MTEC Haas Machine Tending Educational Cell by FANUC

Machine tending is one of the most common and highest-demand applications of industrial robotics across manufacturing today. As facilities across aerospace, automotive, precision machining, and medical device manufacturing add robots to tend CNC machines that previously required dedicated operators, the need for workers who can program, integrate, and troubleshoot robot and CNC systems working together has become one of the most pressing skill gaps in advanced manufacturing hiring.

For programs that want to teach machine tending integration on a CNC machining center that is immediately recognizable to industry and practical for educational deployment, the MTEC Haas is the answer. It pairs a FANUC LR Mate robot with the Haas Mini Mill, one of the most widely deployed CNC machining centers in both education and industry, in a complete machine tending cell with integration provided by APT Manufacturing Solutions, Haas, and FANUC. Students program the robot to load and unload the Haas mill, manage the M-code handshaking between the robot and the CNC control, and operate the complete integrated system as a production cell, developing the skills that advanced manufacturing employers need most.

Klein Educational supplies the FANUC MTEC Haas to CTE programs, community colleges, and university engineering programs across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. We help programs get the right configuration specified, installed, and running.

What is the MTEC Haas?

The MTEC Haas is a FANUC-certified machine tending educational cell that integrates a FANUC LR Mate robot with a Haas Mini Mill CNC machining center. Integration is provided by APT Manufacturing Solutions, Haas, and FANUC, combining three of the most trusted names in advanced manufacturing education into a single production-realistic training platform.

The Haas Mini Mill at the center of the MTEC Haas is a small-footprint CNC machining center that comes loaded with full-size machining center features, making it particularly well suited to educational environments where lab space is limited but full CNC machining capability is required. The Mini Mill uses the Haas control, which is among the most widely encountered CNC control systems in educational machining programs and job shops, giving students experience on a platform they are highly likely to encounter in their careers alongside the FANUC robot programming skills the MTEC teaches.

The FANUC LR Mate robot on the MTEC Haas is the same compact 6-axis robot used across the FANUC CERT Cart ecosystem, the MTEC ROBODRILL, and the MTEC-SIM, meaning students who have already earned FANUC CERT certifications on a CERT Cart are working with familiar robot hardware when they advance to the MTEC Haas integration curriculum. The robot communicates with the Haas Mini Mill through on-board I/O and M-code signals in the CNC program, exactly as a production machine tending robot communicates with a CNC machine in an actual manufacturing facility.

What the MTEC Haas teaches

The MTEC Haas is a Level 3 advanced manufacturing training cell designed for students who already have foundational CNC and robot programming experience and are ready to learn how those two technologies communicate and work together in a real production context. The integration curriculum covers the complete machine tending workflow from robot program creation through CNC M-code interface configuration and production cell operation.

Students program the FANUC LR Mate to pick raw material blanks from the drawer-based loading system, carry them to the Haas Mini Mill, load them into the machine vice, signal the CNC to begin its machining cycle, wait for the M-code completion signal, unload the finished part, and return it to the output location. Every step of this workflow reflects how a production machine tending robot operates, and every communication signal between the robot and the CNC control uses the same I/O and M-code interface that production systems use.

The curriculum covers FANUC LR Mate robot programming and operation at the integration level, robot to CNC machine communication using on-board I/O and M codes in the CNC program, CNC load and unload program development and execution, template-based part location and pick and place programming, air blowoff path programming for chip removal between cycles, fenceless safety cell operation using area scanners, optional iRVision 2D for error proofing and vision-guided picking, tool handling and end-of-arm tooling operation, and maintenance and troubleshooting of the integrated robot and CNC system.

The MTEC Haas also serves as a reinforcement platform for Level 1 and Level 2 robot programming concepts, making it a versatile investment for programs at different stages of curriculum development where students at different skill levels need to work productively on the same system.

System design and practical features

The MTEC Haas is built around a modular robot cart using welded steel construction designed for daily classroom use over many years. The robot cart fits through a standard 36-inch doorway for transport between classrooms or facilities, includes four-side pickup and transport points for easy repositioning, and operates on a standard 120VAC power connection. An optional on-board air compressor is available for fully self-contained operation without a facility compressed air supply.

