ROBODRILL CNC Machining Center for Education By FANUC

The gap between what CNC machining programs teach and what employers actually need their CNC operators and programmers to do on day one is narrowing every year, and the programs closing that gap fastest are the ones putting students on production-grade equipment. Not simplified educational machines. Not simulators alone. Real industrial CNC machining centers running real parts under real machining conditions.

The FANUC ROBODRILL is the most reliable compact CNC machining center manufactured today. It is a high-speed, high-precision vertical machining center used by manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, medical device, electronics, and precision component production worldwide, equipped with the FANUC 31i-B CNC controller and built for milling, drilling, tapping, and boring with a level of speed, repeatability, and automation-readiness that no educational machine can replicate. When students program and operate a ROBODRILL, they are learning on the machine that production facilities trust for their highest-accuracy, highest-throughput work.

Klein Educational supplies the FANUC ROBODRILL to community colleges, university machine shops, and advanced manufacturing CTE programs across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. We help programs select the right ROBODRILL configuration and education package for their curriculum and facility.

What is the FANUC ROBODRILL?

The FANUC ROBODRILL is a compact high-speed, high-precision CNC vertical machining center manufactured by FANUC, equipped with the FANUC 31i-B series CNC controller. It is available in short, standard, and long bed models to accommodate different workpiece sizes, and is configurable for 3-axis and 5-axis machining to match different curriculum levels and application requirements.

The ROBODRILL's defining characteristics are its speed, precision, and automation readiness. The automatic tool changer delivers 0.7-second tool-to-tool change times that minimize cycle time on parts requiring multiple tools. Rapid traverse rates and the AICC-II advanced look-ahead contouring function optimize motion for the shortest possible cycle times without compromising surface quality. The rigid machine construction maintains consistent part geometry across long production runs, making it equally suited to producing a single precision part in a student training session and running production quantities in an automated manufacturing cell.

The FANUC 31i-B controller brings FANUC's full CNC capability to every ROBODRILL, including MANUAL GUIDE i conversational programming, G-code programming across the full range of standard and advanced cycle types, and direct compatibility with every major CAM system that generates FANUC post-processed code. The 10.4-inch screen, Quick Screen interface, and full keyboard make program input and machine operation fast and intuitive, reducing the time students spend navigating menus and increasing the time they spend making chips and developing machining judgment.

ROBODRILL education packages

FANUC has configured specific ROBODRILL education packages for educational institutions, making it practical for programs to deploy the machine as part of a complete curriculum rather than sourcing tooling, workholding, and curriculum separately. Education packages are available for 3-axis machining programs, 5-axis machining programs, robotic machine tending programs in combination with a FANUC robot, and Connected Smart Manufacturing programs in combination with the full APT Manufacturing Solutions CSM cell.

Each education package includes the ROBODRILL machine with the standard education configuration: 10,000 RPM spindle, BT-30 tool holding system, NRTL-compliant electrical system, LED illumination, automatic oil lubrication, mist collector preparation, side windows on the splash guard for part visibility during machining, and the standard FANUC software package. A machining package with cutting tools, tool holders, workholding, and raw material is included to allow programs to begin making parts immediately after installation without additional procurement. Hard-copy operator and maintenance manuals for both the ROBODRILL and the CNC control are included.

5-axis machining on the ROBODRILL

The ROBODRILL's support for up to five simultaneously controlled axes makes it the right platform for programs that want to prepare students for the 5-axis machining applications increasingly common in aerospace, medical device, mold and die, and complex component manufacturing. Five-axis capability on the ROBODRILL includes Tilted Working Plane functionality for 3+2 machining operations, High Speed Smooth TCP for machining a plane with the side of a tool using center-point control, and full 5-axis simultaneous contouring for the most complex surface geometry. Programs that prepare students on 5-axis machining are developing skills in genuinely short supply in the manufacturing workforce.

Automation integration with the ROBODRILL

The ROBODRILL is designed from the ground up for automation integration. It is the CNC machine at the center of the FANUC and APT Manufacturing Solutions Machine Tending Educational Cell (MTEC ROBODRILL), where it is paired with a FANUC LR Mate robot for automatic part load and unload training. The ROBODRILL-QSSR package provides all the elements necessary to connect the machine to a FANUC robot, implementing a quick and simple automatic workpiece exchange system that reflects how ROBODRILL machines are actually deployed in automated production facilities.

