More and more car manufacturers are casting large, one-piece aluminum body structures in a process commonly known as giga- or mega-casting. Like many other heavy engineering tasks, giga-casting increasingly requires the handling of large workpieces. This trend is driving the demand for robots with high payload capacity, long reach and strong wrist.

FANUC is therefore currently expanding its M-1000 series of powerful industrial robots for high payloads with the M-1000/550F-46A model with extra-long reach. This large six-axis articulated robot has been specifically designed to meet the demands of automotive giga-casting and other heavy-duty applications, with a payload of 550 kilograms and an impressive reach of 4.6 meters. It also offers the highest speed in its class for robots with this reach.

With its reach, the new M-1000/550F-46A exceeds the 3.3 meters of the existing M-1000iA by 40 percent. Applications in which, for example, a heavy or large workpiece has to be removed from the depths of a machine or press should benefit in particular from a robot with such a high payload and extra-long reach.

However, a long reach and high payload also require an extremely strong wrist - not only for heavy components, but also for handling large workpieces whose center of gravity is far away from the gripping point. The robustly constructed, IP67-certified wrist of the new M-1000/550F-46A is complemented by a highly rigid robot housing with support for the J2 arm on both sides.

FANUC's new M-1000/550F-46A also features the serial link design typical of the M-1000 series. Thanks to the serial link, there is no interference between the J3 main arm and the J2 arm, as there is no support mechanism in the parallel link configuration typical of heavy-duty robots. The serial connection design therefore offers a significantly larger range of motion and more flexibility with a smaller footprint.

The ability of the J3 arm to stand upright and rotate backwards also allows for a large working area without taking up too much space. This allows the robot to reach from side to side without having to perform a 180 degree movement of the J1 axis, resulting in faster cycle times. Other applications for the versatile M-1000/550F-46A in the automotive industry include the handling of battery units. In addition, this multi-purpose robot is also suitable for a wide range of heavy payload handling and long reach applications in other industries. The M-1000/550F-46A utilizes the new FANUC R-50iA series robot controller as standard and offers a range of intelligent features to support smart factory initiatives.

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