SZGH-BCk5 | Entry-Level 5 kg Collaborative Robot for Education & R&D

What Is the SZGH-BCk5?

The SZGH-BCk5 is a 6-axis, 5 kg payload collaborative robot engineered as the most accessible entry point into SZGH's BC i Series. It shares the same arm geometry, ±0.05 mm repeatability, IP54 rating, and PL=d CAT 3 safety certification as the production-grade BCi5 — but with a 200 W average power draw, a significantly lighter 6.6 kg control box, and a lower price point that fits university automation lab budgets, research institution grants, and small-business proof-of-concept projects. Full Python, C++, Lua, and ROS 1/ROS 2 SDK support makes it the go-to first cobot for developers and students who want to build real skills on real hardware.

Full Technical Specifications

Robot Arm

Joint Specifications

Note: J2–J5 joint ranges on the BCk5 differ from the BCi5 (which has ±360° on all joints). For applications requiring extreme wrist configurations, verify your path geometry against the BCk5 joint limits before purchase.

Power & Electrical

Safety & Compliance

Communication & Integration

Control Box — Compact Design

The BCk5's control box is less than half the weight of the BCi5's (6.6 kg vs. 15 kg) and roughly half the depth (100 mm vs. 265 mm). This makes it easy to carry to a lecture theatre, pack into a vehicle for field demos, or mount on a lightweight bench cart in a teaching lab.

5 Core Advantages

No Safety Fence — Safe in a Classroom or Lab

The BCk5 carries the same PL=d, CAT 3 safety certification as the production BCi5. In a university lab or vocational school workshop, this matters even more than on an industrial floor: students and researchers move unpredictably, and a robot that stops on contact in ≤ 0.15 seconds is not just a regulatory checkbox — it is a prerequisite for a safe learning environment. No cage means the robot can be used as a teaching prop at the front of a lecture room, not just bolted down in a closed-off cell.

Most Affordable Entry Point — Industrial Precision, Education Budget

The BCk5's cost structure reflects a deliberate engineering choice: matched arm geometry and safety certification to the BCi5, optimized for lower duty cycles. Core motion components are domestically sourced, and the simplified control box reduces BOM cost. For a university purchasing department working within a research grant or departmental capex budget, the BCk5 is typically the only 6-axis collaborative robot in this specification range that fits.

Full SDK & ROS Support — Developer and Student First

Python, C++, Lua, and ROS 1/ROS 2 are all first-class supported environments on the BCk5 — not afterthoughts. A student who has completed an introductory Python course can connect to the robot, read joint states, and command a move in their first lab session. ROS 2 support means advanced students can build perception pipelines using standard packages (MoveIt, Nav2, sensor fusion) on a physical robot rather than simulation only.

Compact Control Box — 6.6 kg, Truly Portable

At 380 × 280 × 100 mm and 6.6 kg, the BCk5 control box can be carried in one hand. For vocational training programs that move equipment between rooms, regional robotics competitions, or university departments that share a single robot across multiple courses, portability is a practical differentiator. The arm itself weighs 24 kg — easily handled by two people — making the full system genuinely mobile without a permanent installation footprint.

Drag Teaching — Anyone Is Productive on Day One

No robot programming background is required to begin using the BCk5. In drag-teach mode, the operator physically moves the arm through the desired path while the controller records waypoints. Students and researchers can define a complete assembly or inspection sequence without writing code or using a teach pendant. For researchers who care about end-effector behavior, not robotics syntax, this eliminates the learning curve and lets them focus on their actual experiment.

Application Scenarios

BCk5 for Education & Vocational Training

University automation departments and vocational robotics programs need equipment that is safe, approachable, and representative of what students will encounter in industry. The BCk5 meets all three criteria. Its drag-teach mode lets a student with no prior robotics experience define a pick-and-place cycle in their first 30-minute lab session. Its Python SDK means the same student can write and deploy a supervised learning experiment by the end of a semester.

Because the BCk5 uses the same programming environment, motion primitives, and safety architecture as the production BCi5, skills transfer directly. A student who graduates having programmed a BCk5 in Python and ROS is immediately productive on the production floor where a BCi5 is running. This curriculum continuity is a key reason SZGH positions the BCk5 as a purpose-built education platform rather than a stripped-down industrial robot.

BCk5 for Academic Research — ROS 2 & Open SDK

Robotics researchers need a manipulator they can instrument fully without firmware obstacles. The BCk5 exposes all joint states, torques, and end-effector forces through its open SDK and ROS 2 topics, enabling custom control loops, impedance control experiments, and human-robot interaction studies. The 886.5 mm reach covers typical tabletop manipulation workspaces used in HRI and assembly research.

