ABB IRB 1600 vs Yaskawa Motoman AR700: Robot Comparison
Updated: 11 hours ago
IN A NUTSHELL
🔎 THE KEY DIFFERENCE ABB IRB 1600 has the higher stated load capacity and longer stated reach. Those figures help shortlist it for heavier loads or wider layouts, but do not prove a faster production cycle. |
→ CONSIDER ABB IRB 1600 Consider it when additional load capacity and reach matter. This article compares 10 kg with a published reach of 1,450 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
→ CONSIDER Yaskawa Motoman AR700 Consider it when its stated load and reach already cover your task and its controls fit your equipment. This article compares 8 kg with a published reach of 727 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
💡 THE TAKEAWAY Choose the robot that handles your actual tool and part through the required path, with controls and support your team can use. Compare complete installation quotes, rather than arm-only prices. |
ABB IRB 1600 vs Yaskawa Motoman AR700 is an engineering buying comparison for welding package versus general handling. Yaskawa Motoman AR700 is reviewed in a welding-oriented configuration, while the other arm is a general handling candidate. A gripper cycle and a torch cycle do not have equivalent utilities, access, path-quality or safety requirements. Specify the process before treating the two arms as substitutes.
The starting-price references in the linked reviews are USD 42,000 for ABB IRB 1600 and USD 15,500 for Yaskawa Motoman AR700. The ABB figure is a family starting reference, not a quotation for the worked variant. The analysis distinguishes tool load, geometry, process equipment, controller ownership and installed cost. Neither a review price nor a robot-only specification defines a complete commissioned cell.
Quick verdict
ABB IRB 1600: Medium-reach handling, machine tending and process work with a 6 or 10 kg tool load. Reach and precision depend on the variant; the 10 kg long-reach model has a different repeatability figure from the other reviewed configurations.
Yaskawa Motoman AR700: Arc welding with the 8 kg, 727 mm configuration. A welding torch, wire feed, hose package and process interface must be qualified; this is not simply a general handling arm with the same payload.
ABB IRB 1600 vs Yaskawa Motoman AR700: technical specifications
Specification | ABB IRB 1600 | Yaskawa Motoman AR700 |
|---|---|---|
Configuration used | IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m | Yaskawa Motoman AR700 |
Attached-load reference | 10 kg | 8 kg |
Horizontal reach / arm length | 1,450 mm | 727 mm |
Position repeatability | ±0.05 mm | ±0.02 mm |
Controlled axes | 6 | 6 |
Arm / installation mass reference | Variant-specific mass: confirm exact order code | 32 kg |
Arm protection | IP54 standard; IP67 Foundry option | Confirm exact protection package |
Controller | ABB IRC5 or OmniCore | YRC1000 |
Indicative review starting reference | USD 42,000 (family reference) | USD 15,500 |
The table uses IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m as the worked ABB configuration. It is one documented configuration for explaining the tradeoffs, not an automatic recommendation or a claim that the family has only this version. The linked reviews describe the underlying data. Confirm the exact mechanical generation, controller revision, installation orientation, environmental package and load chart against the supplied order code.
ABB variant map: keep load and reach together
Documented configuration / example | Payload and reach | Repeatability reference |
|---|---|---|
IRB 1600 6 kg / 1.20 m | 6 kg / 1,200 mm | ±0.02 mm |
IRB 1600 6 kg / 1.45 m | 6 kg / 1,450 mm | ±0.02 mm |
IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.20 m | 10 kg / 1,200 mm | ±0.02 mm |
IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m | 10 kg / 1,450 mm | ±0.05 mm |
Reach and precision depend on the variant; the 10 kg long-reach model has a different repeatability figure from the other reviewed configurations. The starting price does not establish the price of every listed configuration. Where the review gives only a family precision range, this article leaves the exact-variant value for supplier confirmation rather than assigning the best family figure to every arm.
Start with the process, not the payload headline
Yaskawa Motoman AR700 is reviewed in a welding-oriented configuration, while the other arm is a general handling candidate. A gripper cycle and a torch cycle do not have equivalent utilities, access, path-quality or safety requirements. Specify the process before treating the two arms as substitutes. The acceptance case for this pair should be: The actual seam or handling path with the supplied torch or tool, representative fixtures, process utilities and normal safety settings. The useful outcome to measure is accepted welds or handled parts, torch access, path consistency and recovery. A supplier demonstration must use the same workpiece range, tool mass, fixtures and normal operating conditions for both proposals.
A dedicated process arm and a general-purpose manipulator can sometimes perform similar motions, yet require very different integration. A torch needs process utilities and seam access; a spot gun imposes mass, inertia and clamp requirements; a pallet tool needs stable grip and stack coverage. Include those differences before comparing robot-only prices.
