AM CERT Advanced Manufacturing CERT Cell by APT Manufacturing

There is a significant difference between learning to program a robot on a compact tabletop trainer and learning to operate, integrate, and troubleshoot a full industrial robot cell with perimeter fencing, safety PLCs, vision systems, conveyors, and multi-axis material handling. The first experience builds familiarity. The second builds job readiness.

The AM CERT Advanced Manufacturing CERT Cell from APT Manufacturing Solutions is designed to deliver the second kind of experience. It brings a full industrial robotic environment into the classroom, teaching students to work with the safety devices, integration techniques, and automation technologies they will encounter on their first day in a real manufacturing facility.

Klein Educational supplies the AM CERT to CTE programs, community colleges, and university engineering programs across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. As the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in these seven states, we help programs get the right configuration specified, installed, and running.

What is the AM CERT?

The AM CERT is a full-featured industrial robot cell developed by APT Manufacturing Solutions in partnership with FANUC and Rockwell Automation, designed specifically for advanced manufacturing education at FANUC CERT Levels I, II, and III. It uses a full-sized FANUC M10iD or M20iA six-axis industrial robot with the FANUC R30iB Plus controller, paired with a Rockwell Automation CompactLogix or GuardLogix PLC, a Rockwell PanelView 10-inch touch screen HMI, and a comprehensive safety infrastructure that mirrors what students will work with in industry.

Unlike smaller tabletop training systems, the AM CERT expands to a full 10-foot by 10-foot work cell, giving programs adequate space for conveyors, palletizing, or pick and place applications. When training is complete, the perimeter fencing folds down and the entire cell reduces to just 54 inches wide by 72 inches deep for compact storage or transport using a pallet jack or forklift. This combination of full industrial capability and practical portability makes the AM CERT one of the most versatile advanced manufacturing training platforms available for educational environments.

What students and trainees learn

The AM CERT covers the advanced automation integration skills that employers in robotics, advanced manufacturing, and industrial maintenance consistently look for in new hires:

  • FANUC M10 or M20 industrial robot programming and operation using the iPendant and iHMI interface

  • Robot to PLC communication and program calls based on PLC decisions

  • Rockwell CompactLogix and GuardLogix PLC programming using Studio 5000

  • Rockwell PanelView HMI operator interface development and operation

  • PLC ladder logic programming and system integration

  • Perimeter fencing, safety interlocked entry door, and light curtain operation

  • Area scanner safety system operation and configuration

  • Dual Check Safety programming for advanced robot safety applications

  • FANUC 2D iRVision for vision-guided material handling and error proofing

  • Swivellink conveyor integration with line tracking

  • SMC two-jaw gripper and vacuum end-of-arm tooling operation

  • ATI automatic tool change operation and programming

  • SMC pneumatic system operation including filter, regulator, and lockout/tagout valve

  • I/O testing, motor operation testing, and safety input verification

  • Mechatronics integration across robot, PLC, vision, safety, and conveyor systems

  • Industry 4.0 and IIoT readiness concepts in a connected automation environment

Training areas cover PLC, robot, vision, safety, pneumatics, and conveyor at Levels I, II, III, and through full mechatronics integration.

A closer look at the system

The AM CERT is built on a structural steel robot base that supports the robot, robot controller, PLC cabinet, and perimeter fencing as a single integrated unit. The folding Stronguard perimeter fencing panels use 2-inch wire mesh construction and store directly on the robot base frame when not in use, so the footprint shrinks dramatically without requiring separate storage for safety components.

The PLC control panel features a viewing window, main power disconnect, and a program access port on the outside of the panel, allowing students to connect laptops for programming without entering the cell. A slide-out programming laptop desk with a 110 VAC power supply is built into the cell. Fold-down pick and place tables on each side of the robot provide flexible work surfaces for loading and unloading parts. The lower side access panel accommodates an optional Swivellink conveyor passing through the perimeter fencing.

Power input options include 208 VAC 3-phase, 220 VAC 3-phase, and 480 VAC 3-phase, with an optional transformer available for programs that need voltage conversion. The system includes 16 remotely accessible configurable I/O points and is pre-wired with an SMC robot-mounted valve bank connected to robot I/O through the EE connector for pneumatic tooling control.

