The Sinumerik Machine Tool Robot is controlled by Sinumerik One, the digital native CNC from Siemens.
Across a broad range of industries, including defense, aerospace and automotive, there are simultaneous needs for the precision and accuracy a machine tool provides and the productivity that comes with industrial robots.
In the aerospace industry, for example, components are often required to operate in extreme conditions, making tight tolerances and high accuracy that much more critical. These precise dimensions help ensure proper fit, clearances and load distribution that contribute to structural integrity and performance in situations where the consequences of failure could be especially high.
Examples include fuselage panels, landing gear and other structural systems, as well as engine components such as turbine blades, housings and combustion chambers. All of these products have dimension requirements that are critical for engine performance, safety, and hydraulic and electronic control systems where tight tolerances in valves, actuators other system components are needed for efficient operation.
While a typical standard for machining might be about +/- 0.005 inches (0.0127 mm) for critical features, there are many aerospace companies that routinely manufacture to tolerances as low as 0.0001 inches (0.0025 mm).
A Tool Path Forward
In response to these needs and an awareness that manufacturers cannot afford to sacrifice quality for quantity or vice versa, Siemens AG is introducing its Sinumerik Machine Tool Robot (MTR). The system is designed to handle high-precision machining paths at speeds that don’t sacrifice productivity, the company says.
MTR expands the Sinumerik Run MyRobot/direct-control technology with new functions and robot types, according to Siemens, which cites improved accuracy and productivity across the workspace. The technology is being unveiled at several industry events this spring, including the JEC and EMO trade shows.
The new system is based on an intelligent control concept that gives industrial robots the characteristics of machine tools, Siemens says. This supports high-precision path applications, even when machining steel and other hard materials that call for increased cutting forces and damping.
Compared to conventional industrial robots, the Sinumerik MTR overcomes these challenges with a two- to threefold increase in path accuracy and “significantly higher” dynamic rigidity, Siemens says. These characteristics are suited for aerospace, defense and automotive applications, as well as other high-precision robotics, including post-processing of 3D-printed metal parts, the supplier notes.
The new control concept also boasts a 20-40% productivity increase, which Siemens says is beneficial for applications that don’t employ process forces, including waterjet and laser cutting. Sinumerik MTR is controlled by Sinumerik One, the digital native CNC that is part of the Siemens Xcelerator open platform.
Features include the ability to employ digital twins, which, in turn, provide a wide variety of benefits toward increasing productivity and quality, Siemens says. Using a digital twin enables simulating and testing workflows in a completely virtual environment.
Danobat plans to use the MTR to strengthen its position as a leader in
high-precision robotic solutions and tap into new market segments.
Early Adopters
Among the first adopters of the new technology are autonox Robotics LLC and Danobat. Founded in 2002, Germany’s autonox specializes in robot mechanics that can be used with a variety of control platforms. Gipuzkoa, Spain-based Danobat, which provides precision grinding machines, lathes and robotic systems for machining, offers machine tool robots ranging from a 220-kg model with a 2.6-m reach to a 530-kg/3.6m-reach unit.
In addition to defense, aerospace and automotive, the increasing use of additive manufacturing has created a similar need in precision post-processing. According to a 2024 article in the journal Sensors, (“Additive Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Review”), precision in post-process machining “is vital for enhancing the physical properties and aesthetic qualities of the printed object … [and] the necessity and complexity of post-processing vary significantly with the printing technology used and the end-use of the object.”
link