ABB IRB 930 vs Epson GX10-B851: Robot Comparison
Updated: 2 hours ago
IN A NUTSHELL
🔎 THE KEY DIFFERENCE ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm 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 930 12 kg / 1050 mm Consider it when additional load capacity and reach matter. This article compares 12 kg with a published reach of 1,050 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
→ CONSIDER Epson GX10-B851 Consider it when its stated load and reach already cover your task and its controls fit your equipment. This article compares 10 kg with a published reach of 850 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 930 vs Epson GX10-B851 is a choice about SCARA assembly and planar handling. ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm and Epson GX10-B851 differ in their working envelope, loading assumptions and engineering ecosystem. A useful decision starts with the exact mechanism and process, then checks whether either robot can execute the required path with the real tool attached. This comparison separates documented specifications from application-level engineering judgments.
ABB IRB 930 vs Epson GX10-B851: quick verdict
Shortlist ABB IRB 930 for planar assembly with the specified 1050 mm ABB SCARA configuration. Shortlist Epson GX10-B851 for planar handling using the specified 10 kg / 850 mm SCARA configuration. Both are four-axis SCARA candidates, so the decisive questions are planar access, vertical stroke, spindle inertia and the complete assembly cycle. Neither supplies independent tool pitch and roll.
The numerical comparison below uses ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm against Epson GX10-B851. The ABB configuration is a worked example chosen from documented family combinations, not a claim that every family member has those specifications. Other variants can change the conclusion. Published repeatability describes return to a taught position under specified conditions; it does not establish complete-cell accuracy or prove a faster production cycle.
Specifications and exact configuration scope
Criterion | ABB IRB 930 | Epson GX10-B851 |
|---|---|---|
Comparison configuration | ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm | Epson GX10-B851 |
Payload used for comparison | 12 kg | 10 kg |
Reach / motion-area reference | 1050 mm | 850 mm |
Axes | 4 | 4 |
Repeatability for this scope | ±0.02 mm | ±0.025 mm |
Controller reference | ABB OmniCore | Epson RC700-E |
Historical ATC review starting reference | From USD 30,000 | From USD 18,000 |
Purchase pricing | From $30,000 (arm list price) | From $18,000 (arm list price) |
Read the reach row together with the geometric notes below. Manufacturers may specify an arm-link sum, a wrist-centre motion area or reach to the flange; those dimensions are not interchangeable. The table does not establish access to every point at every tool angle. Controller references identify reviewed packages, and actual compatibility must be confirmed by model, software version and region.
ABB IRB 930: design and configuration
The IRB 930 has three documented SCARA variants: 12 kg/850 mm at ±0.01 mm, 12 kg/1050 mm at ±0.02 mm, and 22 kg/1050 mm at ±0.02 mm. These figures describe horizontal positioning in the specified scope. Confirm vertical stroke, downforce, spindle loading and the exact OmniCore package for press-fit or screwdriving work.
ABB documented configuration | Payload / reach | Repeatability scope |
|---|---|---|
ABB IRB 930 12/0.85 | 12 kg / 850 mm | ±0.01 mm |
ABB IRB 930 12/1.05 | 12 kg / 1050 mm | ±0.02 mm |
ABB IRB 930 22/1.05 | 22 kg / 1050 mm | ±0.02 mm |
The selected example is ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm. Standard and internally dressed versions must not be blended into one specification. Obtain a load diagram and current technical sheet for the actual order code, including any reduced payload or different protection package. A family starting price is not a quotation for the chosen variant.
Epson GX10-B851: design and configuration
The Epson GX10-B851 is a 4-axis SCARA robot with a 10 kg maximum payload, 850 mm arm length and ±0.025 mm repeatability. It is designed for assembly, pick-and-place, dispensing and material handling that require high precision. The arm weighs 49 kg (wall mount 53 kg), mounts on a tabletop, ceiling or wall and runs on the Epson RC700-E controller. Its standard cycle time is 0.37 s. This is the named SCARA arm-length and controller generation. Horizontal positioning, spindle stroke and rotation are separate motion requirements. Maximum payload is not necessarily the load used for the published cycle benchmark. Check exact mounting, environmental suffix and tool inertia before translating catalogue performance into a production estimate.
For this pair, Epson GX10-B851 offers 10 kg over the stated 850 mm reference, compared with 12 kg and 1050 mm for the ABB example. ABB IRB 930 has the larger stated distance by 200 mm, but this difference is only a preliminary layout indicator because reference points and joint envelopes can differ. Locate the actual fixture in each manufacturer model before treating this as usable extra working space.
Payload, tooling and a worked load example
Consider an illustrative total wrist load of 8 kg: a 2 kg tool and adapter package carrying a 6 kg part or product group. This arithmetic leaves 4 kg below the ABB IRB 930 example’s nominal limit and 2 kg below Epson GX10-B851’s nominal limit. These are mass differences, not safety factors or a validated load approval. A heavy camera, valve block or retained material must be included before recalculating the total.
