DOBOT CR5

Overview

The Dobot CR5 is Dobot's mid-tier collaborative arm, offering 5 kg payload and 1,096 mm reach across 6 axes. It sits between the compact CR3 and the heavier CR10 in Dobot's range, targeting assembly, machine tending, and quality inspection tasks in SME settings. Pricing starts from around $17,000 new, undercutting Universal Robots' UR5e at comparable specification. Dobot is a Shenzhen-based manufacturer that has expanded from consumer desktop arms into industrial cobots, building a range that competes primarily on price against the established tier-one brands.

The CR5 is one of Dobot's most popular models internationally, and the company has built a modest reseller network in Europe to support it.

Key Specifications

• Payload: 5 kg
• Reach: 1,096 mm (max reach; working radius 900 mm)
• Degrees of freedom: 6
• Repeatability: ±0.02 mm
• TCP speed: 2 m/s
• Weight: 25 kg
• IP rating: IP54
• Safety: ISO 10218-1, ISO/TS 15066

The CR5 includes the same built-in 6-axis force-torque sensor standard across Dobot's CR range, which is not always included at this price point from competitors. This sensor enables compliant assembly applications such as peg-in-hole insertion and surface following without purchasing a separate wrist sensor.

Use Cases

Dobot markets the CR5 for assembly operations, screwdriving, dispensing, vision-guided pick-and-place, and small part inspection. The built-in force-torque sensor enables compliant assembly without an additional end-of-arm sensor, reducing overall cell cost. In electronics manufacturing, the CR5 is used for connector insertion and component placement. In food and beverage production, it handles lightweight packaging tasks.

Buying Used

UK secondhand units are uncommon compared to Universal Robots or FANUC equivalents. When available, pricing ranges from £8,000 to £14,000. Prospective buyers should assess UK distributor coverage before purchasing, as after-sales support is less consistent than with established brands. Request maintenance records, check controller firmware version, and confirm that the force-torque sensor baseline calibration has not drifted by running a known-force test at the flange.

Alternatives to Consider

• Universal Robots UR5e: Larger global install base, stronger UK support network, and better resale liquidity, with a broader UR+ certified peripherals catalogue.
• ABB GoFa CRB 15000: Higher TCP speed at 2.2 m/s with IP67 arm protection.
• Doosan M0609: Comparable specification with strong force-torque sensing from a larger OEM with more developed European service support.