700 kg Payload 2832 mm Reach Heavy Duty Articulated Robot FANUC M-900iB/700 IP67

Overview

• • The FANUC M-900iB/700 is a six-axis articulated heavy payload robot rated at 700 kg at the wrist, with a 2832 mm reach and a rigid cast structure of 2800 kg.
• • The payload class is built for large glass handling, aircraft body panel drilling and riveting, car body panel lifting and general structure handling, where parts weigh far more than a standard handling robot can carry.
• • The long arm keeps a 2832 mm reach at full 700 kg payload, so the robot still covers deep press cavities, table centres and far conveyor positions from one floor position.
• • All six axes run on AC servo drives, with J1 to J3 moving at 80°/s and the wrist at up to 160°/s on J6, giving controlled acceleration when a heavy part is picked up at the edge of the envelope.
• • Repeatability of ±0.1 mm is specified for this payload class and holds the drill, rivet gun or vacuum tool on the same line cycle after cycle.
• • The wrist is IP67-equivalent, sealing wrist joints against coolant, drilling swarf and abrasive dust in machining and drilling cells.
• • Floor mounting with 360° J1 rotation lets one robot serve several stations arranged around its base, and the FANUC iRVision package handles part location and inspection through the same controller.

Specifications

Advantages

• • 700 kg payload capacity: one robot lifts body panels, engine blocks, large castings and glass assemblies that usually need two smaller machines or a gantry.
• • Rigid arm design: allowable moment of 3400 N·m at J4 and J5 and 1725 N·m at J6 accepts long end-effectors, rivet guns and heavy vacuum frames without a counterbalance.
• • High inertia tolerance: 1098 kg·m² at J4 and J5 and 444 kg·m² at J6 allow large panels to swing on the wrist without derating the payload.
• • IP67-equivalent wrist: dust, coolant and swarf stay out of the wrist joints, which cuts maintenance downtime in drilling, spot welding and foundry cells.
• • Long reach: 2832 mm plus a compact wrist lets the robot work over fixtures, roller conveyors and part racks without moving the base.
• • Stable full-load motion: servo tuning keeps the 700 kg payload steady at full extension, so heavy parts do not oscillate at pick and place points.
• • Integrated intelligence: FANUC iRVision and force sensing run on the same FANUC controller, so part finding, riveting and inspection share one interface.
• • Series commonality: six M-900iB variants share wrist design and dress-out logic, which simplifies spares and programming paths for mixed heavy payload fleets.

Applications

• • Large glass handling: move architectural and automotive glazing with vacuum frames, using the 700 kg payload to carry framing tools as well as the panel.
• • Aircraft body panel drilling and riveting: hold and position large curved sections while the wrist carries the drilling or riveting end-effector.
• • Car body panel lifting: transfer stamped doors, roofs and side panels between lines, where the 2832 mm reach clears fixtures and hangers.
• • Spot welding of heavy frames: carry welding guns that weigh well beyond the limit of standard handling robots.
• • Foundry and die handling: extract and transfer large castings where dust and heat are present and the sealed wrist protects the joint.
• • Heavy palletising: stack bags, billets and engine blocks at end of line with cycle times that suit single-station output.
• • Machine tending for large parts: load and unload machining centres, press brakes and large lathes where the part alone can weigh several hundred kilograms.

FAQ

Why is wrist motion restricted above 300 kg payload?

FANUC limits the wrist travel when wrist payload exceeds 300 kg, because the inertial load of a heavy part close to the flange reduces the safe working envelope. For the M-900iB/700 the figure of the operating space shows the allowed zone, and offline simulation should confirm every path before programming.

What is the difference between load at the J2 base and at the J3 arm?

The J2 base capacity, 550 kg, is the additional mass that can be mounted on the rotating base, such as cable dress, valve packs or fixture frames. The J3 arm figure, 25 kg, limits mass bolted to the arm casing. Wrist payload, 700 kg, is separate from both and all three limits apply together.

Is the whole robot IP67, or only the wrist?

The wrist carries IP67-equivalent protection for dust and drip, which is what dusty and coolant-heavy cells demand. The rest of the arm is built for normal factory conditions, so high pressure wash-down around the arm structure is not recommended.

Which controller is used, and is it part of the 2800 kg mass?

The robot runs on the FANUC R-30iB Plus controller, ordered as a separate unit. The quoted 2800 kg covers the mechanical unit only and excludes the controller, dress package and end-effector.

Can the M-900iB/700 be mounted on the ceiling?

No. This model is floor mounted only, with 360° J1 rotation. Ceiling mounting is available on the lighter M-900iB/360 and M-900iB/280 models of the same series if the cell layout needs an overhead robot.

How is the ±0.1 mm repeatability defined?

It follows ISO 9283 and describes positional scatter at the tool centre point under identical commanded cycles, not absolute accuracy. Heavy payload robots are normally calibrated on site before production programs are released.