Payload, wrist moments and the complete end effector
For the worked configurations, the load references are 10 kg and 8 kg. Count fingers, adapters, cameras, valves, cables carried by the wrist and the actual workpiece. A nominally permitted part can become an excessive load once its gripping hardware is added. Use the relevant load diagram rather than assuming the maximum payload is allowed at every centre of gravity.
Check moments and inertia at the worst tool orientation and during the required acceleration. Long, offset parts can create a wrist problem while staying below the mass limit. For a welding gun, include the complete utilities and balancing arrangement. For a pallet gripper, include the full layer or multiple picked cases and a credible grip-loss condition.
Workspace, axis count and required orientation
ABB IRB 1600 has 6 controlled axes and the worked reach is 1,450 mm; Yaskawa Motoman AR700 has 6 axes and 727 mm. Equal axis counts do not guarantee equal joint limits, elbow clearance or singularity-free access. Check every required pickup, process, reject and recovery pose with the tool attached.
Use a tool-centre-point layout and include the carried-part envelope, machine doors, fixture walls, hose loops and neighboring equipment. Horizontal reach is not the same as vertical reach or useful reach below a shelf. A reachable endpoint can still fail because the wrist cannot attain the required approach angle or retreat without a collision.
ABB IRB 1600: engineering assessment
A wider reach can reduce fixture movement, but tool inertia, support stiffness and cable access determine the useful cycle. Price the appropriate standard or environmental option with the actual controller. In this comparison, the worked configuration is IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m, with 10 kg, 1,450 mm and the stated repeatability reference of ±0.05 mm. Its practical benefit should be demonstrated at the intended operating load rather than inferred from the family label.
Reach and precision depend on the variant; the 10 kg long-reach model has a different repeatability figure from the other reviewed configurations. Identify who owns the final RAPID program, RobotStudio project, safety settings and backups. Existing ABB experience is useful when the actual maintenance team can restore a stopped application, identify a failed component and keep the cell supported through its planned service life.
Yaskawa Motoman AR700: where the alternative adds value
Use the exact weld geometry to test torch orientation, cable behavior and access. Yaskawa Motoman AR700's reach is useful only if the welding package fits every seam and the complete cycle includes cleaning, part presentation and safe operator access. Its reviewed combination is 8 kg, 727 mm and ±0.02 mm positioning repeatability. A welding torch, wire feed, hose package and process interface must be qualified; this is not simply a general handling arm with the same payload. Establish what that configuration adds to the actual task: a useful orientation, smaller workspace, longer path coverage, specific process equipment or a more familiar controller.
The source identifies YRC1000 for Yaskawa Motoman AR700. INFORM and MotoSim form the programming and simulation route described in the review. Compare the local team's ability to create, diagnose, back up and recover the finished application rather than judging software only by a short sales demonstration.
Precision and process quality
The two positioning references are ±0.05 mm and ±0.02 mm. These concern returning to a pose under stated conditions; they are not a finished-part tolerance guarantee. Absolute accuracy, path behavior, fixture stiffness, calibration, tool wear, thermal change and workpiece variation remain separate. Where a variant-specific precision value is not documented, obtain it for the quoted order code.
Measure accepted welds or handled parts, torch access, path consistency and recovery. For welding, inspect the accepted seam or spot result using a qualified process. For handling, count stable pickup and placement throughout the fixture range. For palletizing, test stack stability and top-layer clearance. A faster unloaded movement or one successful prepared sample does not establish sustained production quality.
Controller, interfaces and error recovery
ABB IRC5 or OmniCore and YRC1000 are the controller references for the reviewed configurations. Controller generation affects the program format, available interfaces and support plan. Confirm the actual pendant, network roles, protocol options, external-axis support and software licences; a capability mentioned in a brochure is not proof that it is enabled in the starting package.
Prepare an I/O and network schedule for the PLC, gripper, machine, process equipment, vision and protective devices. Specify acknowledgement timeouts, safe state and restart sequence. Demonstrate a lost grip, missing part, rejected result, interrupted machine cycle and communication loss. Retain editable programs, calibration files, controller backups and a recovery guide suitable for the intended operators.
Guarding, environment and installation
These are industrial robot applications. Design the complete safeguarding concept around the robot, tools, carried part, stored energy, machine and process hazards. Safe access, stopping behavior, interlocks, isolation and restart belong in the cell design. A newer controller or an additional axis does not make an industrial application suitable for unrestricted human access.
The arm protection references are IP54 standard; IP67 Foundry option for the reviewed ABB package and Confirm exact protection package for Yaskawa Motoman AR700. An unspecified value requires exact-package confirmation. Check the cabinet, tool, connectors and dress pack separately. Ingress protection alone does not approve every coolant, abrasive exposure, chemical or high-pressure cleaning method.
Obtain the installation mass and floor reactions for IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m; the alternative's review gives 32 kg. Keep carried payload separate from installation mass and cabinet weight. Design the support, anchoring, lifting plan, cooling space and service route using the exact drawings. Shelf-mounted and very heavy arms can make structural work a significant part of total installed cost.
