What is the difference between the R30iA controller and the RJ3Ib controller. I have heard they are the same, just with a different name, but noticed the insides look different.
Regarding same, that would be the R-J3iC which was rebranded as the R-30iA.
The R-J3iB and the R-J3iC/R-30iA are very different.
To properly use an i-pendant, the R-J3iB needs V6.40 software.
Have never connected a touch screen pendant on an R-J3iB.
R30iA was the first controller to have DCS, which allows for smaller cells. The RJ3iB was limited to using hardstops to reducing robot work envelope.
It also allows for longer than 8 character names for programs (only took fanuc until 2007 to do something that had been done 20+ years earlier with computers 
).
Also string registers were added on this controller gen.
RJ3iB = Version 6
RJ3iC = R30iA = Version 7
thanks guys. that makes perfect sense. 
