The ARC Mate 100iC is the highest performing robot in its class

FANUC Robotics America, Inc. recently introduced the new ARC Mate 100iC intelligent welding robot, which features a compact design, and offers an integrated welding solution with class-leading operation efficiency, speed, load capacity, and enhanced performance for welding parts of all shapes and sizes.  

Compared to traditional dress packages, which are mounted externally on the robot’s arm, the ARC Mate 100iC’s internal routing allows the dress package to follow the motion range of the robot, simplifying programming and eliminating the worries of bending, snagging or breaking cables. 

 “The ARC Mate 100iC is the highest performance arc welding robot in its class,” said Mike Sharpe, FANUC Robotics’ director of engineering for materials joining.  “The internal dress package also makes it extremely easy to operate and maintain, and ensures a longer cable life.”

The ARC Mate 100iC and R-30iA Controller can be integrated in a welding system that includes the weld torch cable, wire feeder, and welding power supply.  A variety of design enhancements include:

-                      Cantilevered forearm is inherently rigid, simplifying cable management and maintenance.

-                      Integrated wire feed control cable, with shielding gas hose and welding power cables.

-                      A 15% increase in acceleration for higher motion performance.

-                      A 10 kg payload, which represents a 67% increase over the previous model, supports traditional welding dress-out packages.   

-                      Slimmer forearm and a 15% size reduction of the robot base maximizes reach in confined areas, allowing manufacturers to install multiple robots in close proximity, and save valuable floor space.  

-                      Multiple mounting positions include floor, invert and angle.

-                      Higher motion range including ‘best in class” reach versus stroke.

The ARC Mate 100iC also supports a wide range of intelligent functions such as:

-                      iRVision, a ready-to-use built-in robotic vision package.

-                      ROBOGUIDE-WeldPRO simulation package easily models the ARC Mate 100iC dress-out, and downloads programs to the robot, which run without touch-up. 

-                      Vision Shift eliminates the usual touch-ups and verifications associated with off-line programming or fixture and tool changes.

-                      Collision Guard detects robot collisions with external objects, minimizing damage to the part, robot, and torch.

“ArcLink XT, the industry’s first Ethernet-based welding network is another feature that provides a high performing welding interface.  It is a flexible and powerful welding network that allows the R-30iA Controller to handle up to four welding power supplies,” said Sharpe.

ArcLink XT, developed in partnership with Lincoln Electric, is the next generation in arc welding network communications offering improved performance over existing welding communication methods.  The connection to the welder is over the standard R-30iA Ethernet connection.

At the recent 2007 Robots and Vision Show, FANUC Robotics featured three welding robots working in coordinated motion with one FANUC R-30iA Controller: the new powerful ARC Mate 100iC robot equipped with iRVision, the Lincoln Electric Power Wave i400, and ROBOGUIDE-WeldPRO simulation software, along with two M-6iB/6S robots.  FANUC’s iRVision located randomly-placed parts from a bin.   Each M-6iB/6S robot picked a part and then held the parts in sync as the ARC Mate 100iC simulated welding the parts together.  A WeldPRO demonstration highlighted the simulation of the system.

The R-30iA Controller uses high-performance hardware and the latest advances in network, integrated iRvision, and motion control functions, providing a level of intelligence never offered before, including the ability to control 40 axes with one controller (4 robots plus other equipment). 

 “In a welding cell, multi-arm control allows customers to achieve maximum utilization of their robots.  Using one or two robots for material handling while other robots perform welding maximizes flexibility,” said Sharpe.  “By simply changing the end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT) on the material handling robots, a wide variety of parts can be welded within a single work cell.”