For programs that want to expose students to the full Industry 4.0 production cell experience, the ROBODRILL integrates into the Connected Smart Manufacturing (CSM) cell as the primary CNC machining center, with RFID-tracked workpieces moving through a multi-station production sequence managed by a FANUC robot and Rockwell Automation PLC. Students who train on a ROBODRILL-based CSM cell are learning on equipment that directly mirrors the architecture of modern smart manufacturing facilities.

What students learn on the FANUC ROBODRILL

The ROBODRILL supports a comprehensive advanced CNC machining curriculum covering the knowledge and skills that production machining employers need their CNC personnel to demonstrate: safe machining center operation and work practices, FANUC 31i-B controller navigation and operation, G-code program structure, syntax, and editing using the FANUC control, MANUAL GUIDE i conversational programming for machining operations, coordinate system setup and work offset establishment, tool length compensation and cutter radius compensation, automatic tool changer operation and tool management, speeds and feeds selection and optimization for a range of materials, canned cycles for drilling, boring, reaming, and tapping, multi-tool program sequencing, 3-axis contouring and surface machining, 5-axis machining operations and tilted working plane programming for programs with 5-axis ROBODRILL configurations, dimensional inspection of machined parts, preventive maintenance procedures and the ROBODRILL's integrated early warning system, and machine tending integration for programs that pair the ROBODRILL with a FANUC robot.

FANUC offers dedicated ROBODRILL training curriculum including the ROBODRILL Quick Screen course covering coordinate systems, tool compensation setup, parts and tool counting, precision and quality settings, and Quick Screen features specific to the ROBODRILL platform.

Why the ROBODRILL is the right CNC machine for advanced programs

Programs that invest in the FANUC ROBODRILL are investing in the machine that production facilities worldwide trust for their most demanding precision machining work. Students who have programmed, set up, and operated a ROBODRILL are not learning on a simplified approximation of industrial machining. They are learning on the real thing. When those students graduate and walk into a job interview, the ROBODRILL experience on their resume is recognized by every precision machining employer who runs FANUC equipment, which is most of them.

The ROBODRILL's automation-readiness also means programs that start with a standalone machine have a clear upgrade path to machine tending and smart manufacturing cell configurations as their curriculum and budget evolve, making it one of the most scalable investments available in advanced manufacturing education.

How Klein Educational supports your program

Klein Educational works with CTE directors, machining department heads, and program administrators from the first conversation through machine selection, education package specification, installation, and ongoing support. We help programs identify the right ROBODRILL configuration for their curriculum level, available facility space, and integration plans.

We have direct access to the FANUC ROBODRILL product line and education package infrastructure for programs across our seven-state region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FANUC ROBODRILL? The FANUC ROBODRILL is a high-speed, high-precision compact CNC vertical machining center equipped with the FANUC 31i-B series CNC controller, available in short, standard, and long bed models with 3-axis and 5-axis configurations. It is used for milling, drilling, tapping, and boring applications and is recognized worldwide as one of the most reliable and capable compact machining centers in manufacturing.

Are there specific education packages for the ROBODRILL? Yes. FANUC has configured education packages specifically for educational institutions covering 3-axis machining, 5-axis machining, robotic machine tending, and Connected Smart Manufacturing applications. Each package includes the ROBODRILL machine, tooling, workholding, raw material, and curriculum documentation to allow programs to begin making parts immediately after installation.

Can the ROBODRILL be integrated with a FANUC robot for machine tending training? Yes. The ROBODRILL is the CNC machine at the center of the FANUC/APT Manufacturing Solutions MTEC ROBODRILL machine tending educational cell. The ROBODRILL-QSSR package provides all elements needed to connect the machine to a FANUC robot for automatic workpiece exchange training.

Does the ROBODRILL support 5-axis machining? Yes. The ROBODRILL is available in 5-axis configurations supporting up to 5 simultaneously controlled axes, Tilted Working Plane functionality for 3+2 machining, High Speed Smooth TCP, and full 5-axis simultaneous contouring for complex surface machining applications.

What CNC controller does the ROBODRILL use? The ROBODRILL is equipped with the FANUC 31i-B series CNC controller, which supports MANUAL GUIDE i conversational programming, full G-code programming, AICC-II look-ahead contouring, and direct compatibility with all major CAM systems that generate FANUC post-processed code.

Does Klein Educational help with installation and setup? Yes. Klein works with programs from machine selection and education package specification through installation, staff training, and ongoing support. We guide the entire process so your program is productive from day one.

What states does Klein Educational serve? We serve California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Ready to Bring the FANUC ROBODRILL to Your Advanced Manufacturing Program?

Whether you are building a new precision machining lab or expanding an existing CNC program to production-grade equipment, our team will help you find the right ROBODRILL configuration and education package for your curriculum and budget.