Robot options include the FANUC M10iD for lighter payload applications and the M20iA for heavier payload work, both using the full-sized FANUC R30iB Plus controller platform that prepares students for the controller they will encounter across the broadest range of FANUC industrial robot installations in industry.

FANUC CERT certifications supported

The AM CERT supports FANUC CERT certifications in Material Handling at Levels I, II, and III, as well as iRVision 2D certification for programs that add the vision option. The system also supports Rockwell Automation Learning+ curriculum for PLC and HMI training, and APT Manufacturing integration curriculum covering maintenance and troubleshooting, basic integration labs, and safety systems design and application.

The AM CERT is a direct pathway to the CSM Connected Smart Manufacturing system for programs that want to build toward a fully integrated Industry 4.0 manufacturing line. The skills students develop on the AM CERT translate directly into the CSM environment, making it a logical next step in a progressive advanced manufacturing curriculum.

Why the AM CERT matters for your program

The gap between entry-level robot training and the skills employers actually need is most visible when it comes to safety systems and industrial integration. Perimeter fencing, safety PLCs, area scanners, and Dual Check Safety programming are standard features in industrial robot cells, but most educational robot trainers do not include them. Students who have only worked with compact tabletop systems have not yet encountered the safety infrastructure that governs how industrial robots actually operate in a production environment.

The AM CERT closes that gap by giving students direct, hands-on experience with full industrial safety systems alongside the robot programming and PLC integration skills they need. The result is a graduate who is not just familiar with robots but genuinely prepared to work in a real industrial cell from day one.

How Klein Educational supports your program

Klein Educational is more than an equipment supplier. We work with CTE directors, college department heads, and workforce administrators from the first conversation through installation and beyond. That includes needs assessment, equipment specification, lab layout planning, and staff training.

As the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in the western US, we have direct access to the full AM CERT system, curriculum, and support infrastructure, which means faster service and deeper product knowledge than you will find anywhere else in the region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the AM CERT? The AM CERT is a full industrial robot cell from APT Manufacturing Solutions designed for advanced manufacturing education at FANUC CERT Levels I, II, and III. It features a FANUC M10 or M20 industrial robot, Rockwell CompactLogix or GuardLogix PLC, Rockwell PanelView HMI, perimeter fencing, safety systems, 2D iRVision, and optional Swivellink conveyor in a single integrated, portable training platform.

How does the AM CERT differ from a standard FANUC CERT Cart? The AM CERT uses full-sized FANUC M10 or M20 industrial robots rather than the compact LR Mate robots used in standard CERT Carts. It includes a full Rockwell PLC and HMI, perimeter fencing with safety interlocks, and a 10-foot by 10-foot work cell footprint, delivering a genuinely industrial environment rather than a tabletop training experience.

What safety systems does the AM CERT include? The AM CERT includes folding Stronguard perimeter fencing with a safety interlocked entry door, light curtain or area scanner protection for the robot work area, Dual Check Safety programming capability, and full GuardLogix safety PLC integration as an option.

What FANUC certifications can students earn? The AM CERT supports FANUC CERT Material Handling certifications at Levels I, II, and III, as well as iRVision 2D certification for programs with the vision option added.

Is the AM CERT portable? Yes. With the perimeter fencing folded down, the cell reduces to 54 inches wide by 72 inches deep and can be transported using a standard pallet jack or forklift, making it practical to reposition within a facility.

Does Klein Educational help with lab setup and installation? Yes. Klein works with programs from needs assessment through equipment specification, lab layout, installation, and staff training. We guide the entire process so your program is set up correctly from day one.

What states does Klein Educational serve? We serve California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska as the authorized distributor for APT Manufacturing solutions in these seven states.

Ready to Bring the AM CERT to Your Program?

Whether you are building an advanced manufacturing pathway from the ground up or taking an existing robotics program to the next level, our team will help you find the right AM CERT configuration for your space, budget, and goals.

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