. The analysis of G-codes and interpolation processes is equivalent to using the actual control system thanks to co-operation with FANUC CNC GUIDE 2 software. Pre-checking machining programs has never been more convenient or reliable.