SZGH-BCi3 | 3 kg Precision Collaborative Robot Arm — ±0.02 mm, No Safety Fence

What Is the SZGH-BCi3?

The SZGH-BCi3 is a 6-axis, 3 kg payload collaborative robot from SZGH's BC i Series, purpose-built for precision-critical environments. With a 625 mm reach and ±0.02 mm repeatability — the highest accuracy in the entire BC i Series — it targets 3C electronics assembly, semiconductor handling, and medical device manufacturing where consistency and compact footprint matter more than raw speed.

Full Technical Specifications

5 Reasons Precision Manufacturers Choose the BCi3

No Safety Fence Required — PL=d CAT 3 Certified

Most industrial robots demand a locked cage and a dedicated cell that consumes floor space and slows layout changes. The BCi3 is certified to Performance Level d, Category 3 under EN ISO 13849 — the European Union's highest collaborative safety tier. Its 10-level collision detection system monitors joint torque continuously, and on any unexpected contact the arm stops within 0.15 seconds. You can position it directly alongside an operator on a PCB inspection line or at a medical assembly bench without a physical barrier, cutting cell setup costs and enabling truly flexible redeployment as your production mix changes.

Deploy in Half a Day — Zero Robot Experience Required

The BCi3 supports full drag-teach: grip any part of the arm, move it through the desired path, and save. First-time operators typically complete a simple pick-and-place program within one hour. The visual interface on the teach pendant shows live joint positions, task status, and collision sensitivity in plain language — no G-code, no PLC ladder logic needed. Most customers go from unboxing to first production run within half a working day, which matters when your line engineers are already managing a full production schedule.

Open System — Connect to Any PLC, Vision System, or AGV

A cobot that can't talk to your existing equipment creates more problems than it solves. The BCi3 ships with a full SDK in C, C++, Lua, and Python, a ROS package, and native Modbus-RTU/TCP support. Profinet is available as an option for Siemens TIA Portal environments. The control box provides 16+16 DI, 16+16 DO, and 4×AI/4×AO — enough to interface directly with conveyor triggers, Keyence or Cognex vision systems, force/torque sensors, and AGV docking signals without any additional I/O hardware. Customers integrating with Omron NX-series PLCs report complete signal mapping in under two hours.

±0.02 mm Repeatability — Highest Precision in the Entire BC i Series

While the BCi5, BCi10, and BCi20 achieve ±0.05–0.10 mm — suitable for general assembly — the BCi3 and BCi7 deliver ±0.02 mm, the tightest tolerance in the SZGH collaborative robot lineup. In practical terms, this means the arm returns to the same XYZ coordinate within a 40 µm diameter sphere, cycle after cycle, over an eight-hour shift. For surface-mount component placement, micro-screw insertion, or catheter tip bonding, that consistency eliminates the manual inspection step that typically follows robot-assisted assembly when using lower-precision arms.

6–12 Month ROI, 100% Domestic Core Components

The BCi3's core motion components — servo drives, joints, and control hardware — are sourced and manufactured domestically by SZGH in Shenzhen. This eliminates the import lead times that can stretch spare-part delivery to eight or twelve weeks on some foreign-brand cobots. In practice, customers report full return on investment in six to twelve months when displacing one manual position in a two-shift 3C assembly operation. The 18-month warranty and direct SZGH after-sales network further reduce the total cost of ownership over a five-year production lifecycle.

Application Scenarios

BC i Series — Full Range Comparison & Selection Guide

Model Group Overview

Group 1 — Compact Precision (BCi3, BCi7)

Group 2 — Standard General-Purpose (BCk5, BCi5)

Group 3 — Long-Reach & Heavy-Load (BCi10, BCi12, BCi16, BCi20)

BCk5 vs. BCi5 — Key Distinction

Both share 5 kg payload and 886.5 mm reach. The BCk5 targets education, training, and system integrator prototyping — it prioritizes ease of programming and lower entry cost. The BCi5 is the production-grade variant, with enhanced duty-cycle ratings and full industrial I/O for high-volume line deployment. If you are running more than one shift daily in a manufacturing environment, specify BCi5 over BCk5.

