When you're shopping for industrial robotics cobots, the hardest decision isn't usually about brands-it's about what kind of work the robot will do. Do you need raw payload for heavy parts, or do you need a collaborative system that can operate safely next to people? The FANUC M-16iB/20 and the Rethink Robotics Sawyer sit on opposite sides of that question.
Quick verdict
If your shop moves heavy components and already has a way to control a traditional industrial arm, the FANUC M-16iB/20 is the lower-cost path. If you want a collaborative robot with easy programming, the Sawyer is worth the higher price.
Comparison at a glance
| Product | Price | Price Bar | Payload | Axes | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FANUC M-16iB/20 | USD 1,800.00 | 20 kg | 6 | Arm only | |
| Rethink Robotics Sawyer | USD 5,595.00 | 4 kg | 7 | Arm, controller box, pedestal, E-stop |
Where each robot wins
FANUC M-16iB/20 wins for payload and budget. Its payload dwarfs the Sawyer's, and it sits at the low end of the price spread. That combination matters for heavy pick-and-place or machine loading tasks where the robot doesn't need to be gentle.
Rethink Robotics Sawyer wins for complete setup and collaboration. It arrives as a working system instead of an arm-only package. It adds a built-in vision system, force sensing in each joint, and Intera 5.3 software for programming. It can also run in SDK mode with ROS, making it a versatile choice for education and research.
Product notes
FANUC M-16iB/20
The FANUC M-16iB/20 is a used 2005 industrial robot arm with a 20 kg payload and six axes. It weighs 220 kg without the controller and measures 44 x 29 x 48 inches. The unit shows cosmetic wear, paint loss, and signs of prior industrial use, so this is a working-shop robot rather than a showpiece. The main reason to choose it is payload: 20 kg is a serious step up from the Sawyer's payload, and the FANUC achieves that capability at the low end of the price spread. The limiting factor is the configuration: it is sold as arm only, with no controller, teach pendant, or cables. That means you need to supply those components yourself. Pick this one when you already have the supporting hardware and need brute lifting capacity without paying for a full collaborative system.
Rethink Robotics Sawyer
The Rethink Robotics Sawyer is a used collaborative robot system with under 1,400 runtime hours. It includes the robot arm, controller box, pedestal, cables, and E-stop, so it is much closer to a turnkey setup. The seven-axis arm has force sensing in each joint and a built-in vision system, with a 4 kg payload and 900 mm reach. It runs Intera 5.3 software for easy programming, and it can be programmed in SDK mode with ROS. The controller box has a recently changed battery and new filters, which is a good sign for ongoing reliability. The main limitation is the payload: 4 kg is fine for lighter parts, inspection, machine tending, and pick-and-place, but it cannot handle the heavy loads the FANUC arm can. You are paying more for an integrated package, so the Sawyer makes sense when collaboration, vision, and ease of programming matter more than heavy lifting.
Final choice by use case
- Choose the FANUC M-16iB/20 for heavy payloads, large parts, or a traditional industrial cell where you already have a controller and teach pendant. It gives you the payload advantage at the bottom of the price spread.
- Choose the Rethink Robotics Sawyer for machine tending, education, research, or any job that needs safe interaction with people. The complete system, built-in vision, and simple programming justify the higher price.
