FANUC FANUC CNC Controllers & Human-Machine Interface (HMI) 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary interface device used to program and operate a FANUC robot in the field?
- Desktop PC with offline software
- Teach Pendant (iPendant) (Correct answer)
- Tablet computer via Bluetooth
- Touch screen monitor mounted on the cell
Correct answer: Teach Pendant (iPendant)
The teach pendant, specifically the iPendant on modern FANUC systems, is the primary handheld device used to program and manually control FANUC robots.
Question 2: Which control element on the FANUC teach pendant must be held in the intermediate position to enable robot motion in T1 or T2 manual mode?
- SHIFT key
- ENTER key
- Deadman (enable) switch (Correct answer)
- RESET button
Correct answer: Deadman (enable) switch
The deadman switch must be held in its middle position; releasing it completely or squeezing it too hard both trigger an E-stop, ensuring the operator stays alert.
Question 3: Which FANUC controller series is most widely deployed in current-generation industrial robot cells?
- Series 10 / Model A
- R-30iB / R-30iB Plus (Correct answer)
- RJ2 Controller
- A05B controller series
Correct answer: R-30iB / R-30iB Plus
The R-30iB and R-30iB Plus are FANUC's current flagship controllers and are the most commonly found units in modern industrial automation installations.
Question 4: What is the purpose of the CYCLE START button on a FANUC robot operator panel?
- Initiates a controller diagnostic self-test
- Starts or resumes program execution in AUTO mode (Correct answer)
- Resets all active alarms
- Powers down the controller safely
Correct answer: Starts or resumes program execution in AUTO mode
CYCLE START initiates or resumes execution of the loaded program when the robot is in AUTO or REMOTE mode, beginning the automated production cycle.
Question 5: In FANUC terminology, what does a 'COLD START' refer to?
- Starting the robot after operation in a cold environment
- Powering on the controller from a fully off state, loading all system software fresh (Correct answer)
- A calibration mode for low-temperature compensation
- Restarting a program from line 1 after a fault
Correct answer: Powering on the controller from a fully off state, loading all system software fresh
A Cold Start means the FANUC controller is booted from a complete power-off condition, causing all system software and configurations to load from non-volatile memory.
Question 6: Which non-volatile memory type in a FANUC controller stores user programs and system data even when controller power is removed?
- RAM (Random Access Memory)
- Cache memory
- FROM (Flash ROM) (Correct answer)
- CPU registers
Correct answer: FROM (Flash ROM)
FANUC controllers use FROM (Flash Read-Only Memory) as persistent storage for user programs, system variables, and configuration data that survives power loss.
Question 7: When a FANUC controller detects a fault condition, how is the operator primarily notified?
- A green status light turns off only
- An alarm code and description appear on the teach pendant screen (Correct answer)
- A continuous audible alarm sounds only
- The robot automatically restarts the program
Correct answer: An alarm code and description appear on the teach pendant screen
FANUC controllers display an alarm code and a plain-language description on the teach pendant when a fault is detected, allowing the operator to identify and resolve the issue.
FANUC FANUC CNC Controllers & Human-Machine Interface (HMI) 1
What is the primary interface device used to program and operate a FANUC robot in the field?