3-Question Selection Guide

1. Is your tolerance tighter than ±0.03 mm?

   • Yes → BCi3 (≤4 kg parts) or BCi7 (4–7 kg parts)

   • No → continue to question 2

2. Does your part weigh more than 7 kg, or does the task require a reach beyond 900 mm?

   • Yes → BCi10, BCi12, BCi16, or BCi20 depending on payload/reach combination

   • No → continue to question 3

3. Is this a production line running two or more shifts, or a training/prototype cell?

   • Production → BCi5

   • Training / Prototype → BCk5

Customer Case Study

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

"We run a Samsung supply-chain component plant in Suwon. Before the BCi3, our FPC connector insertion station employed four workers per shift — two shifts daily — and our defect rate on the final torque-check was running at 2.3%. The tolerance for the connector housing is ±0.03 mm, and human fatigue on a repetitive insertion cycle was the primary cause of drift toward end-of-shift.
We deployed two BCi3 units in a side-by-side layout with our existing Keyence IV3 vision system, connected through the DI channel in the control box. Programming took one afternoon using drag-teach — our line supervisor, who had never operated a robot before, did it herself. Within the first two weeks, our defect rate dropped to 0.18%, and we recovered the hardware cost in eight months. The fact that no safety cage was needed meant we kept the same cell footprint and our headcount reallocation was handled through natural attrition, not layoffs — which mattered for our labor relations.
The ±0.02 mm consistency of the BCi3 is the single biggest reason we chose it over a competing 3 kg cobot from a European brand that offered only ±0.04 mm. In our quality audit, that difference is auditable."

Control System & Integration

The BCi3 runs on SZGH's XI control platform, built on an EtherCAT real-time bus architecture. The system supports multi-robot coordination — up to four BCi3 units can be synchronized under a single controller for parallel assembly tasks. Compatible PLCs include Siemens S7-1200/1500 (via Profinet or Modbus-TCP), Omron NX/NJ series, Mitsubishi iQ-R, and Keyence KV-8000.

For vision-guided tasks, the BCi3 integrates with 2D and 3D vision systems from Keyence, Cognex, Hikrobot, and Basler. The robot's open API allows the vision system to pass XYZ offset corrections directly to the motion controller, enabling full eye-in-hand or eye-to-hand calibration workflows. Offline programming is supported via SZGH's PC-based simulation environment — engineers can validate path programs against a digital twin before running on the physical arm, reducing commissioning time for complex multi-step sequences.

SDK & Developer Integration

Supported Languages

C / C++ / Lua / Python

Supported Protocols

Ethernet / Modbus-RTU / Modbus-TCP / Profinet (optional) / EtherCAT / RS485

ROS Support

Full packages available for ROS1 (Noetic) and ROS2 (Humble). Includes MoveIt! configuration, URDF model, and example launch files.

API Documentation

Online developer documentation and SDK download available through the SZGH developer portal at szghtech.com.

Third-Party Integration Examples

• Vision systems: Keyence IV3/IV2, Cognex In-Sight, Hikrobot MV series

• Force/torque sensors: ATI, Robotiq FT 300

• AGV systems: standard I/O handshake via DI/DO or Modbus-TCP

• PLCs: Siemens S7 series (Profinet/Modbus), Omron NX/NJ series (EtherCAT/Modbus)

Python SDK Example

from szgh_sdk import BCiRobot

robot = BCiRobot(ip="192.168.1.100")
robot.connect()
robot.move_to(x=300, y=0, z=150, rx=0, ry=90, rz=0, speed=50)
robot.disconnect()

Safety Certifications Explained

Certifications & Warranty

Certifications: CE / UL / KCs / ISO 9001 / National High-Tech Enterprise (China MIIT)

Warranty: 18 months from date of delivery. Coverage includes all manufacturing defects in the robot arm, control box, and teach pendant. SZGH maintains a domestic spare-parts inventory with a 5-business-day delivery commitment for all critical components. Extended warranty and on-site service contracts are available for customers with multi-unit deployments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the SZGH-BCi3 really work without a safety cage?

