SZGH-BCi5 | 5 kg Collaborative Robot for Volume Production

What Is the SZGH-BCi5?

The SZGH-BCi5 is a 6-axis, 5 kg payload collaborative robot designed for continuous, high-cycle manufacturing environments. With a maximum tool speed of 4.0 m/s — among the fastest in its class — ±0.05 mm repeatability, and PL=d CAT 3 safety certification, it eliminates the need for a safety cage and deploys alongside human workers in factories, food service lines, and SME flexible production cells. Open SDK support for Python, C++, Lua, and ROS makes integration with existing PLC and vision systems straightforward from day one.

Full Technical Specifications

Robot Arm

Joint Specifications

Power & Electrical

Safety & Compliance

Communication & Integration

Control Box

5 Core Advantages

No Safety Fence Required

The BCi5 is certified to PL=d, CAT 3 under ISO 13849 and ISO/TS 15066. Its 10-level collision detection stops motion within 0.15 seconds on unexpected contact. In practical terms, this means you can place the robot on an open production floor next to workers — no cage, no guarding, no wasted floor space. For SMEs and food service operators especially, this unlocks deployments that a traditional industrial robot simply cannot deliver.

4.0 m/s Tool Speed — Speed That Matches Your Line

At ≤ 4.0 m/s, the BCi5 is one of the fastest 5 kg collaborative robots available. In high-cycle tasks — screw driving, dispensing, pick-and-place, palletizing — cycle time is revenue. The BCi5 is designed so that robot speed is never the bottleneck in a lean production cell. This is the single most important specification that differentiates the BCi5 from the entry-level BCk5 (≤ 3.4 m/s) in continuous production.

Open System — Plug Into What You Already Have

The BCi5 connects to Siemens and Omron PLCs via Modbus-TCP or Profinet, integrates with mainstream machine vision cameras through its open API, and can be programmed in Python, C++, Lua, or the ROS ecosystem. There is no proprietary lock-in. Your integrator or in-house engineer writes the handshake once, and the robot slots into your automation architecture.

Multi-Scenario Flexibility — One Robot, Many Lines

The same BCi5 unit can run a screwdriving fixture on Monday, a dispensing path on Tuesday, and a palletizing program on Wednesday. Drag-teach a new path in under an hour, save the program, and switch products without retooling hardware. For factories handling small-batch, high-mix orders, this flexibility cuts changeover time from hours to minutes.

Deploy in Half a Day — ROI in 6–12 Months

From unboxing to first production cycle takes less than four hours. With average payback periods of 6–12 months in high-cycle production environments and labor costs continuing to rise, the BCi5 is sized for a realistic SME capital budget while delivering industrial-grade output. SZGH provides full deployment documentation, remote commissioning support, and spare parts from Shenzhen.

Application Scenarios

Overview

BCi5 in Manufacturing — Hardware, Appliances & General Assembly

In a typical hardware or small-appliance assembly cell, the BCi5 handles screw driving, component insertion, and quality inspection in sequence. Its ±0.05 mm repeatability meets the tolerances required for consumer electronics and five-axis housing assemblies. Because it mounts at any angle — ceiling, wall, inverted — it fits into existing jigs and fixtures without redesigning the station. A water pump assembly line case study from SZGH's customer base in South China demonstrated a cycle-time reduction of 38% and a three-operator headcount reduction within 60 days of deployment.

Running at full rated speed of 4.0 m/s for pick-and-place moves and slowing to precision approach speeds automatically via programmable zones, the BCi5 adapts its motion profile to each task without manual reconfiguration. Modbus-TCP connectivity means the line PLC reads robot status, triggers programs by part number, and logs cycle data to MES — all without additional middleware.

BCi5 in New Retail & Food Service — Burger Robots, Milk Tea, Coffee Automation

SZGH's brochure highlights a dual-arm BCi5 burger robot that assembles a complete burger patty, bun, and condiment stack in under 30 seconds. This application is emblematic of how the BCi5's no-cage design and multi-program flexibility make it viable in public-facing food service environments where safety fencing is commercially impossible.

For milk tea and coffee automation, the BCi5 handles cup placement, syrup dispensing, shaking, and sealing in a compact footprint. Operators trigger programs via barcode scan or POS integration. The IP54 rating tolerates daily cleaning with damp cloths and mild disinfectants — a basic requirement for food and beverage deployments that many cobots of this size cannot satisfy.

The multi-program architecture means a single BCi5 unit can serve breakfast sequences in the morning and switch to a lunch prep routine at midday. This operational flexibility is why food service operators — who cannot justify a dedicated single-task robot — consistently choose the BCi5 over fixed automation.