The drawer-based blank parts loading system is designed for safe, repeatable operation and can be reconfigured for different part types as program needs evolve. A fold-up work table provides a convenient surface for a laptop, textbook, or documentation during programming and review sessions. A three-color beacon operation indicator light shows cell status at a glance. Swivel casters with brakes and rotation lock provide stability during operation and mobility between sessions.

The safety configuration uses an area scanner to monitor the robot work envelope, allowing students to observe and interact with the cell safely in a fenceless configuration without the visual obstruction of full perimeter fencing. A safety interlocked access door to the robot work area is also available for programs that prefer a fully guarded configuration.

All communication input and output between the robot and the Haas Mini Mill is pre-configured through APT Manufacturing's integration, so programs do not need to perform custom integration work to get the system communicating. The cell comes pre-loaded with load and unload program templates that give students a productive starting point for their integration programming work without requiring complex programs to be written from scratch.

FANUC CERT certifications supported

The MTEC Haas supports FANUC CERT certifications in Robot Material Handling at Levels I and II, and with the optional iRVision 2D package, iRVision 2D certification at Level II as well. Students who complete the MTEC Haas curriculum and pass the associated assessments earn industry-recognized FANUC certifications that document their machine tending integration competency for employers across advanced manufacturing.

Instructor training and tool kits are available, including online seats for CERT Cart Safety Features, Robot Operations, and HandlingTool Operation and Programming courses, giving instructors the preparation they need to deliver the curriculum effectively.

The MTEC Haas in the context of the full FANUC MTEC lineup

FANUC's MTEC lineup gives programs three distinct machine tending cell configurations to match different CNC machine investments and curriculum objectives. The MTEC-SIM uses a FANUC CNC Educational Simulator instead of a physical CNC machine, making it the right starting point for programs that do not yet have a CNC machining center and want to build toward a full cell. The MTEC Haas integrates the robot with a Haas Mini Mill, pairing the most widely used educational CNC control platform with FANUC robot integration skills. The MTEC ROBODRILL integrates the robot with the FANUC ROBODRILL, providing the tightest possible integration between robot and CNC machine since both are FANUC products, and making it the natural choice for programs pursuing FANUC CNC CERT certification alongside robot certification.

Programs that start with the MTEC Haas because of an existing Haas CNC investment or a preference for the Haas control environment have a clear upgrade path toward the Connected Smart Manufacturing cell, where the machine tending skills students develop on the MTEC Haas apply directly to the more complex multi-station CSM production workflow.

How Klein Educational supports your program

Klein Educational works 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. We have direct access to the full FANUC educational cell product line and support infrastructure for programs across our seven-state region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FANUC MTEC Haas? The MTEC Haas is a FANUC-certified machine tending educational cell that integrates a FANUC LR Mate robot with a Haas Mini Mill CNC machining center, with integration provided by APT Manufacturing Solutions, Haas, and FANUC. Students program the robot to load and unload the mill using on-board I/O and M-code communication, learning real-world machine tending integration skills in a complete production cell environment.

Why does the MTEC Haas use the Haas Mini Mill? The Haas Mini Mill is a small-footprint machining center with full-size machining center features that is well suited to educational lab environments where space is limited. The Haas control is one of the most widely used CNC control systems in education and job shops, giving students experience on a platform they are highly likely to encounter in their careers.

How does the MTEC Haas differ from the MTEC ROBODRILL? The MTEC Haas integrates the FANUC LR Mate robot with a Haas Mini Mill using the Haas control, while the MTEC ROBODRILL integrates with the FANUC ROBODRILL using the FANUC CNC 31i-B control. Programs with existing Haas equipment or a preference for the Haas control environment will find the MTEC Haas the natural fit, while programs pursuing FANUC CNC CERT certification alongside robot certification will find the MTEC ROBODRILL the tighter integrated choice.

What FANUC certifications does the MTEC Haas support? The MTEC Haas supports FANUC CERT certifications in Robot Material Handling at Levels I and II, and iRVision 2D at Level II with the optional vision package.

Does the MTEC Haas require a dedicated air supply? The system operates on standard 120VAC power. An optional on-board air compressor is available for programs that need fully self-contained operation without a facility compressed air supply.

Does Klein Educational help with installation and setup? 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.

Ready to Bring Machine Tending Training to Your Program?

Whether you are adding robot and CNC integration to an existing Haas machining program or building toward a full Connected Smart Manufacturing configuration, our team will help you find the right MTEC Haas solution for your space, budget, and goals.