Productive Robotics OB7 Series Cobots

Applications

Machine tending is one of the OB7 Series’ strongest use cases. A cobot can load raw parts into CNC mills, lathes, EDM machines and other equipment, start the machining cycle and remove finished parts. The seventh axis is particularly useful here because it allows the arm to be positioned beside a machine rather than directly in front of its door.

The series is not limited to CNC work. Productive Robotics also presents OB7 for assembly, material handling, packaging, gluing and fluid dispensing, inspection, testing, measuring, part marking, sanding, polishing and deburring. Different grippers and application accessories can be fitted to suit the work. Productive Robotics lists compatibility with gripper brands including Robotiq, OnRobot, Piab, Schmalz, PHD and SCHUNK. The appropriate model should be selected using the combined weight of the part and end-of-arm tooling, required reach and available installation space.

What Makes the OB7 Series Special

The OB7 Series’ main mechanical difference is its seventh axis. That extra joint gives the arm more positioning freedom when it must reach around a machine door, fixture, vise or another obstruction. It can also help keep the cobot away from the space where an operator needs to perform setups, maintenance or tool changes.

Its other major difference is how jobs are taught. Instead of requiring conventional robot programming, the operator guides the arm by hand using controls on its teaching handle. Task details are then arranged through the graphical tablet interface, and saved jobs can be recalled when production changes. This makes the series well suited to high-mix manufacturing and smaller production runs where lengthy programming and changeovers would be impractical. The optional rolling stand, equipment interfaces, grippers and application packages further support moving the cobot between compatible jobs.

Choosing the Right OB7 Model

All five models use seven axes, the same teach-by-touch approach and a repeatability of ±0.1 mm. The main differences are payload, reach, physical size and robot weight.

Model: OB7
Payload: 5 kg | Reach: 1,000 mm | Robot weight: 22 kg | Repeatability: ±0.1 mm
Best suited for: Lighter handling, general machine tending and repetitive jobs in smaller work areas.

Model: OB7 Stretch
Payload: 4 kg | Reach: 1,250 mm | Robot weight: 22 kg | Repeatability: ±0.1 mm
Best suited for: Lighter applications requiring more reach than the standard OB7, particularly lathe tending.

Model: OB7 Max 16
Payload: 16 kg | Reach: 1,000 mm | Robot weight: 58 kg | Repeatability: ±0.1 mm
Best suited for: Heavy parts, castings and other high-payload handling or machine-tending jobs within a one-metre reach.

Model: OB7 Max 12
Payload: 12 kg | Reach: 1,300 mm | Robot weight: 58 kg | Repeatability: ±0.1 mm
Best suited for: Heavier machine tending and handling applications needing a balance of payload and extended reach.

Model: OB7 Max 8
Payload: 8 kg | Reach: 1,700 mm | Robot weight: 58 kg | Repeatability: ±0.1 mm
Best suited for: Applications requiring the longest reach and largest operating sphere in the OB7 family.

OB7 Series vs Blaze Welding Cobots

The OB7 Series is Productive Robotics’ general-purpose cobot family. Its models are selected mainly by the payload that must be handled, the required reach and the available workspace. Although welding appears among the possible OB7 applications, OB7 is also intended for machine tending, handling, assembly, finishing, packaging and inspection.

The Blaze range (also from Productive Robotics) is purpose-built for welding. It combines 7-axis torch positioning with welding-specific software, teach-by-touch path creation and an unlimited library of weld recipes. Blaze MIG can work with existing welding tables and compatible welders, while Blaze Laser integrates Miller OptX laser welding and optional cleaning. Blaze and Blaze Max provide 1,550 mm and 2,159 mm reach respectively, although these measurements include the welding torch and are therefore not directly comparable with the OB7 arm-only reach figures.

In simple terms, choose OB7 for flexible general manufacturing automation and Blaze when welding is the primary job.