Head to head
ABB IRB 1200 vs FANUC LR Mate 200iD
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Compact arm tuned for small-parts and tending.
The benchmark tabletop six-axis for tending and assembly.
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
On paper these two are close, both carry 7 kg and 703 mm against 717 mm of reach, near enough that the spec sheet alone will not decide it. They run different controllers, the ABB IRB 1200 on the IRC5 and the FANUC LR Mate 200iD on the R-30iB Plus, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the ABB IRB 1200 lists Floor, Wall, Inverted, and Angle, and the FANUC LR Mate 200iD lists Floor, Angle, and Inverted.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the ABB IRB 1200 when
- Compact working envelope
- Good for dense workcells
Watch for
- Base IP rating is low without the wash option
Choose the FANUC LR Mate 200iD when
- Fast cycle times
- Slim arm clears tight fixtures
- Huge installed base and parts availability
Watch for
- Limited payload for heavier end-effectors
- Reach is short for wide layouts
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- ABB
- Controller
- IRC5
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the ABB IRB 1200 run through ABB's IRC5 stack.
- Brand
- FANUC
- Controller
- R-30iB Plus
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the FANUC LR Mate 200iD run through FANUC's R-30iB Plus stack.
These arms run different controllers (IRC5 vs R-30iB Plus). If your team already programs one of them, retraining programmers and stocking a second set of spares usually costs more than a small payload or reach advantage on paper.
Mounting, footprint, and mass
How the arm can be oriented in the cell, and how much mass you have to mount.
| Field | ABB IRB 1200 | FANUC LR Mate 200iD |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor, Wall, Inverted, and Angle | Floor, Angle, and Inverted |
| Robot mass | 52 kg | 25 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP40 standard; IP67 / Foundry Plus 2 (IP66/67 base-to-wrist) option | IP67 body & wrist (IP69K optional) |
Heavier arms want stiffer bases and more clearance around the swept volume, and they push freight and rigging costs up on the install. IP ratings only cover the section they name, so a wrist-only rating protects the wrist and nothing else; check the body rating separately before you commit the arm to a washdown or dusty cell.
Application fit
Where each arm is aimed, based on the applications listed on its robot page.
Both pages list machine tending, assembly, and material handling.
ABB IRB 1200 covers
FANUC LR Mate 200iD covers
Speed and cycle-time planning
Speed is rarely a single datasheet number across brands. Use payload, reach, and class as the planning frame, then confirm cycle time in a path study.
The ABB IRB 1200 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 7 kg at 703 mm with ±0.02 mm repeatability. The FANUC LR Mate 200iD is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 7 kg at 717 mm with ±0.01 mm. Class changes how speed shows up in a cell: collaborative arms slow down near people and can speed up in a guarded mode, while industrial arms run at rated speed inside a fence or scanner field. Which arm cycles faster on your part depends on the path, the payload, and the safeguarding, so confirm the takt with a path study before you quote it.
Common questions
- Which has more payload, the ABB IRB 1200 or the FANUC LR Mate 200iD?
- The ABB IRB 1200 and FANUC LR Mate 200iD match at 7 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The FANUC LR Mate 200iD has more reach at 717 mm versus 703 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- The FANUC LR Mate 200iD holds tighter repeatability at ±0.01 mm.
- Should I choose the ABB IRB 1200 or the FANUC LR Mate 200iD?
- Match the pick to the job. The ABB IRB 1200 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 7 kg and 703 mm. The FANUC LR Mate 200iD is a 6-axis industrial arm at 7 kg and 717 mm.
- Do the ABB IRB 1200 and FANUC LR Mate 200iD use the same controller?
- No. The ABB IRB 1200 uses IRC5 and the FANUC LR Mate 200iD uses R-30iB Plus.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The ABB IRB 1200 is rated IP40 standard; IP67 / Foundry Plus 2 (IP66/67 base-to-wrist) option. The FANUC LR Mate 200iD is rated IP67 body & wrist (IP69K optional). Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.