How to Choose the Right Robot for Your Business Needs

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no universal “best robot” for every factory. The right choice depends on the specific task, environment, and goals. Factors like payload, reach, and budget will all play a part in choosing the ideal robot for your application.

Read on to learn about the key criteria to keep in mind when choosing a robot for your application, browse comparisons between leading robots available from RBTX, and access resources designed to further assist in the selection process.

Note: while this blog will focus on and discuss primarily 6-axis robot arms and cobots, much of the advice below is still relevant for other robot types like gantries and delta robots. Browse the following resources for more information on other industrial robots:

Understanding industrial robot types: a guide to selection and use

What is a pick and place robot? The all-in-one guide

Primary selection criteria

There are six primary factors to consider when selecting your robot arm. Your final choice of robot should meet your application requirements in each of these criteria. Ignoring even one of these can lead to subpar performance, complete system failure, and robot replacements.

Leading robot brands available on RBTX — Fairino, Universal Robots, Kawasaki, and Dobot Robotics — will be compared across each of these criteria when relevant to give you a head start in the search for your next robot.

Payload

Payload is the maximum weight a robot can lift. This includes not only products, but any end-of-arm tooling on the robot as well.

Why it matters:

  • Overloading a robot can damage it or reduce its accuracy

  • Selecting a robot with a significantly higher payload than necessary will increase costs

Brand comparison:

Resource: Robot payload capacity: What it is and why it matters

Reach

A robot’s reach (also referred to as working envelope or workspace) is the maximum distance a robot arm can extend from its base.

Why it matters:

  • A robot with too small of a reach won’t be able to cover the entire application area

  • A robot with too large of a reach will be too bulky to fit and move safely within the application area

Brand comparison:

Resource: What’s the best reach for an industrial robot?

Degrees of freedom/axes

Degrees of freedom — or axes — are the number of independent movements a robot can make. Most robotic arms will range from three to six degrees of freedom, though more than six can be achieved through the use of a 7th axis.

Why it matters:

  • More axes allow for greater flexibility in positioning and orientation.

  • The complexity of a task will impact the required number of axes on a robot

Brand comparison:

Resource: What are degrees of freedom in robotic arms?

Programming and interface

Programming robots from scratch can require extensive coding experience. However, many robots have software available that allows easy programming without any coding necessary. Look out for drag-and-drop UIs, teach pendants, and compatibility with PLCs.

Why it matters:

  • Programming impacts deployment time and the ease of training robot operators

  • Without proper programming, a robot can’t perform any of its basic functions

Brand comparison:

Budget range

Budget is arguably the most important factor in selecting a robot — you can’t spec a robot into an application if you can’t afford it. Robots can range from just a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands, so picking the right option is essential.

Why it matters:

  • The total cost of ownership (robot, gripper, software, accessories) needs to be considered

  • Spending outside of your budget will limit, if not entirely prevent, achieving a reasonable return on investment

Brand comparison:

Application fit

Not every application is going to be a good fit for every type of robot. Simple pick-and-place tasks may be better suited for delta or gantry robots, while complex welding or inspection applications may require a robotic arm with specific tooling and accessories.

Why it matters:

  • Not every robot is suitable for every task, even with similar specs

  • Choosing the wrong robot could lead to inefficiencies or increased long-term costs

Resource: https://rbtx.com/en-US/solutions

Conclusion

No matter your application, there’s a robot perfectly suited for it. It’s just a matter of choosing the right one. Even if you need a custom solution, tools like the RBTX Machine Planner will allow you to quickly and easily design a system with guaranteed compatibility between parts from different manufacturers.

Next steps

Now that you’ve made it to the end of this blog, you’re ready to select your robot! If you’d rather discuss your project before moving to the design and selection phase, you can reach out to an RBTXpert, or you can get quick suggestions from the RBTX AI robot expert. These are both excellent starting points in your automation journey and will help ensure you’re getting the exact solution you need.

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