Replacing a (V)KRC2 (PC)

    So the last 2 days i have been having some problems with the PC in one of our KRC2 controllers. (this use to be VKRC2 but is now running normal kss 4.97). During production the screen freezes or turns black. after a cold start everything seems to be fine again. 2 weeks ago i had a similar problem only then the freezing of the screen was temporary and i got this error: "KRC systemfault 14 tZYK"

    For now it only seems to happen after the robot is booted up in the morning. Within the first hour or something like that. After that no more issues

    I have already contacted kuka service about this and they suspect that the motherboard of the PC is showing its age. I agree with this diagnosis, but now come the problem. normally we would just have kuka swap out the PC and everything would be fine. But because kuka is now down to its last KRC2 PC's (of this type) they have gotten a lot more expensive (€6900).

    I see a few options:

    • Pay up and continue working (we are a production company after all)
    • Upgrade the PC to that off a KRC2 edition 05 (still old but at least it is running windows XP instead of 95). For a edtion 05 there are more parts available (for now)
    • Upgrade to KRC4. probably the best option for the long term, and the most expensive option.

    For now i am going to leave the controller powered on in the evenings. if the problem only occurs in a small window after booting, then i am going to make sure that i don't need to boot up the PC. if that works that would be a tempory fix, but i hopefully buy some extra time to figure out what the best way forward is. or better said what our budget allows.

    Every problem has a solution, that isn't the problem. The problem is the solution.

    Hi, one option you can also look if you maybe have inside your current KPC already the DSE C33 Card, but still you need WinXPe and KSS5.x from KUKA and at least 256RAM for WinXPe requirement, also you can look inside the PC if you can see some capacitors swollen on the motherboard. I have repaired good number of old motherboards from KRC1 and KRC2, just by replacing the bad capacitors on the motherboard.

    KRC4 upgrade usually means everything needs to be exchanged, even the robot needs to be exchanged.

    Quote from DannyDJ

    Hi, one option you can also look if you maybe have inside your current KPC already the DSE C33 Card

    unfortunately not, this is one of the older vkrc2.

    Quote from DannyDJ

    look inside the PC if you can see some capacitors swollen on the motherboard

    Capacitors seem fine. no swelling or leaking. funnily enough i have another vkrc2 with leaking capacitors that is running just fine (for now).

    Quote from DannyDJ

    KRC4 upgrade usually means everything needs to be exchanged, even the robot needs to be exchanged.

    Yes, and i don't mind to invest to keep everything reliable and serviceable. I just find it a waste of the robot itself. Mechanically these things are still good enough for our use.

    Every problem has a solution, that isn't the problem. The problem is the solution.

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