By the EVST Engineering Team · Last updated:
A SCARA robot is the right choice for flat-plane assembly, light-load handling, screwdriving, and dispensing tasks where cycle time and repeatability matter more than six-axis dexterity. EVST’s EVS SCARA series covers 3 kg to 20 kg payload and 400 mm to 1000 mm reach, with repeatability in the ±0.01–0.02 mm class. This guide covers how to match payload, reach, and repeatability to your task, what price brackets to expect, and what to send EVST to get a quote.
For working principle, SCARA kinematics, and a comparison with cobots, see the companion guide: SCARA Robot Guide 2026: Working Principle, vs Cobots, Applications.
When to Choose a SCARA Robot
SCARA stands for Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm. Its two horizontal joints give compliance in the lateral plane while the vertical axis is rigid, making it fast and stiff on planar pick-and-place, insertion, and screwdriving tasks. It is not suited to tasks that need arbitrary 3D orientation, which is where a 6-axis robot fits instead.
| Choose SCARA when… | Choose 6-axis when… |
|---|---|
| Parts are picked and placed on the same horizontal plane | Parts need arbitrary wrist orientation or spatial reach |
| Cycle time under 0.4 s per pick is required | Complex paths (welding, painting, deburring) dominate |
| Payload is 3–20 kg and reach fits within 400–1000 mm | Payload exceeds 20 kg or reach exceeds 1200 mm |
| Insertion, screwdriving, dispensing in a compact cell | Multiple-face machining, heavy assembly, or welding |
| Footprint must be small (4-axis occupies a tight column) | Large workspace or external axis needed |
In practice, when EVST engineers commission a SCARA cell on site, the first thing checked is whether all pick points and place points sit within a single working plane or close to it. If the Z travel needed is more than about 200 mm and the parts arrive at varying heights, a 6-axis arm is often a more practical fit despite the higher price.
Payload Bands: 3 kg, 6 kg, 10 kg, 20 kg
Payload is the first filter. Use the part weight plus the gripper weight combined. According to industry observations, underspecifying payload by even 10–15% causes premature joint wear and repeatability drift within 12–18 months of operation. Always size up rather than down.
| Payload band | Typical part weight | Common use cases | EVST EVS models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | Up to ~2 kg part + light gripper | 3C component placement, PCB handling, label application | EVS3-400, EVS3-600, EVS3-400H |
| 6 kg | 2–4 kg part + standard gripper | Connector insertion, small metal part assembly, dispensing, screwdriving | EVS6-600H, EVS6-700H |
| 10 kg | 5–8 kg part + tooling | Mid-weight component handling, light tray transfer, medical device assembly | Industry-standard range; confirm EVS model availability with EVST |
| 20 kg | 12–17 kg part + heavy tooling | Heavier electronics modules, automotive sub-assembly, packaging | EVS20-1000H |
Reach Options: 400 mm to 1000 mm
Reach is the maximum horizontal distance from the robot base center to the tool center point. Industry-wide SCARA reach options run from roughly 400 mm to 1200 mm; EVS SCARA series models cover 400 mm, 600 mm, 700 mm, and 1000 mm. Size reach to cover the widest pick-to-place distance in the cell, with a margin of about 50–80 mm. A robot operating at the edge of its reach trades cycle time for distance and also runs the motors harder, shortening service intervals.
| Reach range | Cell footprint fit | Typical application layout | EVST EVS models |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400 mm | Very compact, under 600 × 600 mm | Inline component insertion on a narrow conveyor, tight bench cell | EVS3-400, EVS3-400H |
| 600 mm | Standard compact, 700 × 700 mm | PCB assembly, 3C placement, screwdriving with a small pallet | EVS3-600, EVS6-600H |
| 700 mm | Mid-size, 800 × 800 mm | Connector assembly, two-fixture screwdriving, labelling lines | EVS6-700H |
| 1000 mm | Large, 1100 × 1100 mm | Heavy tray handling, automotive sub-assembly pallets | EVS20-1000H |
Repeatability and Cycle Time Benchmarks
Repeatability is the robot’s ability to return to the same taught point consistently. It is not the same as absolute accuracy. For SCARA applications, the practical rule is: repeatability must sit inside 30–50% of the tightest positional tolerance in the task.
