Ask the Experts

Emergency Stopping is meant for emergencies. So if it is an emergency, YES "hit the e-stop". Machine damage is not tracked by the safety standard committee, and technically, it is not a safety issue. However there are safety implications of machinery damage. (1) if personnel think that an action will harm the machine, they may hesitate when the action is needed, thereby increasing the risk to personnel. (2) damage to the equipment may not be visible, and such damage may affect the machine's ability to respond as expected when needed for safety issues. I suggest that you contact Fanuc, as they will be able to give you specific information and guidance about appropriate use of the robot.

Hitting the E-stop during program motion can result in an abrupt stop. The Motoman robots are equipped with a HOLD button which is meant to stop program execution in a non-emergency condition. If the robot is not moving, then hitting the E-Stop is a way to remove drive power and keep the controller in automatic operation. It can be restarted by simply applying servo power and starting the program again. This will not damage the robot.