ABB IRC5 with Flex pendant remote start

    I am trying to find a way to remote start a signal as if you were pushing the start button on the flex pendant. It looks like wire #213 connects in to X10 on the A21 board but I do not see a way to accomplish a remote signal , such as from a PLC.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    Yes sir, definite oversight on my part. I am working with an ABB 6400 with an IRC5 controller using a flex pendant. We are currently loading parts onto a transfer table by hand and I was trying to keep the operator from having to press the start button each time after the light curtain resets. The operator currently has to press the reset button for the light curtain, another momentary for motors on and then the start button on the flex pendant. I appreciate your input and look forward to any help you may offer.

    Thanks,

    Mike

    From what you are telling us, it appears your robot does not run while you are loading the table(s?) Is this the case? Robot does work, sits until loading is done and is reset each time to re-empty table. Stops if light curtain is broken? Just trying to better understand your setup. Do you have a PLC? How many tables? Do they move?

    That is correct, we have the light curtains tied into the E-stop circuit. The operation is pretty much as you described We did not want the robot to move until the operator is clear so he has to reset the curtains and turn the motors on through a remote pushbutton(automatic mode). Of course after that you must push the FPU start to resume operation. We are fine with that as it is safe for the operator. I did however want to incorporate a digital signal to restart the cycle if possible. Currently we do not have a PLC but it is definitely worth considering. There is just the 1 transfer table for the robot to pick from. From there it goes through 2 punch tables and then drops to a roller conveyor. Thank you for your help.

    To the best of my knowledge, with the current functionality and set up you have described, What you want to do is not possible. Every time the operator loads the table the Estop is circuit is triggered and must be reset using the control panel button.

    You don't "need" a PLC but it can make things easier by offering a greater number of I/O units and safety switches as well as a second "brain". Look up, controller as a PLC if you don't need a lot of I/Os or look into using an external I/O cabinet hooked to your CAN1.2?/2? if you do.

    That being said, you could potentially hard wire a "setup switch". This would be something like the reverse of a safety door lock key at the operator panel. When turned it would have to bypass the light curtain estop and simultaneously activate a robot guard stop state. After loading, the key would be switched back, no estop triggered, and a second button, wired to a DI could pulse a signal back to the robot. This signal could be programmed in rapid to trigger a restart.

    All this being said, you would have to carefully consider how "Safe" this would be for you and whether or not it meets your company criteria and protocol. All the info you need for this should be in the users manual.

    This is a hypothetical solution from a newer programmer and as such I suggest that you document your solution clearly and get a second if not third opinion from more experienced programmers and safety engineers before moving forward with a solution like this.

    Hope this helps!

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