Collaborative Robots (Cobots): What Buyers Should Know
A collaborative robot (cobot) is a force-limited robot arm designed to work safely alongside people without full guarding, used in assembly, inspection, machine tending, and lab automation. Buyers source them from China collaborative robot manufacturers for payloads of 3-20kg, drag-to-teach programming, and ±0.02mm repeatability.
Key specifications are payload, reach, safety certification, and ease of programming. ISO/TS 15066 compliance and CE certification matter for deployment. The curated suppliers below are screened against these criteria.
Curated Suppliers — Collaborative Robots (Cobots)
7 Checks Before Choosing a Collaborative Robots (Cobots) Supplier
1. Payload
Choose payload above your heaviest tool plus part; 3-6kg covers most light tasks.
2. Reach
Match reach to your workstation; 800-1,300mm is common.
3. Safety
Confirm force-limited design and ISO/TS 15066 compliance for human collaboration.
4. Programming
Drag-to-teach and graphical interfaces cut setup time for non-specialists.
5. End effectors
Check gripper and tool compatibility for your application.
6. Integration
Verify IO, vision, and PLC connectivity options.
7. Certification
Confirm CE, RoHS, and functional safety certifications before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a cobot different from an industrial robot?
Cobots are force-limited and safety-rated to work beside people, usually without safety fencing.
Do cobots need safety guarding?
Not usually, but a risk assessment is required and some tasks still need light guarding or area scanners.
How easy is cobot programming?
Most cobots support drag-to-teach and graphical programming, so non-experts can set them up quickly.
What is the MOQ for collaborative robots?
Standard units often start at 1-5 units; see each supplier profile for exact MOQ.