Further simplifying its easy-to-use collaborative robots (also known as cobots), FANUC America has rolled out wrist button functionality across its lineup. This enhancement enables direct teaching via wrist flange buttons, eliminating the need to hold the tablet’s enable device and improving flexibility and efficiency on the manufacturing floor.

Feature Overview

FANUC’s three-button wrist feature is now available on all regular CRX cobot models, and comes standard on the CRX-30iA, featuring a 30 kg payload. Located on the J6 flange, the wrist buttons are programmable to suit individual preferences, providing unparalleled customization and flexibility. This feature is particularly beneficial in applications like palletizing, machine tending and arc welding, though it’s usefulness extends across a variety of applications and industries.

Function Details

Each of the three buttons is configurable and end users can choose from five functionality options:

Start/Stop Manual Guided Teaching: Enable or disable freehand teaching with a simple press of the button
Weight Switch for Manual Guided Teach: When pressed, the manual guided teaching weight is adjusted to the configured value
Toggle Manual Guided Teach Motion Type: When configured, this allows users to toggle between the manual guided teach motion types (Free, Translation, Rotation and Custom)
Record a Position: This feature allows the user to record/add points to the timeline when the wrist button teach icon is added to the timeline
Program Execution (No Motion): A no-motion teach pendant program will execute with the push of the configured button

Accessing the wrist button settings is a simple process that can be completed in just a few minutes.

Program Creation

Creating programs with the wrist buttons is intuitive and efficient. Enable manual guided teaching with button one, set to translation with button two, and record desired position points with button three. For example, with just a few gripper instructions, the robot can execute the pick and place programming seamlessly.

Ideal for those with little to no robotic experience, the cobot’s ease of programming is paired with FANUC’s world-renowned technology, proven reliability, and sensitive contact detection that allows CRX cobots to work safely alongside people.

To learn more about the three-button wrist feature, visit FANUC America’s Tech Transfer video on the Wrist Button Function.