From portable tabletop simulators to ROBODRILLs, FANUC has a wide range of offerings ready to upskill today’s CNC workforce.
The manufacturing industry needs CNC operators and programmers, which is why FANUC America is dedicated to helping fill this skills gap. We offer a suite of CNC educational products designed for many levels of students as well as learning environments. From portable tabletop simulators to ROBODRILLs, FANUC has a wide range of offerings ready to upskill today’s CNC workforce.
CNC Simulators
FANUC’s Education Simulator and Machining Simulator are widely used in colleges and tech schools as well as workplace training rooms to prepare users to navigate CNC operations. Because these tools only simulate CNC machining and don’t actually cut materials, they allow students and trainees to explore the features of standard and specialized CNC machines without the threat of causing any real damage to the real machinery or generating material waste.
The CNC Education Simulator is designed specifically for training purposes, ensuring affordable access to the latest FANUC CNC platform. Because it comes in a compact and portable package without the need of an actual CNC machine, the CNC Education Simulator is perfect for the small classroom or training room. The simulator resembles an actual CNC interface and enables programmers and technicians to gain hands-on experience via a much more realistic and tactile experience than virtual CNC operations training.
The simulator can be used with CNC Guide, which is PC-based software enabling digital CNC navigation and function operations, such as making edits and outputting and inputting programs. When students learn how to write G-code part programs, they then can run them through the simulation and see the motion happen on the simulation software. Additionally, students can use FANUC’s MANUAL GUIDE i, a conversational and graphical programming software that generates G-code.
FANUC offers two simulators: The standalone CNC Education Simulator, which can be connected to the Machining Simulation software; and a Machining Simulator that has a PC and software built in.
Desktop Milling Machines & Lathes
For educational institutions that want to give their students the actual experience of cutting materials, FANUC powers a number of different desktop machines. These machines are perfect for students who want to gain the hands-on learning experience of not only operating CNCs, but also making parts.
![Levil Desktop Milling Machine](jpg/levil-ltcf20b4ef.jpg)
FANUC CNC are used in a number of mills and lathes made by Levil Technology, such as the Levil EDU Mill, which is a rigid gantry-style machine perfect for cutting wood, plastic and metal. The EDU Mill also offers an optional 3D print head attachment for teaching both additive and subtractive manufacturing on one machine. The Levil LMV-F400 Table-top CNC Milling Machining helps students experience milling practices including machine programming, set up and operation with a small classroom footprint. Additionally, the Levil LTC-F30 Table-top CNC Lathe is capable of 24/7 industrial production of small parts in a variety of materials ranging from plastics to soft metals.
![Instructor talking to student while standing next to a FANUC ROBODRILL machine](png/robodrill-teachingccf2.png)
Full-Sized CNC Machine Tools for Education
For learning environments that have dedicated machining labs, FANUC’s fully-equipped CNC machines are perfect for students to get the ultimate CNC operational and machining experience.
The Doosan DEM 4000 Mill is a compact vertical machining center for 3-axis general machining with high rigidity structure. This model is designed with a 22” x 16” bed that is suitable for basic cutting processing. Controlled by a FANUC 0i-F Plus control with 10.4” LCD, the operation panel enhances ease of use by incorporating common-design buttons and layout as well as offers the ONG keyboard for fast operation.
To give students the experience of using a lathe, Doosan’s LEO 1600 is a compact 2-axis lathe that offers a 6” chuck and the largest machining area in its class. Powered by FANUC 0i-F Plus control with 10.4” LCD, this horizontal turning center offers a rigid design, reliable spindle and an 12 tool turret.
Finally, FANUC’s ROBODRILL α-DiB5 Series is a high-performance vertical milling center ideally suited for milling, drilling, tapping, and boring with flexibility, versatility, and reliability. Specific education packages have been configured for training programs teaching 3-axis and 5-axis machining, which ensures students learn on the latest CNC technology. Robotic machine tending options are also available to prepare students for the growing implementation of traditional robots and collaborative robots on shop floors.
With so many great offerings, there is a CNC educational tool for every size instructional program. Get in touch with us to see how we can help your CNC training needs!