Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 vs Kawasaki RA010N: Robot Comparison
Updated: 3 hours ago
IN A NUTSHELL
🔎 THE KEY DIFFERENCE Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 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 Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 Consider it when additional load capacity and reach matter. This article compares 20 kg and a 3,124 mm stated reach; include the gripper and part in the load. |
→ CONSIDER Kawasaki RA010N Consider it when its stated load and reach already cover your task and its controls fit your equipment. This article compares 10 kg and a 1,450 mm stated reach; 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. |
Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 vs Kawasaki RA010N is a choice about arc welding and process access. Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 and Kawasaki RA010N 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.
Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 vs Kawasaki RA010N: quick verdict
Shortlist Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 for arc-welding access using the named 20 kg / 3124 mm process-arm configuration. Shortlist Kawasaki RA010N for arc-welding access using the named 10 kg / 1450 mm process-arm configuration. Neither is a universal winner: a robot that can carry the load may still fail the fixture-access, controller or maintenance requirements.
The numerical comparison below uses Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 against Kawasaki RA010N. The stated model scope matters when comparing later revisions or differently equipped installations. 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 | Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 | Kawasaki RA010N |
|---|---|---|
Comparison configuration | Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 | Kawasaki RA010N |
Payload used for comparison | 20 kg | 10 kg |
Reach / motion-area reference | 3124 mm | 1450 mm |
Axes | 6 | 6 |
Repeatability for this scope | ±0.07 mm | ±0.03 mm |
Controller reference | YRC1000 | F60 / F01 |
Purchase-price basis | Configuration-specific quotation | Configuration-specific quotation |
Purchase pricing | From $32,000 (arm list price) | From $36,000 (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.
Yaskawa Motoman AR3120: design and configuration
The Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 uses 6 arm axes with 20 kg payload, 3124 mm working reference and ±0.07 mm repeatability in the reviewed configuration. It is paired with YRC1000. The dedicated arc-welding arm is evaluated for torch access, dress-pack routing and loaded approach geometry. Torch, feeder, welding power source, work return, seam sensing and process recovery are separate delivered functions. Nominal payload does not establish weld quality or torch reach with a bent neck.
Kawasaki RA010N: design and configuration
The RA010N is a 10 kg, 1450 mm arc-welding robot at ±0.03 mm repeatability. Its extra payload is available only after the complete torch and accessories are counted. Kawasaki documentation lists E01 for a documented regional configuration; do not assume the same controller or welding package across every used or new supply.
For this pair, Kawasaki RA010N offers 10 kg over the stated 1450 mm reference, compared with 20 kg and 3124 mm for Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 example. Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 has the larger stated distance by 1674 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 12 kg below the Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 example’s nominal limit and 2 kg below Kawasaki RA010N’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? Kawasaki RA010N is the lower-or-equal nominal payload choice in this pair. Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 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.
Model the empty, partly loaded and fully loaded tool states separately. A vacuum layer gripper, a weld torch with hoses or an inspection head may change its effective loading during the cycle. Set the controller’s load data for each supported state and validate the transition logic. A payload table cannot predict acceleration derating, cable pull or transient reactions at a machine interface.
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. Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 provides a stated 3124 mm reference, while Kawasaki RA010N provides 1450 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 the welding comparison, include the actual torch angle, nozzle length, seam approach and cable package. Simulate seam starts and ends as well as continuous travel. A pose that looks accessible with an empty flange may become blocked after the torch, wire feeder and fixtures are installed. Validate touch sensing or seam-tracking options only where they are part of the supplied package.
Precision and throughput: compare the same task
The comparison uses ±0.07 mm for Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 and ±0.03 mm for Kawasaki RA010N. 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 Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 over Kawasaki RA010N. Use a measured or validated application cycle before assigning a throughput benefit.
Programming, controls and production integration
Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 is paired here with YRC1000, while Kawasaki RA010N uses F60 / F01. Controller names identify the review baseline rather than a guarantee that all interface options are included. Compare the actual software revision, teaching workflow, diagnostic tools, fieldbus licences and recovery procedures. An existing trained team and reusable production code may outweigh a small dimensional advantage. Obtain a demonstration of the same machine handshake and interrupted-cycle recovery on both platforms.
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.
Configuration and communication detail
Integration reference | Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 | Kawasaki RA010N |
|---|---|---|
Control package | YRC1000 | F60 / F01 |
Documented interface baseline | Specify required interfaces in the delivered package | Specify required interfaces in the delivered package |
Programming baseline | Named platform software and supported API; confirm supplied version | Named platform software and supported API; confirm supplied version |
Integration acceptance | Test the actual machine handshake and controlled recovery | Test the same handshake and controlled recovery |
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.