The example exposes the practical question: is the application limited by mass, by tool offset or by wrist rotation? Epson GX10-B851 is the lower-or-equal nominal payload choice in this pair. ABB IRB 930 offers more or equal headline mass capacity, but that alone cannot approve an eccentric fixture. Moving the same mass farther from the flange increases the moment, and spreading it increases rotational inertia. Manufacturer load diagrams and the actual centre of gravity govern the final allowable motion.
For the two SCARA configurations, model the tool inertia around the vertical spindle as well as total carried mass. A broad multi-part gripper can satisfy the mass limit while exceeding permitted rotational inertia. Set the controller load and inertia parameters for empty and loaded states, then check insertion stroke and any allowable vertical pressing force separately. Nominal cycle figures do not establish performance at maximum payload.
Reach, orientation and fixture access
Build the same cell model for both candidates: base height, machine opening, fixture datum, maximum part size, tool extension and access for maintenance. ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm provides a stated 1050 mm reference, while Epson GX10-B851 provides 850 mm. Check the deepest production pose and the return path with the loaded tool. An arm that just touches the target at full extension may have little freedom left to turn, retract or avoid a door.
For SCARA assembly, check the full XY sweep, inner dead zone and Z stroke. A horizontal reach figure does not establish that the spindle can descend into the fixture without the tool body or cable loop colliding. Vertical pressing force is a separate limit from payload. Validate screwdriving or insertion forces, spindle inertia and settling with the real fixture. Neither robot gains six-axis pitch and roll freedom merely by having enough horizontal reach.
SCARA motion and assembly fit
The selected ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm and Epson GX10-B851 should be assessed on the same horizontal transfer, vertical insertion and rotation sequence. Smaller horizontal reach can support a compact bench; larger reach can serve more nests, but also changes the swept area and cable clearance. Check actual Z stroke and tool length against the lowest station and tallest obstruction. Compare XY repeatability with XY repeatability, while keeping Z and rotational values in their own units.
SCARA requirement | ABB IRB 930 | Epson GX10-B851 |
|---|---|---|
Horizontal scope | 1050 mm selected example | 850 mm selected example |
Payload scope | 12 kg maximum for the named configuration | 10 kg maximum for the named configuration |
Z stroke and downforce | Confirm exact spindle and stroke option | Confirm exact spindle and stroke option |
Tool pitch and roll | No independent six-axis pitch/roll | No independent six-axis pitch/roll |
Acceptance path | Same transfer, insert, rotate and settle sequence | Same transfer, insert, rotate and settle sequence |
Precision and throughput: compare the same task
The comparison uses ±0.02 mm for ABB IRB 930 and ±0.025 mm for Epson GX10-B851. These figures should be read in their documented configuration scope. Repeatability is not absolute accuracy, camera calibration accuracy or finished-part capability. Fixture variation, TCP calibration, thermal conditions and tool compliance can dominate the error at the process point, especially when the tool extends far from the flange.
Ask each integrator to execute the same representative path with the same payload model, tool length, process dwell and stop conditions. Report transfer time, settling time, process time and waiting time separately. Published standard cycles often use different loads and distances; dividing one catalogue cycle by another would not establish the production advantage of ABB IRB 930 over Epson GX10-B851. Use a measured or validated application cycle before assigning a throughput benefit.
Programming, controls and production integration
ABB installations use the RAPID and RobotStudio engineering workflow, with the quoted controller and software determining the available functions. Epson uses RC+ and SPEL+; the reviewed controller or integrated-control package determines option compatibility. Existing staff skills, reusable code, spare parts and local service can therefore matter as much as the arm’s dimensional specifications.
Specify the PLC handshakes before ordering: cycle request, ready, busy, complete, fault, part present and recovery authorization. Define how an interrupted operation resumes without repeating a dangerous or quality-critical action. Vision, force sensing, fieldbus communication and external-axis coordination must be checked as explicit included or optional functions. An Ethernet connector does not by itself prove that a particular industrial protocol or software interface is licensed and supported.
Protection, installation and maintenance
Match the precise protection package to the process. Standard, protected, cleanroom, foundry and washing configurations can have different seals, services and maintenance requirements. Do not transfer the best optional IP or cleanroom rating to an unprotected base model. Check the controller location, cable bend radius, available lifting access and base reactions with the installer.
Plan for tooling changes and fault recovery as normal operating tasks. A gripper that can only be removed after dismantling guarding creates a maintenance cost that the robot purchase price will not show. Include access to connectors, lubrication points, mastering references and spare cables. Use a task-specific risk assessment and validated safeguarding for the whole installation; these industrial-arm specifications do not authorize unguarded collaborative operation.
