Industrial Robots for Manufacturing: How to Choose the Right Used Robot
By Waleed Allaudin, Robots Trading Inc. · Published · Last reviewed
The right industrial robot for a manufacturing job comes down to three numbers: the weight it carries (part plus gripper), the reach it needs, and the cycle time. Welding and CNC machine tending usually need a 6–20 kg robot with about 1.4–2.0 m of reach; palletizing and heavy handling need 100–250 kg. A used FANUC M-10iA/M-20iA with controller typically lists for $9,300–$32,000, and a heavy R-2000iB for $8,000–$21,500.
Request a meetingWhich robot fits which manufacturing job
Start from the task, not the brand. Most manufacturing applications fall into five groups, and each has a payload and reach band where the used market is deep and spare parts are easy to find.
| Application | Typical payload | Typical reach | Common used models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc (MIG/TIG) welding | 6–20 kg | 1.4–2.0 m | FANUC ARC Mate 100iC / 120iC, ABB IRB 1600 / 2400, Yaskawa Motoman MA series |
| CNC machine tending | 10–35 kg | 1.4–1.8 m | FANUC M-10iA / M-20iA, ABB IRB 1600, FANUC LR Mate for small parts |
| Material handling | 20–70 kg | 1.8–2.6 m | FANUC M-710iC, ABB IRB 2600 / 4600 |
| Palletizing and heavy handling | 100–250 kg | 2.6–3.2 m | FANUC R-2000iB, FANUC M-410 series, ABB IRB 6640 / IRB 6700, KUKA KR 210 |
| Spot welding | 150–250 kg | 2.5–3.0 m | FANUC R-2000iB/165F and /210F, ABB IRB 6640, KUKA KR QUANTEC |
| Assembly and small-part handling | 3–7 kg | 0.7–0.9 m | FANUC LR Mate 200iC / 200iD, Universal Robots UR5 |
Size the payload for the part plus the gripper or welding torch, and leave margin: a robot running near its rated payload at full reach runs slower and wears faster.
How to size a robot: payload, reach, and cycle time
- Payload. Add the heaviest part, the gripper or end-of-arm tool, and any hoses or dress pack. Pick a robot rated above that total.
- Reach. Measure from where the robot base will sit to the farthest pick and place points. A CAD layout or a floor sketch with dimensions is enough for us to check it.
- Cycle time. Count the parts per hour the line needs. Faster cycles push you toward a lighter, faster robot or a second robot.
- Mounting and space. Floor, wall, or inverted mounting, guarding footprint, and ceiling height for heavy robots.
- Controller generation. FANUC R-30iA and R-30iB, ABB IRC5. Newer controllers cost more and carry current software; older ones are cheaper and widely supported. Match your plant's existing robots when you can, so spares and programming skills carry over.
FANUC software options to check for your application
On a FANUC robot, the job the robot can do depends on the application software and options loaded on the controller, not only the arm. A used controller keeps the options it was bought with, so match them to your application:
| Job | FANUC software | Options worth asking about |
|---|---|---|
| Arc welding | ArcTool | Touch Sensing to find the seam, Thru-Arc Seam Tracking (TAST) to follow it, and the weld equipment library for your power source |
| Machine tending and handling | HandlingTool | iRVision for part location, Collision Guard, and the I/O or fieldbus (EtherNet/IP, PROFINET) your machine uses |
| Palletizing | PalletTool | Pattern and layer setup for your case sizes, and the I/O your conveyor and PLC use |
| Spot welding | SpotTool | Servo gun support if you run servo guns |
| Any cell with people nearby | Dual Check Safety (DCS) | Position and speed checks, and safe zones that can reduce guarding; the Advanced DCS Package bundles the common safety options |
The installed options are listed on the controller's status screens and its web page. Ask for the option list of the exact controller before you buy — adding an option later means buying it from FANUC.
What used manufacturing robots cost
Typical asking prices on the used market (October 2026), robot with controller. See the used FANUC robot price guide for every series.
| Robot | Common jobs | Asking range (USD) | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| FANUC LR Mate 200iC | Assembly, small parts | $5,400–$13,800 | $10,000 |
| FANUC M-10iA / M-20iA | Machine tending, handling | $9,300–$32,000 | $18,500 |
| FANUC ARC Mate 100iC / 120iC | Arc welding | $9,850–$18,500 | $12,800 |
| FANUC M-710iC | Handling, machine tending | $11,500–$42,500 | $15,000 |
| FANUC R-2000iB | Spot welding, palletizing | $8,000–$21,500 | $15,000 |
| ABB IRB 1600 / IRB 2400 | Welding, tending | $7,500–$14,000 | $12,000 |
| ABB IRB 6640 / IRB 6700 | Heavy handling, palletizing | $8,000–$35,000 | $16,000–$18,000 |
Price depends most on controller generation, year, and what comes with the robot: teach pendant, cables, dress pack, and tooling. Compare complete packages, not arm prices alone.
What to send us for a robot recommendation
- A CAD model (STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, Inventor) or a drawing of the part, with its weight.
- A layout or photos of the machine, conveyor, or cell the robot will work with.
- The parts per hour or minute you need.
- Robots, controllers, and pendants you already run, so we can match the platform.
- Your timeline and whether you have an integrator or in-house team for installation.
How Robots Trading helps manufacturers find a robot
We have bought and sold used industrial robots from our Mississauga, Ontario warehouse since 2004. For a manufacturing project we:
- Review your application. Send the part, the cycle, and the layout — a CAD model, drawing, or phone photos are enough to start. We look at payload, reach, and speed and tell you which robot size and models fit.
- Source the robot. We sell from our own inventory of used robots in Mississauga, and when the right model isn't in stock we find one for you.
- Match the package. Robot arm, controller, teach pendant, and cables, with the controller generation and options you need.
- Ship or pick up. We ship across Canada and the United States, or you can pick up from our warehouse.
Frequently asked questions
What size robot do I need for CNC machine tending?
Most CNC machine tending uses a robot with a 10–35 kg payload and about 1.4–1.8 m of reach, such as a FANUC M-10iA or M-20iA or an ABB IRB 1600. Add the gripper weight to the heaviest part, and check the reach from the robot base to the machine door, chuck or vise, and the part stations.
Which robot is best for welding?
For arc welding, most shops use a dedicated welding robot with a hollow wrist for the torch cable, such as a FANUC ARC Mate 100iC or 120iC or an ABB IRB 1600 or 2400. Spot welding needs a much heavier robot, typically 150–250 kg, such as a FANUC R-2000iB/165F or ABB IRB 6640.
How much does a used industrial robot cost for manufacturing?
In October 2026, typical used asking prices with controller ran $9,300–$32,000 for a FANUC M-10iA/M-20iA, $9,850–$18,500 for an ARC Mate 100iC/120iC, $8,000–$21,500 for an R-2000iB, and $7,500–$14,000 for an ABB IRB 1600 or 2400.
Can you recommend a robot from a CAD file?
Yes. Send a STEP, IGES, DWG, SolidWorks, or Inventor file of the part or the cell layout through the request form, with the part weight and cycle you need. We review the payload and reach and suggest the robot size and models that fit, then set up a call to go through it.
Should I match the robot brand I already have?
Usually, yes. Staying on the same brand and controller family means your team already knows the teach pendant and programming, and spare parts and pendants can be shared across robots.
Tell us about your manufacturing job
Send the part, the cycle, and a CAD file, drawing, or a few photos. We'll review the application, suggest the robot size and models that fit, and set up a call or a visit to our Mississauga warehouse.
Prefer to talk now? Call +1-519-580-7192 or email waleed@robotstrading.com.