UR5e

Overview

The Universal Robots UR5e is the best-selling collaborative robot arm in the world, manufactured by Universal Robots, a Danish company founded in 2005 and now owned by Teradyne. It is a 6-axis arm with a 5 kg payload and 850 mm reach, designed to sit alongside human workers without a safety cage in most deployments. The UR5e sits at the centre of the UR e-Series line, above the compact UR3e and below the longer-reach UR10e, making it the default choice for a broad range of light-industrial tasks.

Key Specifications

• Payload: 5 kg
• Reach: 850 mm
• Degrees of freedom: 6
• Repeatability: ±0.03 mm
• TCP speed: up to 1 m/s
• Weight: 20.7 kg
• Power consumption: 200 W average
• IP rating: IP54 wrist, IP54 body
• Controller: PolyScope 5 (teach pendant with touchscreen)

The UR5e uses a force-torque sensor in the wrist and current sensing across all joints to enable safe collision detection. It communicates over Ethernet and supports Modbus, PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and EtherCAT via optional fieldbus modules.

Use Cases

The UR5e is deployed across electronics assembly, machine tending, pick and place, quality inspection, palletising of light goods, and laboratory automation. In the UK, automotive suppliers use it for sub-assembly work alongside staff on mixed lines. Pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers deploy it for dispensing, labelling, and kitting tasks. The UR+ ecosystem offers hundreds of certified end-effectors and accessories, reducing integration time significantly.

Buying Used

The UR5e has a substantial secondhand market in the UK. Units appear regularly on Surplex, Machineseeker, and AutoTrader Industrial, as well as through specialist robotics resellers such as Robotnik and EU Automation. Expect to pay between £8,000 and £16,000 depending on age, joint hours, and whether the original teach pendant and controller cabinet are included.

Before buying, request the joint hours from the system logs (accessible via PolyScope). Check each joint for backlash by running a slow circular path and inspecting position error. Verify the PolyScope software version and confirm it is compatible with any existing peripherals. The e-Series controller cabinet is a sealed unit, so internal repairs are typically handled by UR-certified service partners.

Alternatives to Consider

• FANUC CRX-10iA: Slightly higher payload, broader industrial fieldbus support, and FANUC's extensive global service network, though the tablet-based pendant has a different learning curve.
• KUKA LBR iisy: 7-axis kinematics provide greater dexterity in confined spaces, though at a higher price point.
• Doosan M0609: Comparable payload and reach at a lower new price, with competitive force-sensing, though the resale ecosystem is smaller.