Types of industrial robots and where each architecture fits.
Robot architecture affects motion, speed, payload, work envelope, footprint and cost. The right choice follows the product path and process rather than a generic preference for one robot type.
Six-axis robots provide flexible orientation and approach angles.
A six-axis articulated robot can approach a product or machine from many directions. It is commonly used for machine tending, welding, spraying, material handling, assembly and complex pick-and-place tasks.
Selection depends on payload, reach, wrist moments, repeatability, mounting, protection rating and whether the robot can achieve the required path without singularities or collisions.
- Machine tending
- Welding and processing
- Flexible handling
- Assembly
- Heavy component transfer
- Complex orientation
SCARA and delta robots excel in suitable planar and conveyor tasks.
SCARA robots are effective for fast planar motion, insertion, assembly and handling within a compact envelope. Parallel or delta robots can provide very high pick rates over conveyors, particularly where products are light and vision-guided.
Their motion is less general than a six-axis arm, so the part orientation and approach requirements must fit the architecture.
- High-speed pick and place
- Vision-guided sorting
- Light packaging
- Assembly and insertion
- Dispensing
- Product orientation
Palletising and Cartesian robots optimise defined movement patterns.
Four-axis palletising robots are designed for high payload, large reach and efficient stacking motion. Cartesian manipulators use linear axes and are common for injection-moulding take-out because they fit above the machine and follow a predictable extraction path.
Collaborative robots add safety-rated functions that can support operator interaction, but their suitability still depends on the complete risk assessment.
- Four-axis palletising for boxes, bags and containers
- Cartesian take-out for moulding machines
- Cobots for suitable light and flexible tasks
- Column robots for tall pallet stacks
- Gantry arrangements for large rectangular envelopes
Frequently asked questions
These answers provide an initial planning framework. Final requirements are confirmed against the product, process, site and applicable safety obligations.
Which robot is fastest for pick and place?
Parallel/delta and SCARA robots are often strong candidates for high-speed light-product handling, but product presentation, vision, travel distance, orientation and downstream timing determine the complete cycle.
Why use a six-axis robot?
Six axes provide flexible orientation and approach angles, making the architecture useful for machine tending, welding, handling and tasks where the product must be reoriented in space.
What type of robot is used for palletising?
Four-axis palletising robots are common because they combine reach, payload and efficient stacking motion. Six-axis robots and cobots can also palletise where their payload, reach and cycle fit.
What is a Cartesian robot?
A Cartesian robot moves along linear X, Y and Z axes. Injection-moulding take-out manipulators are a common example and may add wrist axes for orientation.
Continue planning your automation project
Use these pages to compare approaches, define the application and prepare the information needed for a useful feasibility review.
Complete robot cell integration
See how robot, tooling, controls, vision and safety are delivered as one system.
Read more →Robot selection matrix
Compare 20 reference robot and manipulator platforms.
Read more →Discuss your application
Turn the planning information into a project-specific feasibility review.
Read more →Discuss the production task with an automation engineer.
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