Skip to CONTENTS
Click to close search panel.

FANUC CORPORATION

  1. HOME
  2. Sustainability
  3. Contribution to SDGs
  4. FA Business

FA Business

  • Products
    • CNCs, servos, lasers
  • Strengths
    • FANUC's basic technology
    • Top-level global market share of CNCs (FANUC estimate)

Business Overview

The FA business is the origin of FANUC and its basic technology. FANUC is the first private-sector company in Japan to have developed numerical control (NC) and servo technologies that control machine tools using numerical information. Until then, highly skilled engineers, who have acquired know-how through many years of training, were indispensable for high-precision processing by machine tools. FANUC made it possible to complement skilled engineers’ skills with NCs and servos. Computer-controlled NCs (CNCs) and servos further made it possible to process complex shapes and produce varied items efficiently. Currently, FANUC offers CNCs and servos covering a broad range from simple machine tools to composite machining equipment with complex configurations to industrial machinery. Further, demand for introduction of robots in machine tools is increasing at machining sites, with an aim to automate processes or labor saving. Believing improved compatibility between machine tools and robots is important, FANUC is developing the functions to enhance it.

Value Created by FA Business

High-machining performance CNCs and high-speed, high-precision servos contribute to improved productivity as they enable more precise, higher-speed machining. We have implemented energy saving features in our servos. Laser products contribute to improving quality of products of users with their high-quality machining capability supported by FANUC's CNCs and servos installed in them. It is essential to improve operating rates for improving productivity of factories. In order to avoid extended suspension of production lines due to machine trouble or emergency maintenance work, we attach importance to functions and designs for preventive maintenance. Factory operation at high operating rates becomes possible through monitoring of insulation resistance of motors, drops in the numbers of rotations of fan motors for CNCs and servo amplifiers, etc. and conducting preventive maintenance in advance of a halt of the machine.

Ensuring Customer Safety

It is important to help operators not used to operating machines use FANUC products safely, as the numbers of people working in the manufacturing industry and highly skilled engineers are expected to decrease. FANUC’s products are compliant with safety standards, including the ISO/IEC standards, and certified by accreditation organizations. In addition, sufficient attentions are paid to safety use as CNCs are equipped with functions to suspend operation upon receiving an alarm in case of operational errors.

Awards and Topics Related to FA Business

The Main Prize of the 67th Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Best Ten New Products Awards (2024)

FANUC Series 500i-A

The FANUC Series 500i-A is a CNC that is a new platform designed to promote the development of machine tools adapted to various environmental changes and realize automation and productivity improvement at manufacturing sites.
It not only allows for flexible and easy design of high-performance, multi-functional machine tools, but also realizes user-friendly operation, high productivity, and promotes DX at manufacturing sites through the use of digital and network technologies.
In recognition of the above points, it received the Main Prize of the 67th Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun “Best Ten New Products Awards”.

The Main Prize of the 44th Japan Society for Precision Engineering (JSPE) Technology Award (2024)

AI Thermal Displacement Compensation function （Performance title: An energy-saving thermal displacement compensation system responding to short-term temperature changes based on machine learning of data on machine tool displacement caused by temperature changes）
We have developed a thermal displacement compensation system that can accurately compensate for machining point positioning despite significant short-term temperature changes in the machine. Using machine learning, it predicts and compensates machine tool displacement, based on the data relating to the temperature detected by multiple temperature sensors installed in the machine tool and the displacement of the machining point. This system shortens warm-up operation time, relaxes factory temperature control, and reduces power consumption without compromising machining accuracy, while contributing to lower environmental impact.

The Prize of Electrical and Electronic Parts of the 21st Super Manufacturing Parts Award (2024)

FANUC αi-D series SERVO AC Reactor

The FANUC αi-D series SERVO AC reactor is an AC reactor for harmonic current suppression installed in the input power supply unit of machine tools and is compatible with our αi-D series SERVO released in 2023. By adopting a unique hexagonal structure, we have achieved miniaturization and reduced losses. This enables miniaturization of the control panel of machine tools and energy savings.
In recognition of the above points, we received the Prize of Electrical and Electronic Parts of the 21st Super Manufacturing Parts Award.

The Main Prize of the 66th Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Best Ten New Products Awards (2023)

FANUC αi-D series SERVO

The αi-D servo system has achieved a 10% reduction in overall servo system losses compared to our previous models, thanks to the use of high-efficiency motors and current control, amplifiers equipped with the latest power elements, and a newly designed low-loss AC reactor with a unique structure.
In addition to the power regeneration technology that has been implemented so far, this will significantly contribute to the development of energy-efficient machine tools. The above factors were recognized, and the product received the 66th Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun Top 10 New Products Award.

The Main Prize of the 43rd Japan Society for Precision Engineering (JSPE) Technology Award (2023)

FANUC CNC Digital Twin (Project title: High-speed simulator for numerical control devices that takes into account the dynamic characteristics of each axis to realize a high-precision digital twin of machine tools)

By incorporating a servo model that simulates servo control and mechanical characteristics into CNC Guide 2, a CNC simulator, the quality of machining simulations has been greatly improved. This contributes to increased machining productivity, fewer trial runs, and reduced consumption of materials, tools, oils and greases, and electricity, thereby lowering environmental impact.