The practical difference
A collaborative arm is designed to share space with people: force limiting, rounded design, hand-guided teaching. An industrial arm is designed for speed and rigidity inside a guarded cell.
| Factor | Collaborative arm | Industrial arm |
|---|---|---|
| Typical payload | 0.5 – 16 kg | 6 – 200 kg+ |
| Speed | Moderate, safety limited | High |
| Guarding | Often fenceless after risk assessment | Fenced cell required |
| Programming | Hand guiding and graphical blocks | Teach pendant and vendor language |
| Best for teaching | Fast task changes, mixed groups | Cycle time and industrial realism |
Designing a training work cell
A teaching cell should include the arm, a gripper set, a vision camera, a conveyor or feeder, and a safety layer. Students then run a full pick, inspect and place cycle rather than a single motion demo.
- Gripper variety teaches end-effector selection.
- A vision camera turns motion practice into perception work.
- A conveyor introduces timing, queues and synchronisation.
Safety and risk assessment
Collaborative does not mean automatically safe. The application defines the risk: a blunt gripper on a slow arm may need no fence, while a sharp tool at speed does. Complete a documented risk assessment for the whole cell, not the arm alone.
Common questions
Which arm suits an engineering faculty starting from zero?
A desktop educational arm plus one mid-payload collaborative arm covers both fundamentals and realistic assembly tasks.
Can a cobot be used in real production after training hours?
Yes, many faculties run small production or prototyping batches on the same cell, provided the risk assessment covers that application.