FANUC Showcases Scalable Automation at FABTECH 2025, Targeting High-Mix Aerospace Manufacturing

At FABTECH 2025 in Chicago, FANUC America unveiled a suite of robotic and CNC innovations designed to help manufacturers tackle labor shortages, boost productivity, and adapt to increasingly complex production demands. While the demonstrations spanned multiple industries, the implications for aerospace manufacturing, especially in high-mix, low-volume environments, were unmistakable.

Collaborative Welding and Machining for Agile Production

FANUC’s booth featured several live demonstrations of collaborative robots (cobots) performing precision welding, deburring, and material handling. In one setup, two CRX-10 iA cobots worked in tandem to assemble and weld a washer-nut component, while a CRX-30 iA equipped with a 3DV/200 vision camera handled post-weld operations. These IP67-rated cobots offer intuitive hand guidance and drag-and-drop programming, making them ideal for aerospace suppliers managing frequent changeovers and tight production windows.

Another highlight was the coordinated motion demo, where a FANUC M-950/500F-28A material handling robot presented an excavator bucket to two Arc Mate/25-18D welding robots. The synchronized choreography between handling and welding arms showcased FANUC’s ability to maintain precision across multi-axis operations, a capability increasingly relevant for aerospace structures requiring complex seam welding.

Compact Cells and Harsh-Environment Machining

FANUC also introduced a space-saving multi-station arc welding cell featuring a CRX-10 iA/L on a seventh-axis rail. The system alternated between operator stations, enabling continuous welding while parts were loaded in parallel. This approach maximizes uptime and safety in constrained workspaces, a common challenge for aerospace subcontractors operating in legacy facilities.

For harsher environments, FANUC demonstrated its new M810/270F-27B robot performing wet machining on aluminum stock. The robot’s rigidity and environmental resistance make it a strong candidate for aerospace applications involving composite trimming, structural drilling, or titanium milling.

CNC and Paint Automation for Precision Finishing

Beyond robotics, FANUC showcased its latest CNC technologies, including the Alpha i-D Servo System and laser-optimized controllers. These systems support high-speed, high-accuracy machining, critical for aerospace components with tight tolerances and exotic materials.

In the paint booth, FANUC’s cobots demonstrated visual line tracking and multi-material coating capabilities. A CRX-10 iA/L simulated painting electric guitar bodies using 3DV iRVision, while a CRX-20 iA/L handled part loading and unloading. Though the demo leaned artistic, the underlying technology is directly applicable to aerospace finishing, where visual recognition and adaptive coating control are essential for quality assurance.

Automation That Scales with Complexity

FANUC’s FABTECH 2025 showcase underscores a key trend in aerospace manufacturing: the need for automation that scales not just with volume, but with complexity. As suppliers face increasing demands for customization, traceability, and rapid iteration, solutions like FANUC’s cobots and CNC systems offer a path forward.

Eric Potter, FANUC’s General Manager of Robot Application Engineering, summed it up: “As manufacturers of all sizes face increasing demands for flexibility and efficiency, FANUC continues to lead with automation solutions that are smart, scalable and easy to use”.

For aerospace stakeholders, from primes to regional suppliers, the message is clear: automation is no longer a luxury, it’s a strategic necessity.