BCi5 for SME Flexible Production — Small Batches, Fast Changeovers

Small and medium manufacturers facing high-mix, low-volume orders cannot afford the downtime of traditional robot reprogramming. The BCi5's drag-teach function lets a non-specialist operator physically guide the arm through a new path, confirm key waypoints on the built-in UI, and save the program in under 60 minutes. No robotics engineer on-site is required.

In a documented case, a South American hardware manufacturer deployed the BCi5 on a water pump assembly line handling 12 distinct product variants. Changeover between variants dropped from 45 minutes (manual) to under 8 minutes (BCi5 program recall). At 400 W average power draw, the robot's energy cost per shift remains predictable and low even under continuous multi-shift operation.

Series Comparison — BCi5 vs. BCk5 & Full i Series

BCi5 vs. BCk5 — Which One Is Right for You?

Decision rule: If you run more than two shifts or your cycle time directly limits output, choose the BCi5. If you are setting up a teaching lab, a proof-of-concept cell, or a low-frequency production line with budget constraints, the BCk5 delivers the same arm geometry at a lower entry cost.

Full BC i Series at a Glance

Customer Story

"We were running two workers per station on our water pump subassembly line — one feeding, one fastening. Our margins were getting squeezed by labor cost increases three years in a row. I had looked at Japanese cobots but the price per unit, plus the integrator fee, put payback at almost three years. Then our distributor introduced us to the BCi5.

We installed two units in one day. By the end of the first week, both stations were running unattended during break periods. Our cycle time dropped from 48 seconds to 31 seconds per unit. We handle 12 pump variants, and switching between them now takes less than 10 minutes — the operator just selects the program number on the teach pendant. At our current production volume, we expect to recover the full investment in under nine months.

The no-cage installation was the deciding factor. My floor space is limited, and I could not afford to lose 2–3 square meters of productive area to guarding. The BCi5 sits right on the line, next to the workers, and nobody is uncomfortable with it."

— Production Manager, Hardware Manufacturing SME, São Paulo, Brazil

By Fannie Chen, CEO, Shenzhen Guanhong Automation Co., Ltd. (SZGH) | May 2026

Control System & Integration

The BCi5 ships with SZGH's proprietary motion controller, which provides sub-millisecond trajectory interpolation and built-in collision dynamics. The teach pendant runs a graphical task editor; operators drag waypoints on a 3D arm model, set approach speeds and dwell times, and export programs without writing a single line of code.

For system integrators, the full open SDK unlocks all motion primitives — linear moves, arc interpolation, joint-space commands, and force-torque controlled contact. The controller exposes a documented TCP/IP socket API that any SCADA, MES, or custom HMI can query. Fieldbus connectivity includes Modbus-RTU over RS485, Modbus-TCP over Ethernet, and Profinet (optional firmware module). EtherCAT is available for high-speed synchronized multi-axis cells.

Payload accessories — grippers, force-torque sensors, cameras, barcode readers — connect through the wrist I/O connector (digital in/out, analog in/out, RS485). SZGH maintains a tested compatibility list covering SCHUNK, Robotiq, and major Chinese gripper brands.

SDK & Developer Integration

Supported Languages & Protocols

Python Quick-Connect Example

from szgh_sdk import BCiRobot

robot = BCiRobot(ip="192.168.1.100")
robot.connect()
robot.move_linear([300, 0, 200], speed=0.5)   # x, y, z in mm; speed fraction
robot.disconnect()

The Python SDK ships with complete API documentation, example scripts for common motion patterns, and a simulation mode for offline path development. ROS 1 and ROS 2 packages are published to the SZGH GitHub repository and include MoveIt configuration files for the BCi5 kinematic model.

For PLC integration, SZGH provides tested Siemens TIA Portal and Omron Sysmac function block libraries that map robot status registers to standard PLC data structures — reducing integration time from days to hours.

Safety Certifications Explained

From Unboxing to Production in Half a Day

Deploying the BCi5 does not require a specialist integrator on-site for a straightforward cell. Here is what the typical first-day sequence looks like.

Step 1 — Mechanical Install (1–2 hours)

Mount the base flange to your fixture plate or worktable using the four M8 bolt pattern. Connect the arm cable harness to the control box. The control box can be rack-mounted, wall-mounted, or set on a shelf — its 380 × 350 × 265 mm footprint fits standard 19-inch rack bay with an adapter plate.