Price and lifecycle value
The source reviews list starting references of USD 30,000 for ABB IRB 930 and USD 18,000 for Epson GX10-B851. These are historical editorial starting references, not current sales offers, confirmed stock or matched quotations. The ABB reference covers a family and must not be assigned automatically to the worked configuration. Request a written quotation naming the arm, controller, pendant, cables, software options, warranty and commissioning scope.
Compare the installed production scope: tool, fixtures, sensing, guarding, machine interface, programming, acceptance and training. For small-parts automation, include feeders, vision calibration, nests and rejected-part handling. Keep purchase cost and recurring support costs separate. No payback figure is defensible until the actual cycle, yield, utilization and installation quotation are known.
Selection and acceptance plan
Decision gate | ABB IRB 930 | Epson GX10-B851 |
|---|---|---|
Strongest documented fit | planar assembly with the specified 1050 mm ABB SCARA configuration | planar handling using the specified 10 kg / 850 mm SCARA configuration |
Main boundary | Family maxima belong to different variants; the selected example needs a matched quotation. | Four axes do not provide arbitrary wrist pitch and roll. |
Required approval | Exact ABB variant, tool load and validated process path | Exact competitor revision, tool load and validated process path |
Acceptance evidence | Agreed parts, path, quality and recovery results | The same agreed parts, path, quality and recovery results |
Advance ABB IRB 930 when planar assembly with the specified 1050 mm ABB SCARA configuration solves the real constraint and its selected configuration passes the load and access checks. Advance Epson GX10-B851 when planar handling using the specified 10 kg / 850 mm SCARA configuration provides the more suitable process arrangement. Reject either candidate if a mandatory pose, protection requirement or controller function cannot be demonstrated. A purchasing shortlist should preserve these conditions instead of converting a single catalogue advantage into a blanket recommendation.
Before acceptance, agree the representative parts, tool states, operating sequence and quality criteria with both suppliers. Demonstrate cold start, normal production, rejected parts, interrupted cycles and controlled recovery. Record the final tool data and software backup. This turns the comparison into a repeatable purchasing decision and helps prevent a later fixture change from invalidating the original robot selection.
Frequently asked questions
Which robot is better for this application?
ABB IRB 930 is the stronger starting point for planar assembly with the specified 1050 mm ABB SCARA configuration, while Epson GX10-B851 is worth shortlisting for planar handling using the specified 10 kg / 850 mm SCARA configuration. The final choice depends on the real loaded path, required protection, controls and acceptance results. Neither a higher payload nor a longer reach establishes a universal winner.
What payload should I use for the comparison?
Use 12 kg for the specified ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm example and 10 kg for Epson GX10-B851, subject to all documented load and orientation conditions. Include the tool, adapters, sensors and carried part. Four axes do not provide arbitrary wrist pitch and roll.
Does the stated reach guarantee access to my fixture?
No. The comparison gives 1050 mm for ABB IRB 930 and 850 mm for Epson GX10-B851 using the stated model references. Joint limits, reach reference points, wrist orientation, tool length and collisions determine whether the actual fixture is accessible. Simulate the full approach and exit path.
Can I use the best specifications from every family variant?
No. The ABB family has distinct payload/reach combinations; this comparison uses ABB IRB 930 12 kg / 1050 mm as a worked example. Match the order code, repeatability and protection package before purchasing. Do not combine one version’s maximum payload with another version’s maximum reach.
Is repeatability the same as finished-part accuracy?
No. The stated values are ±0.02 mm for the ABB scope and ±0.025 mm for the competitor scope. Finished-part results also depend on fixtures, TCP calibration, sensing, thermal conditions and tool compliance. Validate the actual process instead of treating catalogue repeatability as a complete accuracy guarantee.
Are the review starting prices current purchase quotations?
No. From USD 30,000 and USD 18,000 are historical references from the linked ATC reviews. They are not current matched offers and do not establish stock or the installed-cell cost. Obtain configuration-specific quotations with the controller, software, tooling, safety and commissioning scope itemized.
Can these robots operate safely next to people without guarding?
These specifications do not establish a safe unguarded installation. Assess the complete task, tool, load and machine interface, then implement and validate the required safeguarding and operating procedures. Do not infer collaborative operation from a compact arm, limited payload or education setting.
What should an acceptance test compare?
Use the same parts, actual tool load, fixture locations, path and quality criteria for ABB IRB 930 and Epson GX10-B851. Check production timing, settling, interruptions and recovery. Include the most difficult loaded approach and retreat. Approve the exact delivered configuration and preserve its final settings.
Related ATC reviews
Specifications describe the model scope identified above. Prices are indicative historical review references and may change. Confirm current manufacturer documentation, local supply, controller compatibility and the exact configuration before purchase.
