User Manual

Table Of Contents

Possible Failure Causes

Advanced Digital Motor Controller User Manual 33

SECTION 2

Safety

Recommendations

In many applications, Roboteq controllers drive high power motors that move parts and

equipment at high speed and/or with very high force. In case of malfunction, potentially

enormous forces can be applied at the wrong time and/or wrong place causing serious

damage to property and/or harm to a person. While Roboteq controllers operate very re-

liably, and failures are rare, a failure is possible as with any other electronic equipment. If

there is any danger that a loss of motor control can cause damage or injury, you must plan

on that possibility and implement methods for stopping the motor independently of the

controller operation.

Below is a list of failure categories, their effect and possible ways to regain control, or min-

imize the consequences. The list of possible failures is not exhaustive and the suggested

prevention methods are provided as examples for information only.

Important Safety Disclaimer

Dangerous uncontrolled motor runaway condition can occur for a number of rea-

sons, including, but not limited to command or feedback wiring failure, conﬁgura-

tion error, faulty ﬁrmware, errors in user MicroBasic script or in the user program, or

controller hardware failure. The user must assume that such failures can occur and

must take all measures necessary to make his/her system safe in all conditions.

The information contained in this manual, and in this section in particular, is provid-

ed for information only. Roboteq will not be liable in case of damage or injury as a

result of product misuse or failure.

Possible Failure Causes

The dangerous unintended motor operation could occur for a number of reasons, includ-

ing, but not limited to:

• Failure in Command device

• Feedback sensors malfunction

• Wiring errors or failure

• Controller conﬁguration error

• Faulty ﬁrmware