When it comes to pick-and-place applications, choosing the right robot arm can make a big difference in the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your automation solution.

Both the 6-axis and SCARA robots are used for automation on assembly lines, but which one should you pick for your business needs? Here’s a quick breakdown.

A six-axis robot arm is the only viable solution in many pick-and-place operations.

This is true when:

• your application involves picking and placing parts that are presented in multiple orientations (such as in 3D bin picking) or need to be reoriented about non-vertical axes;
• your installation does not have a horizontal mounting surface;
• a tool turret end-effector is used.
• Our compact six-axis Meca500 robot arm is the ideal solution for such applications requiring higher flexibility.

However, if you don’t require as much flexibility but want to improve the efficiency of your pick-and-place operations, a SCARA robot is ideal for:

• High-speed pick and place automation applications that don’t require parts to be reoriented about non-vertical axes as they are transferred from point A to point B. 
• Maximizing throughput at lower costs.

Whether looking for flexibility or faster throughput, Mecademic robots are a great option for improving your pick and place operations.

Benefits of the Meca500 six-axis industrial robot arm for pick-and-place applications:

Move more with less

Our industrial robots are the smallest and most compact on the market, featuring tiny controllers embedded directly in their base. They can be mounted in different orientations for maximum flexibility. They are also very light and do not require heavy-duty support systems. With their tiny footprint and extensive flexibility, the robots fit perfectly between conveyors and feeders, even in the tightest spaces. Pair them with a vision system for even more flexibility!

Maximize transfer distances with ease.

Rather than opting for a bigger robot, our clients have found it more affordable and convenient to increase transfer distance by installing our robots onto linear stages. Mecademic robots are ultra-easy to transport without compromising repeatability due to their minimal weight and compact size. Visit our MecaNetwork to explore a wide range of precision linear stages perfectly compatible with Mecademic robot arms!

Eliminate placement errors

With a position repeatability of 5 micrometers, our robot arms are the most precise on the market. Their unmatched precision makes them ideal for pick and place automation of even the smallest and most delicate components. Many clients use our robots to reduce process tolerances when handling watch components, tiny medical devices, miniature circuit boards, and small automotive parts.

Benefit from various gripping technologies

While most clients take advantage of Mecademic’s miniature electric gripper, our robots can easily integrate with any third-party pneumatic grippers or vacuum generators. Gripping technology can be controlled directly from the Meca500 using our optional pneumatic module. Alternatively, it can be controlled by your PLC.

Benefits of the MCS500 SCARA robot for pick-and-place applications:

Optimize cycle time

With speeds of up to 3,000 mm/s, our SCARA robot’s high-performance design ensures faster cycle time and maximum throughput.

Minimize factory space

With a built-in controller, Mecademic’s SCARA robot is more compact than any four-axis industrial robot on the market.

Benefit from precision

Engineered with the same philosophy as our Meca500, the world’s most precise industrial robot, our SCARA robot offers high precision at even faster speeds.

Choose simplicity and flexibility.

Our SCARA robot is a plug‑and‑work automation component that is very easy to integrate with any computer, PLC, and programming language. Unlike most competitive models, Mecademic’s SCARA robot can be mounted on a tabletop or upside down for various settings.

In most cases, the Meca500 six-axis robotic arm will be the most viable option, especially if any flexibility is required in your pick-and-place operations. However, the SCARA is the smart choice for pick-and-place applications that are simple and where speed is the name of the game. This robot will help you save time and money and will increase throughput. Either way, both robots will provide your business the most precise, compact, and affordable solutions.

Read the Press Release for Mecademic’s new micro-SCARA robot – the MicroDASH-MCS500.