Fairino Lightweight Collaborative Production And Welding Robot (FR3(WMS))

Welding is one of the least forgiving places to put a lightweight robot arm. Spatter, grinding dust, cutting fluid and the occasional wash-down all work against equipment that was designed mainly to be easy to carry. The Fairino Lightweight Collaborative Production And Welding Robot (FR3(WMS)) is FAIRINO's answer to that contradiction. It keeps the compact build of the FR3 family, with an arm of about 10.5kg and a 128mm footprint, yet it is resistant to dust, oil and water jets and suited to harsh welding applications. A fabrication shop can move it between benches and fixtures without choosing between portability and resilience.

Robots Europa, based in Dublin, supplies the FR3(WMS) to customers throughout the European Union and the DACH region. We prepare each quotation around the configuration you require, arrange delivery to your site and remain your point of contact for technical support once the robot is in production.

Background

FAIRINO and the FR3 family

FAIRINO builds collaborative robots across several payload classes, from compact arms such as the Fairino Cobot (FR3) to larger models intended for heavier handling. In the smallest class, the sources name four versions: the FR3, the Fairino Cobot (FR3-C), the FR3-WMS presented on this page, and the FR3-WML. The two welding-oriented versions take the compact FR3 concept into production cells where arc welding, changing part families and frequent reconfiguration are part of everyday work. You will find the wider range in our Cobots category.

Designed for flexible production and complex welding

The FR3(WMS) is a lightweight collaborative robot designed specifically for flexible production and complex welding scenarios. Flexible production, in practice, means short batches, varied components and cells that are rebuilt far more often than a fixed industrial line would permit. Complex welding adds seams that change direction, joints that must be approached from awkward angles and surroundings that are hard on any machine. The arm answers this brief with six rotating joints, a wrist that turns through ±360°, and the freedom to be mounted in any orientation, while its resistance to dust, oil and water jets addresses the conditions around the torch.

Technical Specifications

Specifications are given as the manufacturer publishes them and are confirmed against the datasheet at quotation. The manufacturer has not published whether a teach pendant is included in the box, the controller input voltage, the length of the robot main cable or a lifetime rating independent of the warranty; these points are confirmed at quotation.

What makes the FR3(WMS) suitable for harsh welding cells?

The first answer lies in protection. The arm carries an IP54 classification as standard, with IP65 available as an option, and it resists dust, oil and water jets. For a welding cell this matters more than it might on an assembly bench: grinding dust settles on every surface, fluids from neighbouring machining find their way onto equipment, and cells are cleaned down between jobs. An arm that tolerates those conditions spends less time being shielded and more time welding.

The second answer is geometry. A torch must reach fillet welds inside boxes, travel along curved seams and approach joints from beneath or from the side. Six rotating joints give the arm the freedom to orient the tool, the base joint covers ±175°, and the third wrist joint rotates through ±360° at up to ±180°/s, so the torch can be repositioned around a part without awkward reconfiguration of the whole arm. Because the robot may be mounted in any orientation, it can hang above a fixture, sit on a wall bracket or stand on a table, whichever presents the seam best.

Precision is the third factor. A pose repeatability of ±0.02mm, measured to ISO 9283, means that once a weld path has been taught, the arm returns to the same points cycle after cycle, which is what gives consistent bead placement across a batch. The aluminium and steel construction, together with an operating temperature range of 0—45℃, suits workshops that are neither heated offices nor climate-controlled laboratories.

How does the FR3(WMS) fit into a flexible production line?

Flexibility starts with how easily the robot can be moved. With an arm weight of about 10.5kg and a footprint of 128mm, the FR3(WMS) can be relocated between workstations, mounted on a mobile cart or installed on a compact bench where floor space is limited. For shops that alternate between part families during the week, this makes it practical to bring the robot to the job rather than the job to a fixed cell.

Programming and operation are handled through a 10.1 inch teach pendant or a Web APP on a mobile terminal. A tablet-based interface lowers the threshold for operators who are new to robotics and allows programmes to be adjusted at the fixture itself. At the end of the arm, a 24V/1.5A tool I/O power supply feeds end-of-arm devices directly, which simplifies cabling for tools and sensors.

