K4306-100IC - AutoDrive S Robotic Feeder Kit for Fanuc 100iC

Technical Overview of the AutoDrive S One-Pak

The Lincoln Electric AutoDrive® S Wire Feeder One-Pak® (K4306-100IC) is a specialized robotic welding integration package designed exclusively for the Fanuc® Arc Mate 100iC robot arm. This comprehensive system centers around the AutoDrive® S wire feeder (K4303-1), a high-performance unit engineered to deliver precise wire feeding dynamics in automated environments. The defining technical feature of this system is its Touch-Retract Starting technology. Unlike conventional feeders that initiate the arc through a high-current short circuit—often resulting in explosive spatter—the AutoDrive S coordinates with the Power Wave® power source to physically retract the wire the instant it touches the workpiece. This retraction allows the arc to establish at a lower current level, ensuring a clean, stable ignition sequence that protects the contact tip and the workpiece surface.

This One-Pak® is structured to streamline the bill of materials for systems integrators and maintenance departments. It aggregates all critical mechanical and electrical components required for a successful installation. The package includes the specific mounting bracket (K4254-3) tailored for the Fanuc 100iC casting, ensuring rigid stability and proper center-of-gravity management. The torch assembly is equally robust, featuring a complete Magnum® PRO robotic front end. This includes the K4308-3 Housing, K4307-1 Nose Cone, and KP3355-45 Gun Tube, along with the necessary liners and insulators. The inclusion of Magnum PRO consumables, such as the KP2745-045 Contact Tip and KP2743-1-62R Nozzle, ensures that the system is production-ready immediately upon assembly.

Integration with the Power Wave® platform is seamless, utilizing high-speed digital communication to synchronize wire feed speed acceleration and deceleration with the welding waveform. This synergy provides absolute control over the welding process, from the initial touch-retract start to the crater fill. The system effectively mitigates common robotic welding issues such as burnback, inconsistent starts, and micro-arcing inside the contact tip. By reducing the thermal and mechanical stress on consumables, the AutoDrive S system extends the maintenance intervals for the robotic cell, directly contributing to improved Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and reduced consumable expenditure.