What's the first step in troubleshooting a robot experiencing sudden, unexplained stops during its programmed cycle?

The first step in troubleshooting a robot experiencing sudden, unexplained stops during its programmed cycle is to check the robot controller's error logs and diagnostic messages. These logs typically record any errors or warnings that occurred during the robot's operation, providing valuable clues about the cause of the stops. The error messages might indicate issues such as safety circuit activation, motor overloads, communication failures, or software errors. For example, the error log might show a 'Safety Stop Activated' message, which would suggest that a safety device, such as a light curtain or emergency stop button, has been triggered. Alternatively, an 'Axis Overload' message might indicate that one of the robot's motors is exceeding its torque limit. By examining the error logs, technicians can quickly narrow down the potential causes of the stops and focus their troubleshooting efforts on the most likely issues. Before diving into hardware checks or software debugging, reviewing the error logs offers the most direct and efficient starting point for diagnosing the problem.