Energy demand is modest: the arm draws an average of 90W and a peak of 130W, which means no special electrical installation is needed on account of the robot's consumption. A typical TCP speed of 1m/s supports productive cycle times for the handling and positioning tasks that surround welding, while noise stays below ＜65db, an advantage where people work alongside the robot.

Who is the FR3(WMS) for?

The FR3(WMS) is aimed first at small and medium-sized fabrication businesses that weld in short runs and cannot justify a fenced industrial welding cell for every product. For these shops, a collaborative arm that tolerates a welding environment and can be moved between jobs turns automation into a tool for the whole workshop rather than a single line.

System integrators form a second group. A compact welding-oriented arm with optional IP65 protection and free mounting orientation gives them a flexible base for bespoke cells, retrofit projects and mobile welding stations. Training centres, vocational colleges and research laboratories are a third audience: the small footprint, tablet-based programming and low power draw make the robot straightforward to set up in a teaching environment.

Buyers whose priority is an even lighter arm may also wish to look at the Fairino Ultra Lightweight Collaborative Manufacturing And Welding Robot (FR3(WML)), the other welding version in the family. Where welding is not part of the task at all, the standard FR3 or the FR3-C are the natural comparisons. Robots Europa will gladly set out the differences between versions in your quotation, and further welding solutions are listed in our Welding Robots category.

What is the FR3(WMS) used for?

1. Short-run arc welding: automating repeat seams on small batches of fabricated parts without a dedicated fixed cell.
2. Complex seam paths: following curved or multi-directional welds where wrist rotation and six joints help orient the torch.
3. Mobile welding stations: moving the arm on a cart between fixtures as production changes through the week.
4. Overhead and wall-mounted cells: installing the robot in the orientation that presents the seam best, thanks to any-orientation mounting.
5. Flexible production tasks: handling, positioning and light assembly on lines that are reconfigured frequently.
6. Training and development: teaching robotic welding and cobot programming in colleges, workshops and laboratories.

Pricing and Availability

Robots Europa supplies the FR3(WMS) on the basis of a written quotation tailored to your application, including the protection level, accessories and any integration support you require. Delivery, customs and support are arranged with the quotation, so that you have a complete picture before you commit. To start the process, a quotation for the FR3(WMS) is available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What payload and reach does the FR3(WMS) offer?

The FR3(WMS) handles a payload of 3kg and has a reach of 622mm. That is suited to welding torches and light end-of-arm tools on compact workpieces.

How precise is the FR3(WMS)?

Pose repeatability is ±0.02mm, measured to ISO 9283. This supports consistent weld placement across a batch once a path has been taught.

Can the FR3(WMS) work in dusty or oily surroundings?

Yes. The arm is classified IP54, with IP65 available as an option, and is resistant to dust, oil and water jets, which makes it suitable for harsh welding applications.

Can the robot be mounted on a wall or ceiling?

The FR3(WMS) may be mounted in any orientation. Floor, table, wall and overhead installations are therefore all possible, depending on how the workpiece is presented.

How is the FR3(WMS) programmed?

Operation is via a 10.1 inch teach pendant or a Web APP on a mobile terminal. Programmes can therefore be taught and adjusted directly at the fixture.

How much power does the robot need?

The arm draws an average of 90W and a peak of 130W. Its consumption therefore places only modest demands on the workshop supply.

Where can I buy the FR3(WMS) and what does it cost?

Robots Europa supplies the FR3(WMS) across the European Union and the DACH region. The cost depends on configuration and options, so please request a quotation on this page and we will prepare an offer including delivery and support.

Summary

The FR3(WMS) resolves a familiar conflict in workshop automation: an arm light enough to move between jobs usually struggles in the dust, oil and spatter of a welding cell. FAIRINO's welding version of the FR3 combines a portable build of about 10.5kg with IP54 protection, optional IP65, and resistance to dust, oil and water jets. Six rotating joints, a fully rotating wrist and any-orientation mounting give the torch access to awkward seams, while ±0.02mm repeatability keeps results consistent from part to part. For fabrication shops, integrators and training centres that want resilient, movable welding automation supplied and supported by Robots Europa, this page is the starting point.