FANUC automates weld grinding at Charter Wire
FANUC announced a robotic weld‑grinding deployment at Charter Wire that replaces hazardous, inconsistent manual work with automated grinding cells reported. The move highlights how classical industrial robots are being paired with vision and force control to tackle finishing tasks that previously resisted automation. Companies integrating classical arms with vision and safety systems will see demand for engineers who can bridge PLCs, ROS‑style stacks, and real‑time control.
Charter Wire deployed the system in partnership with FANUC ASI Acme Manufacturing, according to FANUC’s published case study. (fanucamerica.com) The installed manipulator is a FANUC R-2000iC/270F industrial arm, and the R-2000iC/270F is specified with a 270 kg payload and roughly 2,655 mm reach on FANUC product documentation. (fanucamerica.com) Before automation, operators ground welds using a five-horsepower air grinder fitted with a coarse stone that weighed about 30 pounds, a manual cycle that took approximately five minutes and prompted some workers to refuse the task or quit. (fanucamerica.com) Acme integrated a robotic material‑removal cell that machines continuous wire diameters from 0.90 in to 1.75 in and specifically removes flash upset butt‑weld burrs, with FANUC noting the cell eliminated product rework and reduced scrap rates. (fanucamerica.com) FANUC documents a force‑control function for robots used in polishing and deburring that relies on force sensors for delicate contact tasks, and industrial demos of heavy‑stock robotic grinding show laser weld‑centering and SCHUNK fixturing used to locate the weld prior to grinding. (fanuc.co.jp) FANUC’s case study reports Charter Wire saw improved finish quality, lower scrap, the ability to take on more production work, and higher employee satisfaction after the cell was commissioned, while Acme Manufacturing — the integrator — traces its metal‑finishing business back to 1910 and is listed as a FANUC Authorized System Integrator. (fanucamerica.com)
