400 kg Payload 3704 mm Long Reach Articulated Robot FANUC M-900iB/400L IP67

Overview

• • The FANUC M-900iB/400L is the long arm variant of the heavy payload M-900iB series, an articulated six-axis robot rated at 400 kg at the wrist with a 3704 mm reach.
• • Its 3150 kg structure carries the extended arm without sacrificing stiffness, which is what allows a 400 kg payload robot to lift a complete car body panel or a large welded structure at the far end of the envelope.
• • The extra arm length is the main difference from the M-900iB/700: reach grows from 2832 mm to 3704 mm while payload moves to 400 kg, so the trade between distance and mass is explicit.
• • All six axes run on AC servo drives, with J1 to J3 at 80°/s and the wrist reaching 160°/s on J6, keeping heavy transfers predictable rather than abrupt.
• • Repeatability of ±0.1 mm is specified for the 400 kg payload class, which keeps gripper, drill and rivet positions aligned on long parts where small angular errors become large linear errors.
• • The wrist is IP67-equivalent, protecting the joints from drilling swarf, coolant and abrasive dust in body shop and machining environments.
• • Above 300 kg wrist payload the wrist motion range is restricted, and FANUC requires the centre of gravity of the payload to stay within 30 degrees of the gravity direction from the J5 rotation centre.

Specifications

Advantages

• • Long reach in the 400 kg class: 3704 mm lets one robot cover two body stations or a full fixture table that a shorter arm cannot span.
• • Payload suited to real assemblies: 400 kg carries a stamped panel with its vacuum frame, or a welded subframe with clamping tooling attached.
• • Rigid long arm: allowable moment of 2744 N·m at J4 and J5 and 1725 N·m at J6 keeps a long end-effector stable at full extension.
• • High inertia tolerance: 1098 kg·m² at J4 and J5 and 444 kg·m² at J6 allow large panels to be rotated without giving up payload.
• • IP67-equivalent wrist: swarf, dust and coolant stay out of the wrist, which matters in drilling, riveting and grinding cells.
• • Floor mounting with 360° J1 rotation: one base position can serve loading, processing and unloading stations arranged in a circle.
• • Intelligent functions: FANUC iRVision and force sensing run on the same controller, so part location and rivet inspection share one interface.
• • Series commonality: the M-900iB family shares wrist design and control logic, which keeps training and spares consistent across a mixed heavy payload fleet.

Applications

• • Car body panel lifting: transfer doors, roofs and side panels between press, buffer and assembly lines where the 3704 mm reach clears hangers and fixtures.
• • Large structure handling: move welded frames and chassis sections with long end-effectors that need a wide working envelope.
• • Aircraft body panel drilling and riveting: position large curved sections while carrying a drilling or riveting end-effector on the wrist.
• • Large glass handling: lift architectural or automotive glazing with a vacuum frame, using the payload margin for tooling mass.
• • Spot welding of long frames: carry the welding gun to both ends of a long part from a single base position.
• • Heavy palletising: stack castings, billets and engine blocks at end of line where the long arm reaches two pallet positions.
• • Machine tending for large parts: load machining centres and press brakes where the part alone can weigh several hundred kilograms.

FAQ

Why choose the 400L instead of the M-900iB/700?

The M-900iB/700 offers 700 kg payload with a 2832 mm reach and is the better choice for heavy, compact parts. The 400L gives 3704 mm reach with 400 kg payload, so it suits long parts and wide cells where distance matters more than maximum mass. Both are floor mounted six-axis machines with ±0.1 mm repeatability.

What is the 30 degree rule for payload above 300 kg?

When wrist payload exceeds 300 kg on the M-900iB/400L, the robot may only work in the restricted envelope shown in the catalog figure, and only if the vector from the J5 rotation centre to the payload centre of gravity stays within 30 degrees of the gravity direction. This keeps the wrist moment inside its rating, so end-effector design and CoG position must be checked before programming.

What do load at the J2 base and load at the J3 arm mean?

The J2 base capacity of 550 kg covers mass mounted on the rotating base, such as cable dress, valve packs and fixture frames. The J3 arm figure of 25 kg limits mass bolted to the arm casing. Wrist payload of 400 kg is a separate rating and all three limits apply at the same time.

Is the entire arm IP67 protected?

IP67-equivalent protection applies to the wrist, where dust and drip ingress do most damage. The arm structure is built for normal factory conditions, so avoid directing high pressure wash-down at the arm covers and joints.

Which controller is needed, and is it included in the 3150 kg mass?

The robot is driven by the FANUC R-30iB Plus controller, supplied as a separate unit. The 3150 kg figure covers the mechanical unit only and excludes the controller, dress package and end-effector.

Can the M-900iB/400L be ceiling mounted?

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.