FAIRINO FR3 vs. Elephant Robotics Catbot: 3 kg Cobot Comparison
Updated: Nov 2
3 kg-class collaborative robot comparison • Payload, reach, precision and U.S. pricing
🤖 Overview: The Elephant Catbot from Elephant Robotics and the FAIRINO FR3 are both shortlisted for 3 kg-class automation cells. The Elephant Robotics Catbot offers 3 kg of rated payload, 600 mm of reach and ±0.05 mm repeatability. The FAIRINO FR3 answers with 3 kg, 622 mm and ±0.02 mm at a published U.S. price of $7,999. This comparison separates published specifications from the points that should be confirmed in a demo or quotation.
FAIRINO FR3 3 kg-class cobot 
Elephant Robotics Catbot cobot
⚖️ Quick Verdict: FAIRINO FR3 vs. Elephant Robotics Catbot
Choose the FAIRINO FR3 when it matches or exceeds the payload and reaches further, at a published $7,999.
Choose the Elephant Robotics Catbot when it fits an existing Elephant Robotics ecosystem, from $5,900 (indicative list price).
Validate both with your real gripper, part mass and layout; installed-cell cost and measured cycle time decide ROI.
📊 FAIRINO FR3 vs. Elephant Catbot Specifications
Specification | FAIRINO FR3 | Elephant Robotics Catbot |
|---|---|---|
Rated payload | 3 kg | 3 kg |
Maximum payload | 5 kg | See manufacturer datasheet |
Reach | 622 mm | 600 mm |
Repeatability | ±0.02 mm | ±0.05 mm |
Axes | 6 | 6 |
Arm weight | ≈15 kg | See manufacturer datasheet |
IP rating | IP54 / IP65 optional | See manufacturer datasheet |
TCP speed | 1 m/s typical | See manufacturer datasheet |
Public price | $7,999 (FAIRINO USA) | From $5,900 (indicative list price) |
🏋️ Payload: 3 kg vs. 3 kg
Both arms share the same 3 kg rating, so the decision moves to reach, precision, ecosystem and price.
📏 Reach: 622 mm vs. 600 mm
FAIRINO FR3 reaches 22 mm (about 4%) further. Extra reach can let one robot serve a machine, an infeed and an inspection station without a riser or linear track, while a shorter arm keeps the swept area compact and simplifies guarding. Simulate both robots in your actual cell layout.
🎯 Repeatability and Precision
FAIRINO FR3 publishes the tighter repeatability (±0.02 mm vs. ±0.05 mm). For most tending, packaging and handling work both are sufficient; for tight insertions and vision-guided placement, fixturing, TCP calibration and gripper compliance matter as much as the datasheet figure.
🛡️ Environment and Safety
The FAIRINO FR3 is offered with IP54 protection and an IP65 option. Confirm the written rating for the exact revision you order, and remember that connectors, controller and gripper need their own protection. Every collaborative application still needs a risk assessment under ISO 10218 and ISO/TS 15066.
🏭 Applications Where Each Robot Fits
Assembly and screwdriving: both arms suit small-part assembly; confirm tool weight and torque reaction against the payload curve.
Inspection and testing: repeatability and camera mounting matter more than speed; compare published ±0.02 vs ±0.05 mm.
Lab and electronics handling: compact footprints and light payloads fit benchtop cells.
💰 Price and Total Cost of Ownership
FAIRINO USA lists the FAIRINO FR3 at $7,999. The Elephant Robotics Catbot is listed from $5,900 (indicative list price), so the published arm prices differ by about $899 (the Elephant Robotics Catbot is the lower-priced arm). Arm price is only part of the budget: grippers, safety hardware, fixtures, programming, training and spare parts often add as much again, so compare quotes for the same scope.
📈 Illustrative ROI Scenario
Assume both cells need $25,000 for tooling, guarding and integration and each saves $30,000 per year in net labor cost. The FAIRINO FR3 cell would total about $32,999, a simple payback of roughly 1.1 years. The Elephant Robotics Catbot cell would total about $30,900, or roughly 1.0 years. These figures are illustrative; model your own cell.
✅ 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
Measured cycle time with real parts, including fault recovery
Installed-cell quotes for the same scope from both suppliers
🏁 Conclusion
The FAIRINO FR3 stands out for value, with 3 kg payload, ±0.02 mm repeatability and a transparent $7,999 price. The Elephant Robotics Catbot brings the Elephant Robotics ecosystem. Shortlist the arm whose reach, payload and integration needs match your cell, then confirm with a trial and an installed-cell quote.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Which cobot carries more payload, the FAIRINO FR3 or the Elephant Robotics Catbot?
Both are rated at 3 kg.
Which robot has the longer reach?
FAIRINO FR3 reaches 22 mm further (622 mm vs. 600 mm).
Which robot is more repeatable?
FAIRINO FR3 publishes the tighter repeatability: ±0.02 mm vs. ±0.05 mm.
How much do the FAIRINO FR3 and Elephant Robotics Catbot cost?
FAIRINO USA lists the FAIRINO FR3 at $7,999. The Elephant Robotics Catbot is listed from $5,900 (indicative list price).
Can both be used for machine tending and pick-and-place?
Yes. Validate gripper mass, reach to every point, PLC handshakes and recovery from faults in 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.
