Head to head
FANUC M-710iC/50 vs Kawasaki RS080N
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Mid-size workhorse for handling and welding lines
Mid-heavy arm for material handling and palletizing support
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
The specs separate them here: the Kawasaki RS080N carries more, 80 kg to the FANUC M-710iC/50's 50 kg. If precision drives the job, the FANUC M-710iC/50 holds the tighter repeatability at ±0.03 mm. They run different controllers, the FANUC M-710iC/50 on the R-30iB Plus and the Kawasaki RS080N on the F02, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the FANUC M-710iC/50 lists Floor, Ceiling, and Angle, and the Kawasaki RS080N lists Floor and Ceiling. Both are aimed at material handling and machine tending, with the FANUC M-710iC/50 stretching to arc welding and assembly and the Kawasaki RS080N to palletizing.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the FANUC M-710iC/50 when
- Wide work envelope for its class
- Slim wrist clears tight fixtures
- Shares spares with M-710iC family
- Proven uptime in high-volume lines
Watch for
- Payload ceiling limits it on heavier tooling
- Floor mount needs a reinforced pad at full speed
Choose the Kawasaki RS080N when
- Strong payload-to-footprint ratio
- Rigid arm holds accuracy at full reach
- Reliable in continuous multi-shift use
- Compatible with Kawasaki's palletizing software
Watch for
- Large swept volume needs generous cell clearance
- Higher power draw than lighter arms
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- FANUC
- Controller
- R-30iB Plus
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the FANUC M-710iC/50 run through FANUC's R-30iB Plus stack.
- Brand
- Kawasaki
- Controller
- F02
- Class
- 6-axis industrial
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Kawasaki RS080N run through Kawasaki's F02 stack.
These arms run different controllers (R-30iB Plus vs F02). 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 | FANUC M-710iC/50 | Kawasaki RS080N |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor, Ceiling, and Angle | Floor and Ceiling |
| Robot mass | 560 kg | 555 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP54 body (opt. IP67) / IP67 wrist & J3 | IP67 wrist / IP65 base axes |
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 material handling and machine tending, with the differences below.
FANUC M-710iC/50 also covers
Kawasaki RS080N 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 M-710iC/50 is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 50 kg at 2050 mm with ±0.03 mm repeatability. The Kawasaki RS080N is a 6-axis industrial arm rated 80 kg at 2100 mm with ±0.06 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 M-710iC/50 or the Kawasaki RS080N?
- The Kawasaki RS080N has more payload at 80 kg versus 50 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The Kawasaki RS080N has more reach at 2100 mm versus 2050 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- The FANUC M-710iC/50 holds tighter repeatability at ±0.03 mm.
- Should I choose the FANUC M-710iC/50 or the Kawasaki RS080N?
- Match the pick to the job. The FANUC M-710iC/50 is a 6-axis industrial arm at 50 kg and 2050 mm. The Kawasaki RS080N is a 6-axis industrial arm at 80 kg and 2100 mm.
- Do the FANUC M-710iC/50 and Kawasaki RS080N use the same controller?
- No. The FANUC M-710iC/50 uses R-30iB Plus and the Kawasaki RS080N uses F02.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The FANUC M-710iC/50 is rated IP54 body (opt. IP67) / IP67 wrist & J3. The Kawasaki RS080N is rated IP67 wrist / IP65 base axes. Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.