How to define the robot reach you need
Reach is not a maximum distance in a brochure: it is the real space where the tool must arrive and orient itself.
Choosing a robot by its maximum reach is a shortcut that often ends in an awkward cell. What defines the model is the real workspace: where the tool must arrive, with which orientation, and from which mounting.
Draw the real positions
Mark pick, place, and process points on the layout, plus intermediate travel and access. Include tool orientation at each point: two nearby positions can require very different wrist configurations.
Reach is not distance
Reach is measured to the wrist. If the tooling adds 300 mm, that length is subtracted from the usable travel. Joint limits matter too: the robot can be close to the point and still be unable to orient itself the way the process needs.
Tracks, mounting, and alternatives
When reach does not close, there is more than one way out: tilted or inverted mounting, a track that moves the robot, tables that bring the part closer, or a larger model. The comparison is made with the layout in hand and the required cycle, not by catalog size.
Frequently asked questions
Is the published reach the usable travel?
No. It is measured to the wrist: if tooling adds length, that distance is subtracted from the usable travel.
What alternatives exist when reach does not close?
Tilted or inverted mounting, a track that moves the robot, tables that bring the part closer, or a longer-reach model.
Why do joint limits matter?
Because the point can be within reach while the wrist cannot orient itself the way the process needs.
