FlexLink RC12 vs Sawyer
Side-by-side comparison of FlexLink RC12 (FlexLink Systems Inc.) and Sawyer (Rethink Robotics) — specs, pricing, Robolist Index, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
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Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- FlexLink RC12Sweden
- SawyerUnited States
Year First Available
- FlexLink RC122024
- Sawyer2015
Verified Deployments
- FlexLink RC120 Deployments
- Sawyer0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- FlexLink RC12Contact for quote
- Sawyer$34,900
Availability Status
- FlexLink RC12ACTIVE
- SawyerACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Payload
- FlexLink RC1210 kg
- Sawyer4 kg
Reach
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer1,260 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer7
Repeatability
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer±0.01 mm
Max TCP Speed
- FlexLink RC128 m/s
- Sawyer1.5 m/s
Robot Weight
- FlexLink RC12360 kg
- Sawyer19 kg
Mounting Options
- FlexLink RC12floor
- Sawyerfloor, ceiling, wall
IP Rating
- FlexLink RC12—
- SawyerIP54
Safety
Safety Rating
- FlexLink RC12ISO/TS 15066
- SawyerCat3 PLd
Force/Torque Sensing
- FlexLink RC12none
- Sawyerjoint level all
TCP Speed (Collaborative)
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer0.5 m/s
Power/Force Limiting
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer150 N
Safety I/O Pairs
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer2
Duty Cycle
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer24 7 continuous
Ease of Use
Setup Time
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer2 hrs
Time to Redeploy
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer10 min
No-Code Capable
- FlexLink RC12Yes
- SawyerYes
Offline Programming
- FlexLink RC12No
- SawyerYes
Programming Interface
- FlexLink RC12Robot Config drag-and-drop
- Sawyerteach_pendant, drag_and_drop, code_python, code_ros
End-Effector
Tool Flange Standard
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyeriso 9283 compatible
Tool Changer Support
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyerautomatic
Integrated F/T Sensor
- FlexLink RC12—
- SawyerYes
Wrist Power Supply
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer24V DC + 6 bar pneumatic
Software & Connectivity
SDK Languages
- FlexLink RC12—
- SawyerPython, C++, FANUC KAREL, .NET
ROS Compatible
- FlexLink RC12—
- SawyerYes
Fieldbus Protocols
- FlexLink RC12—
- SawyerModbus TCP, TCP/IP
Digital Twin Support
- FlexLink RC12—
- SawyerYes
Reliability
MTBF
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer90,000 hrs
Path Accuracy
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer±0.02 mm
Commercial
Price (USD)
- FlexLink RC12Contact for quote
- Sawyer$34,900
Warranty
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer3 yrs
Lead Time
- FlexLink RC12—
- Sawyer6 wks
| | |
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country (values differ) | Sweden | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2024 | 2015 |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | Contact for quote | $34,900 |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Payload (values differ) | 10 kg | 4 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | — | 1,260 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | — | 7 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | — | ±0.01 mm |
| Max TCP Speed (values differ) | 8 m/s | 1.5 m/s |
| Robot Weight (values differ) | 360 kg | 19 kg |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | floor | floor, ceiling, wall |
| IP Rating (values differ) | — | IP54 |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO/TS 15066 | Cat3 PLd |
| Force/Torque Sensing (values differ) | none | joint level all |
| TCP Speed (Collaborative) (values differ) | — | 0.5 m/s |
| Power/Force Limiting (values differ) | — | 150 N |
| Safety I/O Pairs (values differ) | — | 2 |
| Duty Cycle (values differ) | — | 24 7 continuous |
| Ease of Use | ||
| Setup Time (values differ) | — | 2 hrs |
| Time to Redeploy (values differ) | — | 10 min |
| No-Code Capable | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | Robot Config drag-and-drop | teach_pendant, drag_and_drop, code_python, code_ros |
| End-Effector | ||
| Tool Flange Standard (values differ) | — | iso 9283 compatible |
| Tool Changer Support (values differ) | — | automatic |
| Integrated F/T Sensor (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Wrist Power Supply (values differ) | — | 24V DC + 6 bar pneumatic |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| SDK Languages (values differ) | — | Python, C++, FANUC KAREL, .NET |
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | — | Modbus TCP, TCP/IP |
| Digital Twin Support (values differ) | — | Yes |
| Reliability | ||
| MTBF (values differ) | — | 90,000 hrs |
| Path Accuracy (values differ) | — | ±0.02 mm |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | Contact for quote | $34,900 |
| Warranty (values differ) | — | 3 yrs |
| Lead Time (values differ) | — | 6 wks |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, CaaS / Month
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes FlexLink RC12 and Sawyer?
FlexLink RC12 is made by FlexLink Systems Inc., based in SE. Sawyer is made by Rethink Robotics, based in US.
When were FlexLink RC12 and Sawyer launched?
FlexLink RC12 launched in 2024. Sawyer launched in 2015.
How do FlexLink RC12 and Sawyer compare on the Robolist Index?
FlexLink RC12 scores 64/100. Sawyer scores 98/100. The Robolist Index blends specs, pricing transparency, verified deployments, and independent media coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
Are FlexLink RC12 and Sawyer in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Cobot on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Cobot robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Cobot TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between FlexLink RC12 and Sawyer?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings
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Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing
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Running a Cobot Pilot in a Manual Production Line
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
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About this comparison
FlexLink RC12 vs Sawyer compares two robots in the cobot category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robolist Index is calculated.