Yes. The BCi3 is certified to PL=d, CAT 3 under EN ISO 13849, which is the European Union's highest performance level for collaborative safety. The certification is based on independent testing of the 10-level collision detection system, which stops the arm within 0.15 seconds on contact. This means you can legally deploy the BCi3 alongside human operators in EU, US (UL-certified), and Korean (KCs-certified) facilities without a fixed safety barrier, subject to a site-specific risk assessment — which SZGH's application team can assist with.

Can it connect to my existing PLC, conveyor, or vision system?

Yes. The control box provides 16-channel general DI, 16-channel safety DI, 16-channel general DO, 16-channel safety DO, 4× analog inputs, and 4× analog outputs — all accessible via screw terminals. Communication options include Ethernet, Modbus-RTU, Modbus-TCP, and optional Profinet for Siemens environments. The full Python/C++ SDK allows custom integration with Keyence and Cognex vision systems, conveyor trigger signals, and AGV docking handshakes. Most system integrators complete initial I/O mapping in under two hours.

How long does it take a non-engineer to learn to operate it?

Drag-teach programming for a simple pick-and-place cycle typically takes under one hour for a first-time user. The teach pendant interface uses plain-language labels, live joint position display, and a visual task builder — no coding experience required. For more complex multi-step sequences, SZGH provides free online training materials and a local application support contact. Most customers report full operator proficiency within two to three days of deployment.

What's the difference between BCi3 and BCi7? How do I choose?

Both models deliver ±0.02 mm repeatability — the highest in the BC i Series. The primary difference is payload capacity and reach: the BCi3 handles up to 3 kg with a 625 mm reach (16 kg body weight), while the BCi7 handles up to 7 kg with a 786.5 mm reach (24 kg body weight). If your parts weigh under 3 kg and your cell is compact, the BCi3 is the lighter, lower-cost choice. If you need to handle assemblies in the 3–7 kg range, or if your fixture layout requires longer reach, the BCi7 is the correct model. Both are equally suitable for 3C, semiconductor, and medical device environments.

Does it support ROS and Python SDK?

Yes. The BCi3 ships with full ROS1 (Noetic) and ROS2 (Humble) packages, including a URDF model, MoveIt! configuration files, and example launch scripts. The Python SDK provides a simple object-oriented interface for motion control, I/O access, and program management. C, C++, and Lua are also supported for real-time or embedded integration scenarios. Developer documentation and SDK downloads are available at szghtech.com.

Can it be mounted upside down or on a wall?

Yes. The BCi3 supports any-angle mounting: floor-standing, ceiling-inverted, side-wall, and inclined angles. The control software automatically compensates for gravity direction based on the configured mounting orientation. This flexibility allows the robot to be deployed above a conveyor, on the underside of a gantry, or on the vertical face of a machine frame without any mechanical modification.

How is after-sales service handled? Are spare parts available?

SZGH operates from Shenzhen and maintains a regional distributor and service network across China, South Korea, Germany, and Southeast Asia. The 18-month warranty covers manufacturing defects, with a 5-business-day spare-parts delivery SLA for critical components from domestic stock. International customers are supported through regional distributors and can access remote diagnostics via the XI controller's Ethernet port. Extended service contracts with guaranteed response times are available for multi-unit deployments.

What's the typical ROI timeline?

In two-shift 3C electronics or medical device assembly operations, customers typically recover the BCi3 investment in 6–12 months when displacing one semi-skilled manual operator position. The specific timeline depends on local labor costs, shift structure, and the complexity of the task being automated. SZGH's application team can provide a site-specific ROI calculation based on your production parameters before purchase.

Request a Quote

Ready to evaluate the SZGH-BCi3 for your production line? Our application engineers can provide a site-specific recommendation, ROI estimate, and sample program demonstration.

Related Products

Explore other models in the BC i Series to find the right fit for your application:

• SZGH-BCi7 — 7 kg Precision Cobot, 786.5 mm Reach, ±0.02 mm

• SZGH-BCi5 — 5 kg Standard General-Purpose Cobot

• SZGH-BCk5 — 5 kg Entry-Level Cobot for Education & Prototyping

• SZGH-BCi12 — 12 kg Long-Arm High-Precision Cobot