Treat safe operation as a property of the complete task and installation. Include the tool, sharp workpiece edges, trapping points, dropped loads and machine access. These robot systems require task-specific safeguarding; payload or compact size does not establish safe unguarded operation. Plan tool replacement and fault recovery without dismantling the whole installation, and include connector access, lubrication and spare-cable replacement in the maintenance layout.
Price and lifecycle value
Published arm list prices: Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 is listed from $32,000 and Kawasaki RA010N is listed from $36,000. Request configuration-specific quotations for Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 and Kawasaki RA010N. An arm-only number is not the price of a commissioned production cell. Ask for separate line items for controller, pendant, communication options, end effector, safety equipment, installation, acceptance, training and warranty. Price changes, regional support and included software can reverse an apparent hardware-cost advantage. Compare the same delivered scope before calculating payback.
Compare the installed production scope: tool, fixtures, sensing, guarding, machine interface, programming, acceptance and training. For welding, include the power source, wire feed, torch cleaning, extraction and seam options. 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 | Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 | Kawasaki RA010N |
|---|---|---|
Strongest documented fit | arc-welding access using the named 20 kg / 3124 mm process-arm configuration | arc-welding access using the named 10 kg / 1450 mm process-arm configuration |
Main boundary | Torch, cables, wire feed, power-source interface and seam recovery must match the quoted package; arm geometry does not supply a complete welding cell. | Torch, cables, wire feed, power-source interface and seam recovery must match the quoted package; arm geometry does not supply a complete welding cell. |
Required approval | Exact Yaskawa Motoman 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 Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 when arc-welding access using the named 20 kg / 3124 mm process-arm configuration solves the real constraint and its selected configuration passes the load and access checks. Advance Kawasaki RA010N when arc-welding access using the named 10 kg / 1450 mm process-arm 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.
Motion architecture and functionality
Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 has 6 arm axes and Kawasaki RA010N has 6 arm axes. Both have six arm axes; equal axis counts do not establish equal joint travel, inner workspace or fixture access. Compare tool detection, sensing, machine I/O and recovery as separate delivered functions.
Industries and application fit
For Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 vs Kawasaki RA010N, use the actual part and process as the industry filter. Electronics, manufactured-component handling and machine tending are candidate uses when their tool mass, access and quality requirements fit the documented configurations. These are application-selection judgments, not claims that either exact model is installed at a named customer. A food, medical-device or clean-production application additionally requires the correct material, lubrication and protection package; the base model name does not establish hygienic or cleanroom compliance.
Selection issue | Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 | Kawasaki RA010N |
|---|---|---|
Tool and workpiece mass | 20 kg named scope; include the complete tool | 10 kg named scope; include the complete tool |
Working reference | 3124 mm | 1450 mm |
Main configuration boundary | Torch, cables, wire feed, power-source interface and seam recovery must match the quoted package; arm geometry does not supply a complete welding cell. | Torch, cables, wire feed, power-source interface and seam recovery must match the quoted package; arm geometry does not supply a complete welding cell. |
Process approval | Demonstrate the actual loaded path and recovery | Demonstrate the same loaded path and recovery |
Frequently asked questions
Which robot is better for this application?
Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 is the stronger starting point for arc-welding access using the named 20 kg / 3124 mm process-arm configuration, while Kawasaki RA010N is worth shortlisting for arc-welding access using the named 10 kg / 1450 mm process-arm 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 20 kg for the specified Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 example and 10 kg for Kawasaki RA010N, subject to all documented load and orientation conditions. Include the tool, adapters, sensors and carried part. Torch, cables, wire feed, power-source interface and seam recovery must match the quoted package; arm geometry does not supply a complete welding cell.
Does the stated reach guarantee access to my fixture?
No. The comparison gives 3124 mm for Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 and 1450 mm for Kawasaki RA010N 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. Keep each named model and revision intact. A different arm length, controller generation or protection option can change the relevant specification. 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 ±0.07 mm for Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 scope and ±0.03 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.
How should purchase prices be compared?
Use current written quotations for Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 and Kawasaki RA010N with the same arm, controller, software, tooling and commissioning scope. This comparison does not represent an ATC sales offer or stock confirmation. Historical review figures are not a substitute for a configuration-specific purchase quotation.
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 Yaskawa Motoman AR3120 and Kawasaki RA010N. Check production timing, settling, interruptions and recovery. Include seam access and the supplied welding functions. Approve the exact delivered configuration and preserve its final settings.
Related ATC reviews
Specifications describe the model scope identified above. Purchase pricing requires a current configuration-specific quotation. Confirm current manufacturer documentation, local supply, controller compatibility and the exact configuration before purchase.
