There are tiny nanorobots, but how big are those big robots in the movies?
Those are fictional robots, or mechas to be precise. There are some pretty big robots in the real world, too. A Japanese robot built a couple of years ago tips the scales at 25 tons.
But what factors determine the size of a robot?
Footprint
How big is the robot in terms of the amount of space it takes up? That’s its footprint. Gantry style robots take up space overhead and provide more flexibility. Otherwise, your robot can only be as big as the available floor space.
Reach
Robots vary in the distance they can reach. They may have up to six axes, but the length of their reach is what makes the biggest difference in the size of the robot. That impacts your factory floor layout and the safety issues.
Capacity
Bigger robots can handle bigger payloads. When choosing a robot, the necessary capacity is a key factor. Small robots are the ones with a 45 lbs payload or less. Some have a payload capacity of just 11 lbs.
Large robots may have a capacity of 330 kg or more. Keep in mind that the payload capacity includes the end of arm tooling as well as the weight of the workpiece.