Head to head
Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA vs Universal Robots UR5e
A specification duel across payload, reach, precision, and footprint, with a plain read on which arm suits which job.
Collaborative arm for shared assembly workspaces
The cobot that defined the category.
Specification duel
Green marks the stronger figure. Unconfirmed specs are shown but not scored.
The verdict
On paper these two are close, both carry 5 kg and 910 mm against 850 mm of reach, near enough that the spec sheet alone will not decide it. They run different controllers, the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA on the CR800-05VD and the Universal Robots UR5e on the PolyScope, so whichever platform your team already programs and stocks parts for is a real tiebreaker. Mounting options differ: the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA lists Floor and Ceiling, and the Universal Robots UR5e lists Any. Both are aimed at assembly and machine tending, with the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA stretching to packaging and the Universal Robots UR5e to quality inspection.
Choose this one when
Job fit first, then the controller and cell constraints that decide which arm you can actually install.
Choose the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA when
- Power and force limiting on every joint
- Simple hand-guided teaching
- Compact footprint for benchtop cells
- Integrates with Mitsubishi's factory automation stack
Watch for
- Reduced speed near operators limits raw throughput
- Payload modest compared to caged industrial arms
Choose the Universal Robots UR5e when
- Huge ecosystem of UR+ end-effectors
- Easy to program
- Built-in force sensing
Watch for
- Low payload
- IP54 limits wet environments
Controller ecosystem
Programming habits, spare parts, and pendant familiarity often decide the pick when payloads are close.
- Brand
- Mitsubishi
- Controller
- CR800-05VD
- Class
- collaborative
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA run through Mitsubishi's CR800-05VD stack.
- Brand
- Universal Robots
- Controller
- PolyScope
- Class
- collaborative
Service, spares, and pendant training for the Universal Robots UR5e run through Universal Robots's PolyScope stack.
These arms run different controllers (CR800-05VD vs PolyScope). 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 | Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA | Universal Robots UR5e |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting | Floor and Ceiling | Any |
| Robot mass | 32 kg | 20.6 kg |
| Protection (IP) | IP54 | IP54 |
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 and machine tending, with the differences below.
Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA also covers
Universal Robots UR5e 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 Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA is a collaborative arm rated 5 kg at 910 mm with ±0.03 mm repeatability. The Universal Robots UR5e is a collaborative arm rated 5 kg at 850 mm with ±0.03 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 Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA or the Universal Robots UR5e?
- The Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA and Universal Robots UR5e match at 5 kg.
- Which reaches farther?
- The Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA has more reach at 910 mm versus 850 mm.
- Which is more precise?
- Both are rated at ±0.03 mm repeatability.
- Should I choose the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA or the Universal Robots UR5e?
- Match the pick to the job. The Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA is a collaborative arm at 5 kg and 910 mm. The Universal Robots UR5e is a collaborative arm at 5 kg and 850 mm.
- Do the Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA and Universal Robots UR5e use the same controller?
- No. The Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA uses CR800-05VD and the Universal Robots UR5e uses PolyScope.
- How do the IP ratings compare?
- The Mitsubishi MELFA ASSISTA is rated IP54. The Universal Robots UR5e is rated IP54. Check wrist versus body coverage before washdown or dusty cells.