ABB IRB 920T vs Yaskawa Motoman SG650: Robot Comparison
Updated: 9 hours ago
IN A NUTSHELL
🔎 THE KEY DIFFERENCE Both are compared at 6 kg and a 650 mm stated reach. The useful difference is the robot configuration and how it fits your equipment, rather than a headline size advantage. |
→ CONSIDER ABB IRB 920T Consider it when its controls, mounting and local support suit your existing equipment. This article compares 6 kg with a published reach of 650 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
→ CONSIDER Yaskawa Motoman SG650 Consider it when its controls, mounting and local support suit your existing equipment. This article compares 6 kg with a published reach of 650 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
💡 THE TAKEAWAY For repetitive pick-and-place or assembly, check the actual vertical stroke and tool rotation as well as horizontal reach. Compare the same loaded cycle and installed quotation before deciding. |
ABB IRB 920T vs Yaskawa Motoman SG650 is an engineering buying comparison for scara assembly. This is a four-axis planar-assembly comparison. The worked ABB configuration is IRB 920T 650 mm, against the 650 mm Yaskawa Motoman SG650; compare the same vertical stroke, load, XY motion and tool offset. Do not compare a shorter ABB arm's best precision with the 650 mm alternative.
The starting-price references in the linked reviews are USD 23,600 for ABB IRB 920T and USD 16,000 for Yaskawa Motoman SG650. 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 920T: Fast planar handling and electronics assembly with four-axis SCARA motion. The 450 mm version has a different positional repeatability from the 550 and 650 mm versions.
Yaskawa Motoman SG650: Planar assembly, dispensing and fast part transfer with a 650 mm SCARA arm. The four-axis layout constrains roll and pitch; verify vertical stroke and tooling inertia as separate requirements.
ABB IRB 920T vs Yaskawa Motoman SG650: technical specifications
Specification | ABB IRB 920T | Yaskawa Motoman SG650 |
|---|---|---|
Configuration used | IRB 920T 650 mm | Yaskawa Motoman SG650 |
Attached-load reference | 6 kg | 6 kg |
Horizontal reach / arm length | 650 mm | 650 mm |
Position repeatability | ±0.02 mm | ±0.01 mm |
Controlled axes | 4 | 4 |
Arm / installation mass reference | Variant-specific mass: confirm exact order code | 19 kg |
Arm protection | IP30 standard; IP54 / cleanroom options | Confirm exact protection package |
Controller | ABB OmniCore | YRC1000micro |
Indicative review starting reference | USD 23,600 (family reference) | USD 16,000 |
The table uses IRB 920T 650 mm 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 920T 450 mm | 6 kg / 450 mm | ±0.01 mm |
IRB 920T 550 mm | 6 kg / 550 mm | ±0.02 mm |
IRB 920T 650 mm | 6 kg / 650 mm | ±0.02 mm |
The 450 mm version has a different positional repeatability from the 550 and 650 mm versions. 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
This is a four-axis planar-assembly comparison. The worked ABB configuration is IRB 920T 650 mm, against the 650 mm Yaskawa Motoman SG650; compare the same vertical stroke, load, XY motion and tool offset. Do not compare a shorter ABB arm's best precision with the 650 mm alternative. The acceptance case for this pair should be: A repeated tray-to-fixture transfer with the real XY distance, Z stroke, payload, insertion direction and reject destination. The useful outcome to measure is good assemblies per hour, insertion quality and jam 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 6 kg and 6 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 920T has 4 controlled axes and the worked reach is 650 mm; Yaskawa Motoman SG650 has 4 axes and 650 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 920T: engineering assessment
Use the 650 mm arm when comparing a 650 mm competitor. Match Z stroke, tool offset, payload inertia and the actual pick-and-place motion, and quote the correct standard, protection or cleanroom version. In this comparison, the worked configuration is IRB 920T 650 mm, with 6 kg, 650 mm and the stated repeatability reference of ±0.02 mm. Its practical benefit should be demonstrated at the intended operating load rather than inferred from the family label.
The 450 mm version has a different positional repeatability from the 550 and 650 mm versions. 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 SG650: where the alternative adds value
Test the real XY displacement, Z travel and workpiece load rather than comparing an unloaded cycle number. Yaskawa Motoman SG650's controller, safety interfaces and operator recovery must match the rest of the assembly station. Its reviewed combination is 6 kg, 650 mm and ±0.01 mm positioning repeatability. The four-axis layout constrains roll and pitch; verify vertical stroke and tooling inertia as separate requirements. 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 YRC1000micro for Yaskawa Motoman SG650. 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 ±0.02 mm and ±0.01 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 good assemblies per hour, insertion quality and jam 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 OmniCore and YRC1000micro 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 IP30 standard; IP54 / cleanroom options for the reviewed ABB package and Confirm exact protection package for Yaskawa Motoman SG650. 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 920T 650 mm; the alternative's review gives 19 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 23,600 and USD 16,000. 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 | SCARA assembly | A repeated tray-to-fixture transfer with the real XY distance, Z stroke, payload, insertion direction and reject destination. |
Configuration | IRB 920T 650 mm versus Yaskawa Motoman SG650 | Full order code and matched load drawing |
Load | 6 kg versus 6 kg | Tool, part, moments and inertia |
Workspace | 650 mm versus 650 mm | All required orientations and a loaded path |
Quality | ±0.02 mm versus ±0.01 mm | Good assemblies per hour, insertion quality and jam recovery. |
Installed value | USD 23,600 versus USD 16,000 | Aligned quotation, scope and support plan |
Begin with the actual process: scara assembly. Fast planar handling and electronics assembly with four-axis SCARA motion. Planar assembly, dispensing and fast part transfer with a 650 mm SCARA arm. 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 920T or Yaskawa Motoman SG650?
This is a four-axis planar-assembly comparison. The worked ABB configuration is IRB 920T 650 mm, against the 650 mm Yaskawa Motoman SG650; compare the same vertical stroke, load, XY motion and tool offset. Do not compare a shorter ABB arm's best precision with the 650 mm alternative. 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 SG650?
IRB 920T 650 mm is used as the worked configuration, with 6 kg and 650 mm. The 450 mm version has a different positional repeatability from the 550 and 650 mm versions. Confirm the full order code and generation with the supplier.
What starting prices are used?
The linked review references are USD 23,600 for ABB IRB 920T and USD 16,000 for Yaskawa Motoman SG650. 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 6 kg and 6 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 650 mm with 4 axes and 650 mm with 4 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 ±0.02 mm and ±0.01 mm. Measure the finished result with representative fixtures, tooling and part variation. For this comparison, the process criterion is good assemblies per hour, insertion quality and jam recovery.
What is the main limitation of Yaskawa Motoman SG650?
The four-axis layout constrains roll and pitch; verify vertical stroke and tooling inertia as separate requirements. Test the real XY displacement, Z travel and workpiece load rather than comparing an unloaded cycle number. Yaskawa Motoman SG650's controller, safety interfaces and operator recovery must match the rest of the assembly station.
What should be demonstrated before purchase?
A repeated tray-to-fixture transfer with the real XY distance, Z stroke, payload, insertion direction and reject destination. 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.
