Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum and have questions regarding a used RX60BL robot and CS7MB controller I bought. Before retiring I worked with RX90CR's and CS7's beginning in 1996. The company I worked for purchased 55-60 of these as well as 1 RX130CR and am experienced writing software for work cells used in the manufacture of hard disk platters. The controllers from this era used the SIO boards. Later we began buying Adept Cobra 600's with AWCII's and transitioned to S600's with CX controllers for a different type of work cell.
At home I have a Cobra 600 & PA-4 with the compact controller insert, the 4 card add-on with EJI and AWCII. The plan is to use it to get high school students who are seeking engineering careers interested in robotics and automation. I recently purchased the RX60 and have yet to receive it. My specific question is this: Can I run the CS7MB on single phase? I've always run my PA-4 on 240V single phase since I don't have 3 phase power available. Although the PA-4 is designed for 3 phase input it runs just fine on single phase. I don't run at high speeds or anything like that. The same will apply to the RX60.
I posed this question to Staubli's service department and they were unsure. They said it would be up to me if I want to try it but wouldn't commit to yes or no, only "not recommended". Has anyone tried to do this? If it absolutely will not work I'll have to get a 1 phase to 3 phase converter. If that's the case, will a 1 phase to 3 phase VFD work? I've been told it will work just fine but I haven't witnessed it. I don't want to buy something that's not going to do the job. The output from VFD's are generally PWM square wave with a lot of harmonics. From my research it looks like certain 1 to 3 phase inverters will work they're available with a sine wave output. My problem with that is they're considerably more expensive than a VFD.
If anyone has experience along on this subject I'd appreciate your help. My background is software, not hardware.
Thanks, redwingz