New Products
Wireless Safety Enabling Switch
Safe, mobile machine control for setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance inside hazardous areas
The Wireless Safety Enabling Switch provides a flexible way to support setup, troubleshooting, programming, and maintenance tasks where an operator may need controlled machine movement from within or near a safeguarded area. Its wireless design improves mobility while maintaining an intentional enabling function as part of the machine safety system.
- Wireless 3-Position Enabling Control – Allows controlled machine movement during setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance while giving the operator an immediate way to remove the enable signal.
- Freedom of Movement – Wireless operation eliminates the trailing cable of a traditional enabling pendant, giving operators more flexibility when working around large machines, robot cells, and automated systems.
- Programmable Operator Functions – Configurable pushbuttons and display functions can support jog commands, machine selection, reset functions, setup controls, and other application-specific commands.
- Safety-Rated Machine Integration – Designed for integration with safety PLCs, operating-mode selection, interlocks, safe-speed functions, and other machine-safety controls as part of a coordinated safety system.
Wireless Safety Enabling Switch
Safe, mobile machine control for setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance inside hazardous areas
The Wireless Safety Enabling Switch provides a flexible way to support setup, troubleshooting, programming, and maintenance tasks where an operator may need controlled machine movement from within or near a safeguarded area. Its wireless design improves mobility while maintaining an intentional enabling function as part of the machine safety system.
- Wireless 3-Position Enabling Control – Allows controlled machine movement during setup, troubleshooting, and maintenance while giving the operator an immediate way to remove the enable signal.
- Freedom of Movement – Wireless operation eliminates the trailing cable of a traditional enabling pendant, giving operators more flexibility when working around large machines, robot cells, and automated systems.
- Programmable Operator Functions – Configurable pushbuttons and display functions can support jog commands, machine selection, reset functions, setup controls, and other application-specific commands.
- Safety-Rated Machine Integration – Designed for integration with safety PLCs, operating-mode selection, interlocks, safe-speed functions, and other machine-safety controls as part of a coordinated safety system.
Wireless Enabling System
The Wireless Safety Enabling Switch is designed for machine setup, programming, testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance tasks where an operator may need controlled machine movement while inside a hazardous area.
The system combines a compact hand-held enabling device with a wireless safety module that interfaces with the machine safety system. The wireless design gives the operator greater freedom of movement compared with a traditional tethered enabling device.
3-Position Enabling Function
The hand-held device uses a three-position enabling switch intended for special operating modes.
- Released position – Machine movement is not enabled.
- Middle position – Controlled machine movement can be permitted when the required safety conditions are met.
- Fully depressed position – The enabling function is removed and the machine is commanded toward the defined safe state.
This allows the operator to react either by releasing the device or by instinctively gripping it tightly in an emergency situation.
Typical System Components
A typical system can include:
- Wireless hand-held enabling switch
- 3-position enabling control
- Operator display
- Programmable function buttons
- Wireless safety receiver/module
- Safety-rated outputs for machine integration
- Radio and/or infrared communication
- Configurable control functions
- Machine-specific electrical integration
Configurable Operator Functions
The hand-held unit can be configured around the functions required during setup or maintenance, including:
- Jog functions
- Axis or direction selection
- Machine function selection
- Reset commands
- Setup functions
- Process controls
- Machine-specific commands
- Custom display messages
Wireless Operation
The system is designed to provide freedom of movement without requiring a trailing cable between the operator and the machine.
Configuration capabilities can include:
- Adjustable radio signal strength
- Frequency configuration based on the operating environment
- Device identity matching
- Wireless transmission monitoring
- Radio and infrared communication options
Safety Performance
The system is designed for high-performance safety applications, including configurations up to:
- Category 4 / Performance Level e
- SIL 3
Final machine safety performance depends on the complete safety architecture and integration.
Existing Safety Functions Remain Active
The wireless enabling device is intended to supplement the machine's safety system rather than replace conventional safeguarding and safety circuits.
Existing wired safety functions can remain active while the wireless enabling device is being used, allowing the system to become part of a coordinated special operating mode.
Typical Applications
Wireless enabling systems are well suited for applications such as:
- Robot cell setup and maintenance
- Machine troubleshooting
- Programming and teach operations
- Automated equipment maintenance
- Automated storage and retrieval systems
- Setup inside machine work areas
- Testing machine movements
- Manual intervention during special operating modes
- Large machines where a tethered pendant limits operator mobility
Engineered Machine Integration
A wireless enabling switch is not simply a handheld remote. Its function must be integrated into the machine's safety controls and operating modes so that permitted movement, speed, safeguards, and operator controls behave as intended during setup or maintenance.
PowerSafe can integrate the enabling system with safety PLCs, operating-mode selection, safe-speed functions, guarding, interlocks, robot controls, and other machine-safety devices as part of a complete engineered safety solution.
