Robotics in Manufacturing

Head to head

FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S vs Omron i4

A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.

FANUC1 of 5 categories
FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S

Compact short-arm robot for dense benchtop cells

Omron2 of 5 categories
Omron i4

Compact SCARA for light assembly and packaging

Specification duel

Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.

4 kg
Payload
5 kg
550 mm
Reach
550 mm
±0.01 mm
Repeatability
±0.01 mm
6
Axes
4
20 kg
Robot mass
16.5 kg
Not confirmed
Introducedreference
2021

The verdict

The FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S is a 6-axis industrial arm and the Omron i4 is a SCARA arm, so this comes down to which job you are building the cell around rather than a spec-for-spec race. They run different controllers, the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S on the R-30iB Plus and the Omron i4 on the Built-in internal controller, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S lists Floor, Inverted, and Angle, and the Omron i4 lists Table and Wall. Both are aimed at assembly and dispensing, with the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S stretching to machine tending.

Choose this one when

Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.

Choose the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S when

  • Very tight repeatability
  • Smallest footprint in the LR Mate family
  • Fast for short-cycle pick-and-place
  • Easy to cluster in multi-robot cells

Watch for

  • Short reach limits fixture layout options
  • Low payload rules out heavier gripper packages

Choose the Omron i4 when

  • Very compact for dense bench cells
  • Tight repeatability for small-parts assembly
  • Integrates with Omron vision and PLC systems
  • Low mass simplifies mounting

Watch for

  • Low payload limits heavier tooling
  • Short reach compared to larger SCARA arms

Controller ecosystem

Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.

FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S
Brand
FANUC
Controller
R-30iB Plus
Class
6-axis industrial

Service, spares, and pendant training for the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S run through FANUC's R-30iB Plus stack.

Omron i4
Brand
Omron
Controller
Built-in internal controller
Class
SCARA

Service, spares, and pendant training for the Omron i4 run through Omron's Built-in internal controller stack.

These arms run different controllers (R-30iB Plus vs Built-in internal controller). 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.

FieldFANUC LR Mate 200iD/4SOmron i4
MountingFloor, Inverted, and AngleTable and Wall
Robot mass20 kg16.5 kg
Protection (IP)IP67IP20 / NEMA Type 1

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 assembly, dispensing, and packaging, with the differences below.

FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S also 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 FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 4 kg at 550 mm with ±0.01 mm repeatability. The Omron i4 is a SCARA arm rated 5 kg at 550 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 FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S or the Omron i4?
The Omron i4 has more payload at 5 kg versus 4 kg.
Which reaches farther?
The FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S and Omron i4 match at 550 mm.
Which is more precise?
Both are rated at ±0.01 mm repeatability.
Should I choose the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S or the Omron i4?
Match the pick to the job. The FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S is a 6-axis industrial arm at 4 kg and 550 mm. The Omron i4 is a SCARA arm at 5 kg and 550 mm.
Do the FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S and Omron i4 use the same controller?
No. The FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S uses R-30iB Plus and the Omron i4 uses Built-in internal controller.
How do the IP ratings compare?
The FANUC LR Mate 200iD/4S is rated IP67. The Omron i4 is rated IP20 / NEMA Type 1. Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.