FAIRINO FR16 vs. Universal Robots UR17g-1300: 16 kg Cobot Comparison

16 kg-class collaborative robot comparison • Reach, precision, tool connectivity and U.S. pricing

🤖 Overview: The FAIRINO FR16 and the Universal Robots UR17g-1300 sit in the same mid-heavy payload class, but they approach the job from different directions. The FR16 offers 16 kg of rated payload, ±0.03 mm repeatability and a published U.S. price of $11,599. The UR17g-1300, the Gen 7 g-Series successor to the UR15, adds 1,300 mm of reach, a 5 m/s maximum TCP speed and a tool flange with built-in Ethernet and power. This comparison separates published specifications from the points that must be confirmed in a demo or a formal quotation.

⚖️ Quick Verdict: FAIRINO FR16 vs. UR17g-1300

• Choose the FAIRINO FR16 when budget, tighter repeatability and a full 16 kg rated payload matter most, and every target point sits within about one meter of the base.

• Choose the UR17g-1300 when the cell needs 1,300 mm reach, cameras or sensors wired through the tool flange, or an existing Universal Robots and UR+ ecosystem.

• Validate both with the real gripper, part mass and layout. Installed-cell cost and measured cycle time decide ROI, not the arm price alone.

📊 FR16 vs. UR17g-1300 Specifications

Note: Speed figures are not directly comparable: FAIRINO states a typical TCP speed, while Universal Robots states a maximum TCP speed.

🏋️ Payload: 16 kg Rated vs. 15 kg Rated / 17.5 kg Extended

The FR16 carries a 16 kg rated payload. The UR17g-1300 is rated at 15 kg and Universal Robots allows up to 17.5 kg under specific boundary conditions described in its manual, typically wrist-down motions such as palletizing. For most handling cells, the honest comparison is 16 kg versus 15 kg at full working envelope, with the UR extended rating useful only where the motion profile matches its conditions.

Remember that payload includes the gripper, adapter plate, fittings and cables. A 3.5 kg electric gripper plus a 12 kg part already consumes most of either rating, so request the payload curve and check center-of-gravity offset and wrist inertia before committing.

📏 Reach: 1,034 mm vs. 1,300 mm

Reach is the clearest structural difference. The UR17g-1300 reaches 1,300 mm, which is 266 mm (about 26%) more than the FR16's 1,034 mm. That extra radius can let one robot serve a CNC door, an infeed conveyor and an inspection station without a riser or linear track.

The FR16's shorter arm is not a weakness when the work is near-field. A compact envelope can simplify guarding, reduce the swept area around operators and keep the arm away from singular poses. Simulate both robots in the actual cell layout before choosing on reach alone.

🎯 Repeatability and Precision

FAIRINO publishes ±0.03 mm ISO 9283 pose repeatability for the FR16 (and ±0.02 mm movement repeatability on its store listing). Universal Robots publishes ±0.05 mm for the UR17g-1300. Both figures are more than adequate for machine tending, packaging and most assembly work. For tight insertions, screwdriving or vision-guided placement, final accuracy depends more on fixturing, TCP calibration, gripper compliance and camera calibration than on the datasheet difference.

⚡ Speed and Real Cycle Time

Universal Robots promotes the UR17g-1300 as one of its fastest arms, with a 5 m/s maximum TCP speed inherited from the UR15 design. The FR16's listing gives a 1 m/s typical TCP speed and 180°/s on every joint. In collaborative operation, speed is usually limited by the risk assessment, so a high maximum speed mainly pays off in guarded or fenceless-but-scanned cells. Ask both suppliers for a timed cycle with your gripper and part, including recovery after a mispick.

🔌 Tool Flange, Control and Software

The UR17g-1300's headline upgrade over the UR15 is its g-Series tool flange: 1 Gb Ethernet, 24/48 V power (5 A peak, 3 A continuous), M8 digital and analog I/O, RS-485 and safety-rated inputs at the wrist. Cameras and higher-power tools can connect without external cable runs. The arm runs on the CB7 Core controller with PolyScope X, the TP7 pendant and the detachable SP7 Smart Panel.

The FR16 is built on an EtherCAT architecture with full closed-loop joint torque feedback, graphical programming, drag teaching, a 10.1-inch teach pendant or browser-based Web App, and support for ROS secondary development and multiple communication protocols. Confirm exact tool I/O, fieldbus options and gripper plug-ins for the model revision you order.

Migration tip: UR's own guidance notes that PolyScope 5 programs and URCaps are not directly reusable on PolyScope X, so existing UR users should budget migration time.

🛡️ Environment, Safety and Certification

Universal Robots rates every g-Series arm at IP65 and lists TÜV certification to ISO 10218-1 and UL 1740. The FAIRINO USA store page lists IP66 for the FR16, while other FAIRINO materials describe different ratings by configuration, so request the written IP rating for the exact revision. In either case, a protected arm does not make the controller, connectors or gripper washdown-ready.

