The Yaskawa SP80 is known for its precision in spot welding and is capable of repetitive, high-volume tasks.
However, the SP80 is not really flexible, versatile, or collaborative, which can limit it to welding tasks — and you need safety fencing to keep human workers safe.
Read on to learn:
- Key specs and features
- Advantages and limitations
- How it compares to other spot-welding robots
- Why RO1 from Standard Bots might be a better fit
Overview of the SP80's specifications
The SP80 doesn’t just wing it. It’s equipped with everything you need to get most welding jobs done.
Here’s what it can do:
- Payload capacity: It can handle up to 80 kg, which is enough for most spot welding tools and parts. It’s not Hercules, but it’s good for most welding setups.
- Reach for the stars: With a horizontal reach of 2,236 mm and a vertical reach of 3,751 mm, it can work across large areas without moving around much.
- Repeatability: ±0.03 mm — that’s robot-speak for “it hits the same spot every time.”
- Speedster: Its joint speed is quick enough to keep production lines moving without breaking a sweat.
- Industrial strength: Designed to thrive in industrial environments, the SP80 laughs in the face of dust, heat, and general factory chaos.
Key features of the Yaskawa SP80 for spot welding
The SP80 has features that make your welding jobs easier.
Here’s why:
- Tiny marvel: Its compact design fits into tight spaces, so it’s perfect for crowded work areas where every inch matters — no need to knock down walls to get it installed.
- Steady hands: Its precision ensures weld quality that doesn’t look like it was done by someone on their first day at welding school. Humans are prone to mistakes — even experienced welders.
Robots don’t have to deal with jitters or sleepless nights. They’re here to ensure maximum accuracy.
Advantages of the SP80 in industrial welding applications
Why pick the SP80? It simplifies industrial welding in ways that save time, money, and headaches.
Here’s what it does best:
- Impressive axis speeds: The Yaskawa SP80 offers a maximum S-axis speed of 170°/s and an L-axis speed of 140°/s, making it slightly faster than competitor models like the FANUC Arc Mate 100iD/120iD.
This added speed could boost productivity in fast-paced manufacturing environments, especially when handling repetitive spot welding tasks. Of course, real-life welding speed depends on other factors beyond just axis speed.
- Great weld quality: With consistent precision, it reduces defects and rework. Translation? Happier customers and fewer late-night panic fixes.
Limitations and potential challenges of the SP80
Of course, no robot is perfect, and the SP80 has its quirks.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Balancing speed with accuracy: At higher speeds, there’s always the trade-off between speed and precision. For extremely intricate welding jobs, slower speeds might still be necessary to ensure consistent weld quality.
For example, the repeatability (accuracy) of the FANUC Arc Mate 100iD/120iD is ±0.02 mm, which is better than the SP80.
- Not the strongest kid in class: Its 80 kg payload works for many jobs, but if you need payloads from 80 to 270kg, you can check out FANUC’s R-series.
- Learning curve ahead: The software isn’t rocket science, but you’ll need some training to program it effectively. Be mindful that Yaskawa’s specialized training costs money.
While upfront prices are not available, it costs $750 per seat just to cancel a course, so we imagine that prices to book a course are much higher.
- Just limited to welding: While it’s great for heavy-duty welding tasks, it’s not as versatile as other robotic arms, which can be redeployed for pick-and-place, machine tending, painting, and other tasks.
SP80 vs. other spot welding robots
Robotic welding is becoming more popular and the SP80 isn’t the only spot-welding robot out there. So, how does it compare?
Here’s how it stacks up:
- Against higher payload models: If you need to lift more than 80 kg, you’ll have to look at bigger models like FANUC’s R-series. But for typical welding jobs, it’s plenty strong.
- Against the competition: Compared to options from top welding robot manufacturers like FANUC or ABB, the SP80 offers a sleek design and competitive pricing. You’re getting solid value without paying for extra bells and whistles you don’t need.
How easy is it to program and operate the SP80?
Robots like the SP80 don’t operate themselves, but Yaskawa makes the process manageable.
What you need to know:
- Programming interface: It’s straightforward, but don’t expect it to read your mind. Plan for some technical training to get the most out of it. It uses Yaskawa’s Teach Pendant technology. You can find a helpful user manual to guide you (after logging in).
- Offline programming: Great for setting up complex jobs without stopping production. It’s like planning your moves in a game of chess before making a single one.
- Training and support: Yaskawa offers help when you need it, which is good because everyone has that one co-worker who will push the wrong button.
Safety features of the Yaskawa SP80
Nobody wants a rogue robot on their hands, and you’ll have to keep safety in mind if you want to work around this giant weldbot.
Here’s how to keep things safe:
- Not a cobot: Unlike collaborative robots, Yaskawa needs to have its pocket to operate in — meaning, you don’t want to go anywhere near it.
- Safety fencing: If something gets in its way, the SP80 can leave a nasty bump (or burn), so it has to operate in its fenced-off area.
- Compliance: Meets industry ISO safety standards, so it’s not just winging it when it comes to following the rules. The wrist is rated IP67, and the body is rated IP54.
Is the Yaskawa SP80 the right choice for your operation?
If you’re running a small to mid-sized operation with spot welding needs, the SP80 is worth keeping in mind.
It could work if:
- Right-sized for the job: It’s built for typical spot welding tasks, not heavy-duty ones. If you need something that works in compact spaces and repetitive welding, it’s great — say, if you’re in the auto industry or if your shop works with high-volume production.
- Solid ROI: Automating repetitive welding jobs saves time, cuts down errors, and pays off over time.
- Support matters: Yaskawa offers training and service to guarantee you’re not left scratching your head if something goes wrong.
- It's not so great if you need to go heavier than 80kg or if you require an up-close human-cobot collaboration. It could also be overkill if you’re in an SME with medium or low-volume production needs.
Summing up
If spot welding is priority #1, the SP80 offers a targeted solution with the backing of Yaskawa’s support and service — you can’t go wrong if welding’s your game.
But we have to keep it real: For broader automation needs, you might want to go with a more versatile robot like Standard Bots’ RO1.
How does the Yaskawa SP80 compare to Standard Bots’ RO1?
The SP80 is all about spot welding, but if you need a more versatile, AI-driven robot, RO1 from Standard Bots might be a better fit.
Here’s the lowdown:
- Specialization vs. versatility: The SP80 is laser-focused on welding. RO1 can handle packing, material handling, CNC machine tending, medium-payload welding, and palletizing. It’s easily deployable due to its AI.
- Cost: RO1 starts at $5/hour, which marks it a more affordable choice for businesses with varied automation needs.
- AI-powered flexibility: RO1’s no-code interface and AI capabilities (on par with GPT-4) let you switch between jobs effortlessly — from assembly to packaging.
- Flexibility: RO1’s simple modular tooling makes it easy to adapt to new tasks, unlike the SP80, which sticks to welding.
- Collaborative design: Equipped with machine vision and collision detection, RO1 works perfectly alongside human teams without needing
Ready to see RO1 in action? Schedule a risk-free, 30-day onsite trial today and find out how it can step up your operation.
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