How Yaskawa’s ArcWorld RS Mini and HS Micro Bring Automation Into Small Workshops

Not every welding shop has the floor space of an automotive plant, but that doesn’t mean you can’t run industrial-grade robot welding. 

Yaskawa’s ArcWorld RS Mini and ArcWorld HS Micro systems were designed for exactly that: real-world UK workshops where space is tight, batch sizes are small, and consistency matters more than ever.

These aren’t stripped-down systems or entry-level kits. They’re fully integrated, plug-and-play welding cells, built around Yaskawa’s industry-leading robots and controls, combining everything you need to start automated welding the same day they’re delivered.

Compact by Design, Industrial by Nature

The ArcWorld RS Mini and HS Micro share one core principle, delivering the full performance of an industrial Yaskawa welding robot in a footprint that fits almost anywhere.

Each system includes the robot, controller, teach pendant, fume extraction, and CE-certified guarding, all built onto a single frame. They’re pre-wired, pre-tested, and ready to roll straight into production.

• ArcWorld RS Mini: Designed for higher throughput, it supports twin-station setups so operators can load one side while the robot welds on the other.
   

• ArcWorld HS Micro: Even smaller and lighter, ideal for short-run or prototype work, with simple single-station operation and the same core hardware.

Both systems are compatible with Yaskawa’s AR900 and GP7 robots, giving you a maximum reach of 927 mm and payloads of up to 7 kg, perfect for small to medium components, sheet assemblies, brackets, and general fabrication.

Plug & Play Welding That Fits the Real World

Where traditional welding cells take weeks to install and configure, these compact systems are ready to use within hours. Everything, from the electrical cabinet and software integration to the mechanical setup, comes preconfigured at the factory.

Once delivered, it’s simply a case of positioning the cell, connecting power and fume extraction, and beginning operation. There’s no on-site wiring, no PLC programming, and no need to redesign your layout.

For growing fabricators, this also means flexibility: both the RS Mini and HS Micro can be relocated within the workshop if production needs change.

High Precision with the AR900 and YRC1000

At the heart of both systems sits the Yaskawa AR900, a high-speed, six-axis welding robot known for its accuracy and agility. It’s powered by the YRC1000 controller, the same platform that runs Yaskawa’s largest ArcWorld systems.

That means you get full compatibility with advanced welding functions, including:

• Seam tracking and weaving patterns for complex joints

• Offline programming via MotoSim

• Yaskawa’s Inform III language for complete motion control

• Smart Pendant compatibility, making operation simple for welders new to robotics

Combined, they deliver smooth motion, consistent weld quality, and reduced spatter, no matter how many times the job repeats.

Safe, Certified, and Clean

Both ArcWorld cells are fully CE-marked and designed for operator safety straight out of the box.

The integrated fume extraction system removes smoke and particulates at the source, and the enclosed structure prevents arc glare from reaching nearby operators. The guarding, interlocks, and door sensors all meet UK safety standards, there’s nothing extra to source or retrofit.

Because the YRC1000 controller includes dual-channel functional safety, the cell also supports advanced zone monitoring and light curtain integration for even tighter safety control.

Practical Automation for Small-Batch Welding

Many UK workshops handle the same kind of workload, small batches, frequent part changes, and one-off fabrications. That’s where these compact robot welding cells excel.

With the RS Mini, you can keep production continuous: while the robot welds one side, the operator preps the next job on the other. For one-off or small runs, the HS Micro is fast to reprogram and redeploy. Both systems teach pendant control, so a skilled welder can set up new parts without needing a full automation team.

It’s practical, flexible, and, crucially, affordable.

A Smarter Way to Introduce Robot Welding

The ArcWorld RS Mini and HS Micro make automation achievable for workshops that never thought it would fit. They don’t need dedicated floor space, they don’t need complex integration, and they don’t need months of downtime.

You get the same Yaskawa reliability, the same weld quality, and the same controller platform used in major production lines, just scaled for the way UK fabricators actually work.

For small to medium workshops looking to take the next step, this is where robot welding really starts to make sense.