FANUC ROBOTICS is North America's leading supplier of industrial robots and robotic systems, tackled a new toploader project using SolidWorks.

Part of the challenge of this project was to design a product with a large range of motion in a work cell with limited floor space. Fanuc devised a solution that mounts overhead robots on a programmable linear rail.

SolidWorks played a critical role from concept through design. SolidWorks models were utilized in defining the motion range and robot orientation for a variety of applications (injection molding, lathe tending, OLE cast, etc.).

Mass properties and structure analysis were used extensively throughout the design. Due to fewer errors in the drafting phase there was a significant reduction in time-to-market was achieved. The result was Fanuc Robotic was the first-to-market with a family of robots on programmable overhead rails.