Both are normal scopes and we supply both — twelve arms pre-fitted to an OEM specification on one project, and complete pre-integrated cells on others. What matters is being honest about which side of the line the work falls on, because the work does not disappear when the scope does.
What each scope contains
| Arm only | Complete workstation | |
|---|---|---|
| Included | Arm, controller, pendant, cables, mounting hardware; customer-specified pre-fitting on request | The above plus applicator, colour change, metering, paint supply interface, safety devices and cell control |
| Integration | Yours | Ours, tested in China before shipment |
| Programming | Yours | Base paths from us, refined on site |
| Lead time | Typically shorter — 6–8 weeks on a delivered 12-arm order | Typically 4–6 weeks for one station, longer with a paint system |
| Risk | Interface risk sits with you | Interface risk sits with us |
When arm-only is right
- You have integrators who have done this before and own the programming.
- You are standardising on your own control architecture and want the robot to fit it, not the reverse.
- You want specific components — one delivered project pre-fitted Siemens servos, Igus dress packs, JH gearboxes and a wall pass-through, all named by the customer.
What to write into an arm-only contract
- Customer-specified brands and part numbers verbatim, with the note that selection responsibility is the customer's.
- What "pre-fitted" includes, item by item, and what is tested before shipment — on that project the whole station including the seventh axis was function-tested in Wuhu.
- Bonus units and software dongles as a discount substitute, or they become a free after-sales obligation later.
- Mandatory factory acceptance test items and a frozen software version, so a manufacturer's defect does not become your site problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is arm-only much cheaper?
The arm is cheaper than the cell, but the cell content still has to be bought or built. Compare like with like: list the applicator, colour change, metering, safety and controls in both columns before comparing prices.
Can we start arm-only and add the paint system later?
Yes, and it is a reasonable staged approach — provided the arm is specified with the later package in mind, especially wrist payload and the media routing through the hollow wrist.
Do you support integration we do ourselves?
Yes — drawings, interface data, commissioning support and training. On one arm-only order the customer sent a five-person team to China for a month of disassembly, reassembly and programming training.
Request a quote Send drawings and we check the selection before quoting.