Pick and place robots move parts from one spot to another, over and over. For small, light parts at high speed, the usual choices are a delta robot, a SCARA or a small six axis arm like the FANUC LR Mate. Heavier parts call for an M-20 class arm, and the heaviest loads go to an R-2000 or M-900.
Two Kinds of Pick and Place
Light pick and place is conveyor picking, sorting, kitting and feeding parts to assembly. The parts weigh grams to a few kilograms and the robot is judged on how many picks it makes a minute. Heavy pick and place is moving parts between machines, conveyors, racks and fixtures, where payload and reach matter more than raw speed. Our posts on material handling robots and parts transfer robots cover the heavier side.
Delta Robots
A delta robot hangs above the work with parallel arms running down to a small platform. It is built for speed on light parts and works in a round envelope below the base, which makes it a natural fit over a conveyor. The FANUC M-3iA is the delta we carry. The FANUC M-3iA/6S carries 6 kg across a 1,350 mm work area, and we also stock the FANUC M-3iA/6A. Smaller deltas in FANUC's M-1 and M-2 lines show up on our blog too, like the FANUC M-2iA/3A at 3 kg and 800 mm.
SCARA Robots
A SCARA moves fast in a flat plane and is stiff up and down, so it is strong at picking a part and setting it straight down: assembly, insertion, loading trays and nests. It cannot tilt a part the way a six axis arm can. Our guide to used SCARA robots explains when one beats a six axis arm. Along with the FANUC SR-20iA, we carry the Adept Cobra 800S SCARA, and a FANUC SR6iA sits in one of our FANUC robot cells.
Small Six Axis Arms
When the part has to be flipped, turned or reached over a fixture wall, a small six axis arm is the better pick. The LR Mate 200iD carries 7 kg. The LR Mate 200iD/7L reaches 911 mm, and our FANUC LR Mate 200iD guide covers the rest of the family. Other small arms in stock include the FANUC M-6iB/6S at 6 kg and 951 mm, and the ABB IRB 1200 at 5 kg and 901 mm. Our ABB IRB series guide covers the ABB side.
Heavier Pick and Place
Once the part and gripper pass a few kilograms, you are into the M-20 class. The M-20iA carries 20 kg and the M-20iB/25 carries 25 kg, both with about 1.8 m of reach, which covers most conveyor to machine and machine to rack moves. Above that, the R-2000 handles car parts, castings and heavy assemblies, and the M-900 takes the loads beyond that. Our FANUC R-2000 series guide and FANUC M-900 series guide go through those lines. For stacking full loads at the end of a line, see our post on palletizing robots.
Matching the Robot to the Job
- Weight. Add the part, the gripper and anything on the wrist, then leave margin. Vacuum cups are light. Mechanical grippers for heavy parts are not. Our post on end of arm tooling covers the options.
- Speed. Deltas and SCARAs win on light parts. A six axis arm wins when the part has to change orientation on the way.
- Work area. A delta covers a circle below it, a SCARA covers a flat area around its base, and a six axis arm works in three dimensions. Our FANUC payload and reach quick reference lists reach by model.
- Finding the part. Parts that come down a conveyor in random spots need robotic vision to locate them.
- Controller. Check the controller generation and software before you buy. Our FANUC robot controllers guide explains the differences.
- Working next to people. For slow, light picks beside an operator, read our take on collaborative robots vs traditional industrial robots.
Pick and Place Robots We Stock
- FANUC M-3iA/6S delta: 6 kg payload, 1,350 mm work area
- FANUC SR-20iA SCARA: R-30iB Plus controller, never used
- Adept Cobra S600 SCARA: four axis SCARA
- ABB IRB 120: small six axis arm, IRC5 controller
- FANUC LR Mate 200iD/7H: 7 kg payload, 717 mm reach, R-30iB
- FANUC M-20iA: 20 kg payload, 1,811 mm reach, R-30iB Plus controller
- FANUC M-20iB/25: 25 kg payload, 1,853 mm reach, R-30iB control
- FANUC M-20iD/35: 35 kg payload, R-30iB Plus controller
- FANUC S-500i: older six axis arm on the RJ3 controller
- FANUC R-2000iC/165F: 165 kg payload, 2,655 mm reach
- FANUC M-900iA/350: 350 kg payload, 2,650 mm reach
Related Guides
Have Pick and Place Robots to Sell?
Shutting down or changing over a line? We will make an offer on the robots, whether that is one SCARA or a room full of six axis arms. Send us the details through our sell your used robots page, or ask about robot and machinery appraisals.
To talk through a pick and place job, call 586-752-0090, extension 1 for sales, or contact R.A.B. Industries.