When cutting large workpieces, such as automotive molds or increasingly large semiconductor manufacturing equipment, gantry-type machining centers often present challenges in terms of floor space and installation costs. Many manufacturers may face these issues as well.

Sugino Machine’s「SELFEEDER DUO Robot Edition」 is a robotic machining unit that mounts to the end of an industrial robot, enabling a wide range of cutting operations. In addition to drilling and tapping, it performs high-precision milling and end-milling—operations that are typically difficult to achieve with robots alone.

A New Alternative to Machining Centers | Robotic Cutting

By attaching a spindle unit capable of high-precision cutting to an industrial robot, the robot is transformed into a versatile cutting machine. Its ability to approach workpieces from various angles and orientations enables multi-face machining of large workpieces. Multiple robots can also be installed for simultaneous processing. Compared to large machining centers, this solution significantly reduces both costs and required floor space.

Achieving High-Precision Milling and End-Milling with Robots

Equipped with the essential functions for high-precision robotic cutting, it overcomes the limitations of conventional robotic machining.

・Spindle Feed Mechanism
The feed mechanism incorporates linear guides and ball screws. Because the spindle unit itself handles drilling and tapping, the robot only needs to maintain position—making the process independent of the robot’s rigidity or path accuracy.

・Highly-rigid Sliding Unit
The unit features a slide mechanism with greater stiffness and straightness than the robot itself. While the robot stays fixed at the machining position, the slide unit performs the milling and end-milling motions, achieving high flatness that would be difficult to attain with a robot alone.

・Automatic Feed Adjustment System (AFAS)
The “AFAS” automatically optimizes robotic cutting for higher stability and efficiency:
• Detects tool tip engagement: Reduces infeed speed to suppress robot vibration
• Detects tool pullout: Lowers feed speed to prevent burrs formation during tool withdrawal
• Detects material variation: Automatically adjusts machining conditions to suit each material

・Supports Automatic Tool Changer (ATC)
The standard ATC function enables a single unit to handle multiple machining operations. Its compact system design delivers significant cost savings compared to replacing entire units.

Facing challenges in cutting operations in Thailand? Consult Sugino Machine.

For machining large parts such as giga-cast components or aircraft structures, large gantry-type machining centers are typically used. However, in some cases, the cutting capacity of a smaller machining center would be sufficient, resulting in a mismatch between machine capabilities and cost. Conventional robotic cutting has also faced structural limitations, making it difficult to achieve both high accuracy and high speed compared with machining centers.

The SELFEEDER DUO Robot Edition solves these challenges, delivering high-precision cutting while maintaining the versatility of robotic machining.

If you face challenges in automating cutting operations in Thailand, please contact us using the form below.