Step 2 — System Configuration (30 minutes)

Power on. The controller runs a self-check on all six joint encoders, verifies brake release, and confirms network link. Connect your laptop or tablet to the controller's Ethernet port, open the web-based configuration UI, set the coordinate system origin, and confirm tool weight offset if you are using a non-standard end-effector.

Step 3 — Task Teaching (30–60 minutes)

Activate drag-teach mode from the teach pendant. Physically guide the arm to each waypoint in your process — pick point, approach, contact, retract, place. The controller records joint angles at each saved point. Set linear speed for approach moves, contact force limit for assembly steps, and dwell times. Visualize the full path in the 3D preview before running.

Step 4 — Trial Run & Go Live (30 minutes)

Run the program at 20% speed for three cycles, check path clearance, then step up to 50%, 75%, and full speed. Adjust collision sensitivity to suit the application force profile. Once satisfied, lock the program and set the operator panel to single-button cycle start. The robot is in production.

Certifications & Warranty

• Safety certifications: CE, UL, KCs | Safety level PL=d, CAT 3

• Standard warranty: 12 months on all electrical and mechanical components from date of shipment

• Spare parts availability: Key wear items (wrist seals, joint harmonic reducers, encoder modules) are stocked in Shenzhen and ship via DHL Express to most international destinations within 3–5 business days

• Remote support: SZGH provides remote diagnostics via encrypted TeamViewer session at no additional cost during the warranty period

• Extended warranty: 24-month extension available; contact sales for OEM/volume pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does BCi5 really need no safety cage in a production environment?

Yes, provided the risk assessment for your specific application supports it. The BCi5 is certified to PL=d, CAT 3, which is the standard for collaborative robot operation per ISO/TS 15066. In practice, most dispensing, screwdriving, palletizing, and light assembly tasks at 5 kg payload qualify. SZGH provides a risk assessment checklist to help you document compliance.

2. Can I connect it to Siemens or Omron PLCs and machine vision systems?

Yes. SZGH provides tested Siemens TIA Portal and Omron Sysmac function block libraries for Modbus-TCP and Profinet connections. For vision, the open SDK allows the robot to receive pick coordinates from any vision system that outputs X/Y/Z over TCP/IP or serial — including Cognex, Keyence, and OpenCV-based solutions.

3. How quickly can a factory worker learn to operate it?

For day-to-day operation (selecting programs, starting cycles, clearing faults), a worker with no robotics background typically needs 1–2 hours of familiarization. For drag-teaching new paths, expect 4–8 hours of practice before the operator is confident working independently.

4. What is the difference between BCi5 and BCk5?

The BCi5 is the production-grade model: 4.0 m/s top speed, 400 W average power, all joints ±360°, and an IP43 control box (15 kg). The BCk5 is the entry/education model: 3.4 m/s, 200 W, limited joint ranges on J2–J5, and a lighter IP30 control box (6.6 kg). For high-cycle or multi-shift production, choose the BCi5. For education, R&D, or low-frequency applications on a tighter budget, the BCk5 is the right choice.

5. Can the BCi5 handle both manufacturing and food service applications?

Yes. The same arm runs different programs for different applications. The IP54 rating tolerates food service cleaning protocols. Dozens of SZGH customers run the BCi5 in food service during daytime operation and redeploy the same unit for light manufacturing tasks at other times. Program switching takes under a minute.

6. Does it support ceiling mount and wall mount?

Yes. Any-angle installation is a standard feature. Ceiling, wall, inverted, and inclined mounting are all supported. The controller's coordinate system is software-configurable to match the mounting orientation.

7. What is the warranty and spare parts availability from China?

Standard warranty is 12 months. Spare parts for high-wear items ship from Shenzhen via DHL Express, with typical international delivery in 3–5 business days. SZGH also offers OEM spare parts stocking agreements for distributors and high-volume customers.

8. What ROI can I expect for a 5 kg cobot in high-cycle production?

Based on SZGH customer data, typical payback periods range from 6 to 14 months for two-shift operation, depending on local labor costs and cycle time reduction achieved. The water pump assembly case study cited above documented a 9-month payback. Higher labor cost markets (EU, North America) tend to see shorter payback periods; lower labor cost markets see 12–18 months.

Contact SZGH

Related Products

• SZGH-BCk5 — Entry 5 kg Cobot for Education & R&D

• SZGH-BCi3 — 3 kg Precision Collaborative Robot

• SZGH-BCi7 — 7 kg Mid-Payload Collaborative Robot

• SZGH-BCi10 — 10 kg Heavy-Duty Collaborative Robot