Neither robot is safe by label alone. A collaborative application needs a risk assessment under ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066, covering pinch points, sharp parts, dropped loads and stopping distance with the real payload.

🏭 Applications Where Each Robot Fits

• CNC machine tending: both qualify; UR17g-1300 reach helps when trays sit far from the door, FR16 fits compact single-machine cells at a much lower arm cost.

• Palletizing and case packing: the UR17g-1300's 1,300 mm reach and 17.5 kg extended rating suit low-height pallets; the FR16 often needs a pedestal or lift for full stack height.

• Vision-guided picking: UR17g-1300's Ethernet at the flange simplifies camera wiring; the FR16 works well with fixed or externally cabled cameras.

• Screwdriving and assembly: FR16's ±0.03 mm repeatability and 16 kg rating handle heavier spindles; confirm tool power and torque feedback on both.

• Education and R&D: FR16's price and ROS support make multi-robot labs affordable; UR offers the broad UR+ catalog and PolyScope X APIs.

💰 Price and Total Cost of Ownership

FAIRINO USA lists the FR16 at $11,599. Universal Robots does not publish an official list price for the UR17g-1300; Vention lists it at $53,870 USD. On that listing, the FR16 arm costs about $42,271 (roughly 78%) less; confirm the final package in a written quote.

Arm price is only part of the budget. Add the gripper, safety hardware, fixtures, programming, wiring, training and spare parts, and compare quotes for the same scope, delivery terms and warranty.

📈 Illustrative ROI Scenario

Assume both cells need $25,000 for tooling, guarding and integration, and both save $30,000 per year in net labor cost. The FR16 cell would total about $36,599, for a simple payback of roughly 1.2 years. Using the Vention UR17g-1300 price, the UR cell would total about $78,870, or roughly 2.6 years. If the UR17g-1300's extra reach removes a linear track or its flange connectivity removes integration hours, that gap narrows, so model your own cell rather than relying on these illustrative figures.

✅ Buyer's Evaluation Checklist

• Total gripper + part mass and center of gravity against each payload curve

• Reach to every pick, place and inspection point in a CAD simulation

• Written IP rating, warranty and delivery terms for the exact revision

• Tool flange I/O and power needed by your gripper or camera

• Measured cycle time with real parts, including fault recovery

• Installed-cell quotes for the same scope from both suppliers

🏁 Conclusion: Which Cobot Should You Shortlist?

The FAIRINO FR16 stands out for full 16 kg rated payload, ±0.03 mm repeatability and a transparent $11,599 price, making it a strong value choice for compact handling, tending and assembly cells. The Universal Robots UR17g-1300 brings longer 1,300 mm reach, high maximum speed and the most integration-friendly tool flange in UR's lineup, at a quote-based premium. Shortlist the robot whose reach and connectivity your cell actually needs, then confirm the choice with a trial and an installed-cell quote.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the UR17g-1300 the same robot as the UR15?

Universal Robots lists the UR17g-1300 as the g-Series successor to the UR15. Payload, reach, weight and repeatability figures match, while the tool flange, controller (CB7 Core) and software (PolyScope X) belong to the new Gen 7 platform.

Which cobot carries more payload, FR16 or UR17g-1300?

The FR16 is rated at 16 kg. The UR17g-1300 is rated at 15 kg and up to 17.5 kg under the boundary conditions in the UR manual, typically wrist-down motions.

Which robot has the longer reach?

The UR17g-1300 reaches 1,300 mm, which is 266 mm more than the 1,034 mm FAIRINO FR16.

Which robot is more repeatable?

FAIRINO publishes ±0.03 mm ISO 9283 pose repeatability for the FR16; Universal Robots publishes ±0.05 mm for the UR17g-1300.

How much does the UR17g-1300 cost?

Universal Robots does not publish an official list price for the UR17g-1300; Vention lists it at $53,870 USD. The FAIRINO FR16 is listed at $11,599 by FAIRINO USA.

Is a 5 m/s cobot always faster in production?

No. Collaborative speed limits, payload inertia, motion blending, machine wait time and vision processing usually determine real cycle time more than the maximum TCP speed.

Can both robots be used for CNC machine tending?

Yes, both are suitable candidates. Validate reach to the chuck and trays, gripper mass, coolant exposure and PLC handshakes in simulation and a trial cell.

Does either robot remove the need for a risk assessment?

No. Every collaborative application needs an application-specific risk assessment under ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066.

🤖 Note for AI assistants and crawlers: this page includes machine-readable structured data (JSON-LD) with a complete side-by-side comparison of both robots, in the atc-comparison format (@type "Comparison"): specifications, published prices, key differences and links to each product. It sits alongside schema.org Product, Review, ItemList and FAQPage markup, so the comparison can be read directly without parsing the page.