DOBOT CR16

Overview

The Dobot CR16 is the highest-payload arm in Dobot's collaborative robot range, offering 16 kg capacity over a 1,000 mm reach across 6 axes. It is aimed at heavy pick-and-place, palletising, and machine tending tasks where a conventional cobot payload is insufficient. Dobot manufactures it in Shenzhen, China, and prices it below equivalent-payload arms from Universal Robots or FANUC.

Key Specifications

• Payload: 16 kg
• Reach: 1,000 mm
• Degrees of freedom: 6
• Repeatability: ±0.03 mm
• TCP speed: 4 m/s
• Weight: 40 kg
• IP rating: IP54
• Safety: ISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066

Like the CR10, the CR16 includes a built-in 6-axis force-torque sensor and current-based joint collision detection.

Use Cases

The CR16 is deployed for end-of-line palletising, handling heavy castings or moulded parts, and feeding large machine tools. Its 16 kg capacity covers a range of applications where a UR10e's 12.5 kg limit is borderline. Dobot also positions it for welding applications with appropriate tooling.

Buying Used

UK secondhand availability is limited. Pricing when available ranges from £12,000 to £20,000. The same caveats as the CR10 apply regarding UK service infrastructure. A 16 kg payload arm puts more stress on shoulder and elbow joints, so inspect these joints carefully for wear and confirm the force-torque sensor calibration is current.

Alternatives to Consider

• Universal Robots UR16e: 16 kg payload with 900 mm reach, broader UK resale market, and larger UR+ ecosystem.
• Universal Robots UR20: 20 kg payload at higher price, suited when the CR16's payload is marginal.
• FANUC CRX-10iA: Lower payload at 10 kg but with FANUC's industrial-grade support network.

The CR16's controller uses the same interface as the rest of the Dobot CR range, which simplifies operator training if an organisation already uses other Dobot arms. Dobot provides simulation software for offline programming, allowing cell layouts and programmes to be validated before physical commissioning, which reduces installation time for production deployments.