Starting price and installed-cost comparison
The numerical starting references are USD 42,000 and USD 15,500. The first is a family-level review reference; it is not assigned to the selected variant as a firm offer. New, legacy, refurbished and process-package quotations can have different scope and condition. Confirm the supplied revision, warranty, support, delivery and commissioning responsibilities before using either number in a payback calculation.
Request comparable bills of materials covering robot and controller, tool, fixtures, process utilities, sensing, safeguarding, machine interfaces, support structure, integration, simulation, commissioning and training. Include freight, tax and on-site work where applicable. Assign responsibility for faults spanning vendors. A lower arm price can be outweighed by an extra positioner, unsuitable fixture, structural change or software maintenance burden.
Decision gates for the actual cell
Gate | This pair | Evidence to require |
|---|---|---|
Process fit | Welding package versus general handling | The actual seam or handling path with the supplied torch or tool, representative fixtures, process utilities and normal safety settings. |
Configuration | IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m versus Yaskawa Motoman AR700 | Full order code and matched load drawing |
Load | 10 kg versus 8 kg | Tool, part, moments and inertia |
Workspace | 1,450 mm versus 727 mm | All required orientations and a loaded path |
Quality | ±0.05 mm versus ±0.02 mm | Accepted welds or handled parts, torch access, path consistency and recovery. |
Installed value | USD 42,000 versus USD 15,500 | Aligned quotation, scope and support plan |
Begin with the actual process: welding package versus general handling. Medium-reach handling, machine tending and process work with a 6 or 10 kg tool load. Arc welding with the 8 kg, 727 mm configuration. Eliminate a candidate if it cannot meet the complete load, pose, quality or safeguarding requirement. If both pass, compare useful throughput, operator changeover and the maintenance burden of the supplied system. A different robot category can be appropriate only when the whole cell concept changes with it.
Give both suppliers the same tool CAD, part range, fixture model, target output and access pattern. Agree measurable pass criteria before the trial. Use representative variation and normal safety settings; include replenishment, rejects, process interruptions and recovery after power loss. Keep the tested configuration, program and acceptance record as part of the delivered system.
Complete product reviews
Frequently asked questions
Which should I choose: ABB IRB 1600 or Yaskawa Motoman AR700?
Yaskawa Motoman AR700 is reviewed in a welding-oriented configuration, while the other arm is a general handling candidate. A gripper cycle and a torch cycle do not have equivalent utilities, access, path-quality or safety requirements. Specify the process before treating the two arms as substitutes. Choose the complete proposal that passes the real load, process-quality, workspace and safeguarding requirements, then compare installed cost and the skills needed to maintain it.
Which ABB configuration is compared with Yaskawa Motoman AR700?
IRB 1600 10 kg / 1.45 m is used as the worked configuration, with 10 kg and 1,450 mm. Reach and precision depend on the variant; the 10 kg long-reach model has a different repeatability figure from the other reviewed configurations. Confirm the full order code and generation with the supplier.
What starting prices are used?
The linked review references are USD 42,000 for ABB IRB 1600 and USD 15,500 for Yaskawa Motoman AR700. The ABB value is a family starting reference, not a quote for every variant. Confirm the current supplied package, condition, controller, process equipment, safeguarding, delivery and integration scope.
Does payload include the tool?
Yes. Include the complete end effector, adapters, attached equipment and workpiece, then verify the permitted centre of gravity, wrist moments and inertia. The worked references are 10 kg and 8 kg. A part below the mass headline can still violate an eccentric-load or inertia limit.
Are the reach and axis counts directly interchangeable?
No. The comparison uses 1,450 mm with 6 axes and 727 mm with 6 axes. Check tool offset, required orientation, joint limits, vertical or below-base access and the full loaded path. A four-axis or five-axis mechanism does not offer every six-axis orientation.
Does repeatability guarantee process quality?
No. The positioning references are ±0.05 mm and ±0.02 mm. Measure the finished result with representative fixtures, tooling and part variation. For this comparison, the process criterion is accepted welds or handled parts, torch access, path consistency and recovery.
What is the main limitation of Yaskawa Motoman AR700?
A welding torch, wire feed, hose package and process interface must be qualified; this is not simply a general handling arm with the same payload. Use the exact weld geometry to test torch orientation, cable behavior and access. Yaskawa Motoman AR700's reach is useful only if the welding package fits every seam and the complete cycle includes cleaning, part presentation and safe operator access.
What should be demonstrated before purchase?
The actual seam or handling path with the supplied torch or tool, representative fixtures, process utilities and normal safety settings. Include machine or process interlocks, normal guarding, missed grip or rejected part, communication loss, changeover and safe restart. Retain the exact configuration, controller backup, program and agreed acceptance record from the trial.
