Industrial control brothers, let's get this going: The "Four Rules of Safety" that every servo operator must follow!
Release time:
2025-07-26 17:24
Source:
Industrial control brothers, recent hot topics
The alarm is ringing again!
Every minute of safety on the production line,
is a protective wall built by us industrial control personnel with responsibility,
and there is no room for carelessness!
Today, let's tighten the strings together again,
and talk about servo system safety those
key points that we must never let go of.
Old rules,
Welcome everyone to add at the end of the article,
Let's build this wall together!

1. Power off! Discharge! Don't take chances
▫ Wiring, inspection, and part replacement must first disconnect all power sources (both main power and control power).
▫ Don't rush to start working. Wait 5-15 minutes honestly (check the indicator lights, for example, the CHARGE light of Auton servo is off before it is safe). The capacitors inside store hundreds of volts of high voltage, and touching it is not a joke.
▫ Plugging and unplugging wires under power, touching terminals? Absolutely prohibited! Electric shock, burning components, sparks, we can't afford any of the consequences.
2. Grounding: Not a decoration, but a lifeline
▫ The driver casing and motor casing must be individually and reliably grounded! The wire must be thick enough, and it must not be mixed with the neutral wire! Otherwise, when leakage occurs, the equipment casing will be energized, waiting for an accident.

▫ Regularly check grounding (at least 3 times a month): Are the bolts tight? Are the wires rusty or covered with paint/rust? This is our "lifeline"!
3. Power supply and wiring: Rules are safety
▫ The input voltage must be consistent with the rated voltage of the servo driver (such as AC220V/380V). If the voltage is incorrect (overvoltage/undervoltage), stop immediately! Fluctuations must also be within ±10%. Leakage circuit breakers and contactors should be installed when necessary, they can save lives in case of accidents!

▫ U/V/W are directly connected to the motor, don't mess with the contactor in the middle, otherwise the motor may "run away"!
▫ The insulation layer of the power line is broken? The terminal is not tightened? Replace it immediately! Tighten it in place! Heating, sparking, and fire are all lessons learned from blood and tears!

1. Installation and fixing: Stability is paramount
▫ The servo motor shaft end is a precision forbidden zone. When replacing bearings, the encoder and zero position must be removed first. If you dare to hit the tail end shaft with a hammer, wait for the encoder glass code disc to be scrapped.
▫ The connection to the load (such as conveyor belt, robotic arm) must be firm and aligned. If it is not aligned and starts to rotate, vibration and noise are minor issues, but parts flying out is life-threatening!
▫ The base bolts of the servo motor and servo driver are tightened, and spring washers are added to prevent loosening. If there is displacement during operation, you can imagine the consequences.
2. Motion protection: Safe operating area protects you
▫ Protective fences or covers must be installed around the mechanically moving parts driven by the motor (such as lead screws, gears, robotic arms). Operation is strictly prohibited when the protective device is missing.
▫ Clearly define the "safe operating area". The operator should stand to the side or rear, not directly facing the shaft end or movement trajectory. If a part breaks, you won't be able to dodge it.
3. Limit and emergency stop: Brake guarantee
▫ Try to install limit switches (such as photoelectric switches, travel switches) at the limit positions of mechanical movement, and connect them to the "hardware limit" interface of the servo driver to ensure that the equipment stops immediately when it reaches the boundary. Sometimes it is more reliable than software.
▫ Place the machine emergency stop button within easy reach (1.2~1.5 meters high). Pressing it must immediately cut off the output and stop the motor. Test it before each startup. This is a life-saving button!

1. Debugging: Steady and reliable, two people work together
▫ For the first power-on, try no-load operation. First test whether the motor rotation is correct (short-time jog, observe the rotation direction), then gradually increase the speed (starting from 5% of the rated speed), and confirm that there is no problem before connecting the load.
▫ Two people must cooperate. One operates, and the other watches the emergency stop button. If any abnormal noise, smoke, or motor vibration occurs, it can be stopped immediately.
3. Parameters: Random changes are like laying mines
▫ When changing new equipment or brands, parameters must be adjusted! The engineer must do it personally, don't just use it blindly after buying it. Why emphasize this? Because in the past, a steel group had an equipment explosion due to mismatched motors, resulting in 4 deaths, 3 injuries, and direct economic losses of more than 6 million yuan.
▫ Overload protection, overspeed threshold, braking time... Don't mess with these safety parameters. Follow the manual, and after adjustment, test whether the protection function is effective (such as simulating overload, to see if it triggers an alarm and stops).

3. Running monitoring: Eyes everywhere, ears everywhere
▫ Keep an eye on the alarm lights/display screen, overcurrent, overvoltage, overload, encoder failure...(remember the codes) stop immediately when an alarm occurs and check the cause. If running with alarms...

Don't touch the motor casing while it's running. Overload or poor heat dissipation can make it very hot. Let it cool down after stopping before touching it; it will be better.
Use the STO (Safe Torque Off) function. It instantly cuts torque output when triggered by an emergency stop or anomaly detection (such as a tool colliding with a workpiece), saving equipment and lives in critical moments!

1. Emergency: Stay calm! Act decisively!
Electric shock: Cut the main power first! Use a dry wooden stick or other insulating material to move the person or object, check breathing and pulse, perform CPR if necessary, and call 120 immediately!
Machine entanglement: Press the emergency stop ➡ Cut the power ➡ Then rescue the person! Prevent secondary injuries!
Fire: If the servo drive or motor smokes or catches fire, immediately cut the power and use a dry powder fire extinguisher. Never use water! (Electrical fire)
2. Routine Maintenance: Prevent problems before they occur
Regularly listen to the bearings: Unusual noises or strong vibrations may indicate a failing bearing. Replace it promptly; don't wait until it seizes and burns out the motor.
Regularly check cables: Are the power cables damaged? Are the encoder cables broken or is the shielding damaged? Replace any problematic cables immediately.

Regularly clean dust: Regularly use compressed air to clean the heat sinks of the drive and motor. Do not use water or wet cloths. Good heat dissipation extends lifespan.
Fellow industrial control engineers,
These rules and regulations,
Are not mere theory; they are lessons learned from blood and tears!
No matter how experienced we are, we must always remain vigilant,
Safety is paramount; prevention is key.
What other practical experiences or hard lessons have you learned?
Share them in the comments section,
Let's learn and prevent together,
Making our safety net impenetrable!

Servo driver,Servo motor,Servo wiring,Servo safety,Auto servo