| Repeatability class | Typical SCARA application | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ±0.01 mm | High-precision connector insertion, micro-component placement | Requires stable thermal environment and rigid fixturing |
| ±0.02 mm | Standard 3C assembly, PCB placement, screwdriving | EVS SCARA series typical class; covers most electronics assembly |
| ±0.05 mm | Light material handling, packaging, label application | Adequate where tolerance is 0.1 mm or wider |
Cycle time for a SCARA pick-and-place depends on move distance, Z stroke, and part weight. According to industry benchmarks, a 3 kg SCARA at 400 mm reach with a 25 mm Z stroke and 100 mm horizontal move can complete a cycle in approximately 0.3–0.5 s under optimized motion parameters. Longer reaches and heavier payloads increase cycle time. Request an application-specific cycle time estimate from EVST when submitting your RFQ.
EVS SCARA Series: Models, Payload, Reach, and Repeatability
EVST’s EVS SCARA series covers the 3 kg to 20 kg payload range with reach from 400 mm to 1000 mm. All models run 4-axis kinematics. Applications include 3C electronics assembly and material handling. CE, SGS, and TUV third-party certifications apply to the EVST product range.
| Model | Payload | Max reach (armspan) | Repeatability class | Primary applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVS3-400 | 3 kg | 400 mm | ±0.02 mm class | Compact 3C placement, tight bench cell |
| EVS3-400H | 3 kg | 400 mm | ±0.02 mm class | Compact cell with higher-cycle option |
| EVS3-600 | 3 kg | 600 mm | ±0.02 mm class | PCB assembly, component insertion |
| EVS6-600H | 6 kg | 600 mm | ±0.02 mm class | Connector insertion, screwdriving, dispensing |
| EVS6-700H | 6 kg | 700 mm | ±0.02 mm class | Two-fixture assembly, labelling |
| EVS20-1000H | 20 kg | 1000 mm | Industry-typical | Heavy tray handling, automotive sub-assembly |
Repeatability for EVS3 and EVS6 models falls in the ±0.02 mm class, which covers the large majority of 3C and light assembly requirements. EVS20-1000H serves tasks where payload, not precision, is the primary constraint. For exact repeatability figures by model, request the datasheet from EVST when submitting an RFQ.
EVST supplies EVS SCARA robots as standalone units or as part of a turnkey cell including feeding systems, vision, tooling, and integration to SCADA or MES. The company has delivered more than 600 automation projects across 7 years, exported to more than 100 countries, with field engineers available in more than 100 countries for on-site commissioning and support.
Price Range Brackets
SCARA robot pricing depends on payload class, reach, controller, integration scope, and delivery destination. The figures below are illustrative market ranges for robot units only; turnkey cell pricing is higher and varies with cell complexity.
| Payload class | Illustrative unit price range (USD, ex-works) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg SCARA | $5,000–$14,000 | Wide range driven by brand, controller, and reach; competitive Chinese OEM pricing at the lower end |
| 6 kg SCARA | $8,000–$18,000 | Mid-range; EVST EVS6 series is competitive against established OEM pricing |
| 10 kg SCARA | $12,000–$25,000 | Fewer model options in this band; confirm availability |
| 20 kg SCARA | $18,000–$35,000 | Heavy-payload SCARA is a narrower category; EVS20-1000H sits in the lower-to-mid portion of this range |
For a detailed breakdown of industrial robot pricing factors including amortization, integration cost, and ROI calculation, see the Industrial Robot Price Guide 2026.
According to industry observations, total cell cost for a SCARA-based assembly cell (robot, controller, gripper, vision, feeding, guarding, and commissioning) typically runs 3 to 5 times the robot unit price. Factor this in when budgeting before requesting a quote.
