UFactory Returns to Kickstarter with Its Latest Lightweight, Low-Cost Six-Axis Robot Arm

Robotics specialist UFactory is back with another robot arm, at a considerable discount over its xArm of three years ago: the Lite 6, which starts at $1,199 for early-bird backers of its crowdfunding campaign.

UFactor launched a crowdfunding campaign for its earlier xArm three years ago, offering a five-axis model for $2,299 and going up to $5,999 for the range-topping seven-axis version. Its mid-range six-axis model, meanwhile, was priced at $4,999 — but its successor, the Lite 6, is around a quarter the price.

"Designed with six axes, Lite 6 is perfect for simple, repetitive and monotonous tasks," UFactor's Alexander Thiel claims of its latest robot arm design. "It provides the speed and precision manufacturers require, meanwhile ensures quality and accuracy. The flexibility of Lite 6 allows manufacturers to optimize workflow, increase productivity, reduce floor space utilization, lower production costs.

"The harmonic drive is a must to guarantee the repeatability of the robot, but it is also very expensive. So Lite 6 has hybrid actuators design to balance the cost and performance. In our design, the harmonic drives are for the high torque joints and direct drive motors are for the rest. Moreover, crafted with carbon fiber, Lite 6 is 50% much lighter than other robots, which significantly helps to increase the payload up to 1kg (2.2lbs)."

There are some trade-offs between the two designs, of course. The Lite 6's payload limit is a fifth that of the beefier xArm 6, and its reach is 17.3" to the xArm 6's 27.6". Its repeatability is measured at 0.2mm to the xArm's 0.1mm, and it moves at 19.7 inches per second — half the speed of the xArm.

For those who can live with those figures, the UFactory Lite 6 is now funding on Kickstarter at $1,199 for early-bird backers — or $1,499 for a kit, which includes the arm, a two-finger gripper, and a vacuum gripper.