1. Payload & reach spec picker
Spec the arm to your parts, not to a brochure. Start from your heaviest part the arm must manipulate (if it only carries the torch, payload need is small) and your longest reach to the far weld, then add margin.
| If your work is… | Payload band | Reach band |
|---|---|---|
| Small brackets, jigs hold the part | 5–10 kg | ~900–1300 mm |
| Mixed fab, medium assemblies | 10–16 kg | ~1300–1700 mm |
| Large weldments, long seams | 16–20 kg+ | ~1700 mm+ (or arm on a track) |
How to use it: repeatability of ±0.05 mm is typical and plenty for welding. Common arms: Universal Robots UR10e/UR20, FANUC CRX, AUBO, JAKA, Standard Bots. Confirm the ISO 10218 rating for your part sizes.
2. Landed-cost calculator
The FOB arm price is the start, not the budget. Build up to a deployed cell.
| Line item | Directional range |
|---|---|
| Bare 6-axis arm (FOB, Alibaba) | $3,300 – $6,000 (MOQ 1, 30% deposit) |
| Welding package (source, feeder, torch, gas) | add per process (MIG/TIG) |
| Freight + duty + customs | varies by lane and tariff |
| Integration, fixturing, safety, commissioning | the largest swing factor |
| Deployed cell, retail | $35,000 – $65,000 |
Rule: integrators report freight, duty and integration are what buyers most often underestimate. Price the cell, never the arm.
3. RFQ checklist — what every quote must cover
- Weld process (MIG / TIG) and duty cycle expected.
- Heaviest part / payload and longest reach required.
- Repeatability and ISO 10218 / ISO/TS 15066 rating.
- Safety scope: force-limiting vs area scanner vs fencing, risk assessment included?
- Fixturing — who designs and supplies it?
- Welding-fume extraction included?
- Programming method and operator training.
- Commissioning, acceptance test and first-article weld.
- Lead time (note: imported arm = 30% deposit + 7–30 day build, then freight).
- Spares, support and warranty — what and how long?
Send the same checklist to every integrator so quotes are comparable.
4. Integrator-vetting questions & red flags
- Documented ISO 10218 / ISO/TS 15066 competence and a written risk assessment.
- References for similar weld cells you can call, ideally 12+ months in service.
- Clear support and spares story, and who responds when the cell is down.
Red flags: no risk assessment · vague on safety category · quotes the bare arm not the cell · full payment upfront · no aged references · won’t name the welding package.
5. Import vs integrator — the decision flow
- In-house automation/controls skills + simple parts → importing an arm and integrating locally can pay.
- First cell, complex safety, no controls staff → use a turnkey integrator; the safety sign-off is the whole game.
- Tight budget + simple, repetitive seams → import + this RFQ checklist, with local safety review.
- Tight budget + complex/large weldments → a botched cell costs more than the integrator’s margin.
Industrial Robot Spec is independent and reader-supported. General guidance, not a substitute for a site survey or a certified safety assessment. Prices vary by region, spec and tariffs.