RFQ Checklist: What to Send EVST for a Quote
A complete RFQ lets EVST recommend the right model, confirm cycle time, and price the cell accurately. Sending incomplete information delays the quote by at least one round trip. Provide all of the following:
- Target payload: part weight in kg plus estimated gripper weight.
- Required reach: maximum horizontal pick-to-place distance in mm.
- Z stroke: vertical travel range needed in the cell (mm).
- Cycle time target: picks per minute or seconds per cycle.
- Repeatability requirement: tightest positional tolerance in the task (mm).
- Environment: standard factory, cleanroom class, food-safe, or other special requirement.
- Integration software: PLC brand, SCADA/MES connection, vision system preference.
- Scope: robot unit only, or turnkey cell including feeding, tooling, guarding, and commissioning.
- Quantity and delivery schedule.
With those inputs, EVST can recommend an EVS SCARA model, estimate cycle time, and provide a cell quote. Contact EVST to request a SCARA robot quote. You can also reach the sales team at [email protected] or +86 19381626253.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of a SCARA robot in 2026?
A 3 kg SCARA robot unit (ex-works) typically falls in the $5,000–$14,000 range, depending on brand, reach, and controller. A 6 kg unit runs roughly $8,000–$18,000. EVST’s EVS SCARA series is positioned competitively within these ranges. Total cell cost including gripper, vision, feeding, and commissioning is typically 3 to 5 times the unit price. Contact EVST for an application-specific quote.
How do I select the right SCARA robot payload?
Add the part weight and the gripper weight together, then round up to the next standard payload band. According to industry observations, undersizing payload by 10–15% causes repeatability drift and premature joint wear within 12–18 months. EVST’s EVS SCARA series covers 3 kg, 6 kg, and 20 kg bands; for tasks around 10 kg, confirm the available model with EVST at the time of quoting.
What reach do I need for a SCARA robot assembly cell?
Measure the maximum horizontal distance between the farthest pick point and the farthest place point in your cell, then add 50–80 mm margin. Operating at the edge of reach reduces cycle time and increases motor load. EVS SCARA models cover 400 mm, 600 mm, 700 mm, and 1000 mm reach options to fit compact benchtop cells through to larger pallet-handling layouts.
What repeatability do EVST EVS SCARA robots offer?
The EVS3 and EVS6 series models (EVS3-400, EVS3-600, EVS6-600H, EVS6-700H) are in the ±0.02 mm repeatability class, which covers the majority of 3C electronics assembly and light industrial assembly tasks. For high-precision insertion tasks requiring ±0.01 mm, confirm the specific model datasheet and cell fixturing requirements with EVST before ordering.
What is the difference between a SCARA robot and a 6-axis robot for assembly?
A SCARA’s two horizontal joints give high rigidity and speed in the horizontal plane, making it faster and more consistent than a 6-axis arm for flat pick-and-place and insertion. A 6-axis arm gains full spatial orientation but is slower on planar tasks and typically costs more for the same payload class. Choose SCARA when parts are handled in a single plane and cycle time is the priority; choose 6-axis when the task path is spatial or multi-face. For a detailed comparison, see the SCARA Robot Guide 2026.
Can EVST supply a turnkey SCARA cell, not just the robot?
Yes. EVST delivers turnkey cells including EVS SCARA robot, controller, gripper, vision system, feeding equipment, cell guarding, and on-site commissioning. EVST has delivered more than 600 automation projects over 7 years across industries including 3C electronics, automotive, and light manufacturing, with field engineers deployable in more than 100 countries. Send your application requirements through the EVST contact page to discuss scope and pricing.
About the author: This selection guide was prepared by the EVST Engineering Team. EVST (EVS TECH CO., LTD) is a Chengdu-based robotics manufacturer founded in 2018, supplying EVS SCARA robots, QJAR industrial robots, XR collaborative robots, and turnkey automation cells exported to more than 100 countries, with CE, SGS, and TUV third-party certification.
Last updated: June 8, 2026. Model specifications and price ranges are indicative and subject to change; confirm exact figures for your application when requesting a quote.