Research groups at budget-conscious institutions appreciate that the BCk5 requires no annual software license, no proprietary integration dongle, and no third-party middleware purchase. The full motion API is documented and available on request.

BCk5 for Low-Frequency Industrial Use

Not every production line needs a robot running at 4.0 m/s for two shifts. For small businesses running one shift with modest cycle volumes — a 50-unit-per-day assembly operation, a quality inspection station, a light dispensing cell — the BCk5's 3.4 m/s speed and 200 W average power consumption are entirely adequate, and its lower purchase price improves the business case significantly.

Startups proving out an automation concept before committing to a full production deployment also benefit: the BCk5 provides a real industrial robot in the correct size class, so results are directly scalable to the BCi5 or higher-payload models in the same series.

Series Comparison — BCk5 vs. BCi5 & Full i Series

BCk5 vs. BCi5 — Understanding the Difference

The BCk5 and BCi5 share payload, reach, and safety certification. The differences matter when choosing between them.

Choose the BCk5 if: your primary use is education, research, or low-frequency production and budget is a key factor.

Choose the BCi5 if: you need continuous multi-shift production, maximum speed, or full ±360° joint freedom on all axes.

Full BC i Series at a Glance

Customer Story

"Our faculty automation laboratory had been requesting a 6-axis collaborative robot for three years. Every time we put a proposal together, the budget committee asked us to wait. The systems we were looking at — from established European brands — were well beyond what our research grant could support, even for a single unit.

When I evaluated the BCk5, I was skeptical at first. But the specification sheet was honest: same reach, same precision, same safety certification as the production model. I ran a Python script to command the arm on my first afternoon with it. My undergraduate students were teaching it new paths within the first lab session — no programming background required, just drag-teach and confirm.

We now have two BCk5 units running in our lab. One is permanently configured for our industrial automation course; students rotate through it weekly. The second is dedicated to our graduate research group, which is using it for a human-robot collaboration study with ROS 2. The compact control box means we can carry the whole setup to our robotics showcase events — the arm plus controller fits in the back of an estate car.

For universities on a real budget, this is the right robot."

— Head of Automation Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Brno, Czech Republic

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

Control System & Integration

The BCk5 uses the same SZGH motion controller architecture as the BCi5, ensuring that programs, SDK code, and operator skills developed on the BCk5 transfer directly to production deployments. The teach pendant provides a graphical task editor with 3D arm preview, program management, and collision sensitivity controls accessible without opening a command line.

The compact control box (380 × 280 × 100 mm) contains the full motion controller, I/O modules, and power electronics in a package that fits on a shelf or desktop. Despite the reduced form factor compared to the BCi5 control box, no features are removed: all SDK functions, fieldbus protocols, and safety circuits are present. The IP30 rating is appropriate for indoor lab and light-industrial environments that are protected from dust and fluid ingress.

SDK & Developer Integration

Supported Languages & Protocols

The BCk5 is the recommended first robot for developers and researchers entering the SZGH ecosystem. The Python SDK is the most common starting point: it exposes the full motion API in a syntax that any Python user can read on first pass. SDK documentation is complete, versioned, and available in English. A community forum and GitHub issue tracker are maintained by SZGH's developer relations team.

Python Quick-Connect Example

from szgh_sdk import BCkRobot

robot = BCkRobot(ip="192.168.1.100")
robot.connect()
robot.move_linear([250, 0, 150], speed=0.3)   # x, y, z in mm; speed fraction
robot.disconnect()

ROS 2 users can launch the BCk5 driver and interact with the arm through standard /joint_states, /tf, and action server interfaces. MoveIt 2 configuration files for the BCk5 kinematic model are included in the ROS package. Simulation support via Gazebo allows offline path development before running on hardware.

For educators, SZGH provides a curated set of lab exercise templates in Python and ROS — covering forward/inverse kinematics, pick-and-place programming, sensor integration, and safety system testing — designed to align with standard industrial automation and robotics engineering curricula.

Safety Certifications Explained

From Unboxing to First Experiment in Half a Day

Setting up a BCk5 for the first time — whether in a lab, a classroom, or a light industrial cell — follows a straightforward sequence that does not require an on-site integrator.

Step 1 — Mechanical Install (1–2 hours)

Mount the base flange to your lab bench, fixture table, or portable cart using the four M8 bolt pattern. Connect the arm cable to the control box. The control box weighs 6.6 kg — one person can position and carry it without assistance. If you are setting up for a portable demo, place the control box on a shelf or in a transit case; the 380 × 280 × 100 mm footprint fits most standard equipment cases.

