Application
Pick and Place
Pick and place covers high-speed, short-cycle transfer of small parts between fixed positions or a moving conveyor, the core task behind most delta and SCARA installations.
The robot moves an item from a defined pick point to a defined place point as fast as its cycle time allows, repeating the same short move thousands of times per shift.
Vision guidance is common when parts arrive at unpredictable positions on a conveyor, letting the robot adjust its pick point in real time rather than relying on fixed part presentation.
Because the payload is usually light, the deciding factor is often cycles per minute rather than reach or lifting capacity, which is why delta and SCARA arms dominate this application.
Common questions
- What robots are used for pick and place?
- Pick and Place suits delta, SCARA, collaborative robots. Examples include abb irb 360, epson g6, fanuc m 1ia.
- What payload and reach does pick and place need?
- Payload is typically 0.5 to 10 kg with reach around 600 to 1300 mm.
- What matters most for pick and place?
- High cycle rate. Vision-guided conveyor tracking. Lightweight, low-inertia tooling. Precise repeatability at speed.