Choosing a collaborative robot for your shop floor means weighing your budget against the jobs you need it to do. In the industrial robotics cobot space, two very different arms are often on the shortlist: the Omron TM5-700 and the Rethink Robotics Sawyer. One is built for connected production lines; the other offers a flexible, lower-cost approach. Both are designed to work safely alongside people, but they suit different workflows and budgets.
Quick Verdict
The Omron TM5-700 is the pick for a production-ready arm. The Rethink Robotics Sawyer is the pick if you want an included gripper.
Complete Comparison
| Product | Price | Payload | Reach | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omron TM5-700 | $16,500 | 6 kg | 700 mm | New |
| Rethink Robotics Sawyer | $6,995 | 4 kg | 900 mm | Used |
The $9,505 price gap is the largest difference between these two arms. That gap can pay for additional tooling or a safety cell. The Omron's new condition and the Sawyer's used status should also factor into your maintenance planning.
Considerations
Collaborative robots are designed to work without safety fencing, but you still need a risk assessment. Both of these arms can be used for the same broad tasks, but the details of your cell-how parts are presented, how heavy they are, how often the layout changes-will steer you toward one or the other. Think about whether you need a safety fence or can rely on the built-in collaborative features.
Where Each Product Wins
Here's how the two arms differ in daily use.
- Omron TM5-700: Its communication ports (EtherNet/IP, MODBUS, PROFINET) and TMvision/Landmark vision tools make it easy to drop into an automated line. The built-in vision can handle visual servoing, inspections, and measurements.
- Rethink Robotics Sawyer: Seven axes, force sensing in every joint, and support for Intera 5.3 and ROS make it flexible for education and light manufacturing. The Intera software simplifies programming, while SDK/ROS mode remains open for developers.
Product Notes
Omron Collaborative Robot - TM5-700 - #RT6-0007021; NEW UNOPENED BOX
Choose the Omron if your priority is industrial networking and vision-based control. The EtherNet/IP, MODBUS, and PROFINET ports plus mobile robot integration give you extensive wiring options in a modern factory, and the TMvision and Landmark tools let you perform visual servoing, inspections, and measurements without a separate vision system. The plug-and-play ecosystem means you can assemble a full workcell without piecing together extra controller hardware. This arm is a solid fit for assembly, packaging, inspection, and logistics tasks. The communication protocol list means it can talk to many PLCs without extra converters. The main limitation is the $16,500 list price, which sits at the higher end of this pairing, so you need to justify the investment with a high-volume application.
Rethink Robotics Sawyer Collaborative Robot - New Bios (Gripper Included
If the list price is the primary constraint, the Sawyer is the less expensive arm of the pair. It has force sensing in every joint, a seven-axis design, and an included electric parallel gripper-useful for machine tending, inspection loading, pick-and-place, and STEM education. It comes with Intera 5.3 and can be programmed in SDK/ROS mode, which is a big plus for teaching labs. The $9,505 gap versus the Omron makes it the more cost-effective route, and the recently changed BIOS battery in the controller box is a practical plus. The main limitation is the used condition; you should budget for potential maintenance and inspect the arm before committing.
Final Choice by Use Case
The Omron TM5-700 is the stronger match for a fixed production cell. The Rethink Robotics Sawyer is the stronger match for a lab or a flexible light-assembly line. If your production line is stable and high-volume, the Omron's architectural advantages matter. If you're teaching, prototyping, or running short batches, the Sawyer's flexibility matters.
Once you have the table and the use cases in mind, map your specific parts to the 6 kg and 4 kg payload limits. If most of your work pieces fall under 4 kg, the Sawyer will likely be sufficient. If they run heavier, the Omron is the arm to choose.