Step 2 — System Configuration (30 minutes)

Power on. The controller performs a self-check across all six joints, verifies encoder readings, and confirms network connectivity. Connect your laptop to the controller's Ethernet port (or via the lab network), open the web-based configuration interface, and set the tool coordinate frame. For most educational setups, the default configuration requires minimal adjustment.

Step 3 — Task Teaching (30–60 minutes)

Activate drag-teach from the teach pendant. Physically guide the arm to each waypoint — this is the step where students and researchers engage most directly with the robot. The controller records joint positions at each saved point. Set speed profiles for each segment, define any force limits for contact tasks, and preview the full path in 3D before running. For a first lab exercise, a simple three-waypoint pick-and-place is sufficient to demonstrate all the core concepts.

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

Execute the program at 20% speed, confirm clearances, and step up incrementally. Adjust collision sensitivity to suit the environment — in a teaching lab, a lower sensitivity (faster stop) is typically appropriate. Once the program runs cleanly at full speed, lock it and assign it a program number. Students can call it from the operator panel with a single button press.

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 are stocked in Shenzhen and ship internationally via DHL Express, typically arriving in 3–5 business days

• Remote support: SZGH provides remote diagnostics via encrypted TeamViewer at no cost during the warranty period — valuable for international university buyers who do not have a local distributor

• Academic pricing: Volume pricing is available for institutions purchasing two or more units; contact SZGH for a formal quotation

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is BCk5 suitable for a university robotics lab?

Yes, it is specifically designed with educational use in mind. The combination of PL=d CAT 3 safety certification (no cage required), Python and ROS 2 support, drag-teach mode, and a compact portable control box addresses the practical requirements of a university lab environment. SZGH also provides lab exercise templates aligned with industrial automation curricula.

2. Does it support Python and ROS for student projects?

Fully. Python and C++ SDKs ship with complete API documentation. ROS 1 and ROS 2 packages — including MoveIt 2 configuration — are available from the SZGH GitHub repository. Students can run programs on hardware or in Gazebo simulation using the same code. Lab exercise templates for standard robotics course topics are available on request.

3. What is the difference between BCk5 and BCi5?

The BCk5 is the entry-level model optimized for education, R&D, and low-frequency applications. Its top tool speed is 3.4 m/s (vs. 4.0 m/s for BCi5), average power is 200 W (vs. 400 W), and the control box weighs 6.6 kg (vs. 15 kg). Joint ranges on J2–J5 are more limited than the BCi5's full ±360° on all axes. The BCk5 costs less. For continuous multi-shift production, choose the BCi5.

4. Can a student with no robotics background operate it?

Yes. The drag-teach function allows a complete beginner to define a robot path by physically guiding the arm — no programming required. For basic operation (running saved programs, starting/stopping cycles, clearing faults), familiarization takes 1–2 hours. Writing Python SDK programs to control the robot takes a few additional sessions for students with introductory Python experience.

5. Is the smaller control box (6.6 kg) still full-featured?

Yes. The compact BCk5 control box contains the complete motion controller, all I/O modules, and the full safety circuitry. All SDK functions, fieldbus protocols (Modbus, Profinet optional, EtherCAT), and ROS connectivity are present. The size reduction reflects a design optimized for lower duty cycle loads, not a removal of features. The IP30 rating is appropriate for indoor lab and protected light-industrial environments.

6. Can it be used for light industrial tasks, not just education?

Yes. The BCk5's ±0.05 mm repeatability, IP54 arm rating, and PL=d CAT 3 certification make it fully capable for light industrial applications — dispensing, inspection, light assembly — in single-shift, lower-cycle environments. Small businesses running under one shift at modest volumes will find the BCk5 cost-effective for these applications. For high-cycle or multi-shift production, the BCi5 is the appropriate choice.

7. How is technical support handled for international buyers?

SZGH provides remote diagnostics and commissioning support via encrypted TeamViewer session at no cost during the 12-month warranty period. English-language SDK documentation and wiring manuals are included. Email and WhatsApp support channels are staffed by SZGH's export team in Shenzhen. For university buyers in Europe and North America, regional distributors can provide on-site support under a separate service agreement.

8. What is the payback period if deployed in a small production line?

For a single-shift operation where the BCk5 replaces one manual workstation, typical payback periods range from 12 to 24 months, depending on local labor costs and task cycle time. The lower purchase price compared to the BCi5 partially offsets the lower utilization rate at which it makes economic sense. Startups and small manufacturers using the BCk5 as a proof-of-concept platform before scaling to BCi5 units effectively amortize the cost over the validation phase.

Contact SZGH

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