Guard monitoring and locking
Every access door has a coded safety interlock. In automatic mode the robot cannot start unless all guards are closed and locked. Doors open only after the cell is in a safe state and the operator requests entry.
Machine safety
Safety engineered into every IROCUBE cell
From risk analysis to acceptance at your site, each cell is built on a documented safety concept. It is not assembled from a standard checklist.
- Safety concept fixed before manufacturing starts
- Every safety function tested at FAT and again at SAT
- CE marking and risk analysis report with every cell
- 14Safety standards referenced in design
- CEMarked, with Declaration of Conformity
- RiskAnalysis report for each cell
- FAT + SATSafety functions validated twice
Why it matters
Robot, machine, conveyor and operator share one space
In a machine tending cell, the robot, the CNC machine, the conveyor and the people who run and service them use the same space at different moments. Each change between them is a safety scenario that has to be designed for.
Production, maintenance, fault recovery, part changeover and loading at the conveyor are separate safety states. Each one has its own speeds, interlocks and permissions. IROCUBE is designed for all of them.
Our safety concept starts in the design phase. Risk analysis, guarding layout, safety distances, control architecture and validation checklists are complete before manufacturing begins.
- Designed in, not added on. Safety is part of the cell architecture from the first layout.
- Every operating mode covered. Production, setup and maintenance each have defined rules.
- Documented reasoning. Each safety decision traces back to the risk analysis.
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Safety functions
Designed for every scenario in the cell
Each function is part of one integrated system. Components are positioned and rated in relation to each other, then tested before the cell ships.
Emergency stop
E-stop buttons sit at every operator station and around the cell. The robot comes to a controlled stop before power is removed. Resetting an E-stop never restarts the cell on its own.
Safety control
Safety signals run through safety-rated relays or controllers with redundant, dual-channel wiring for critical inputs. The safety circuit works independently of the main cell control.
Robot safe zones and speed
FANUC DCS (Dual Check Safety) monitors robot position and speed against defined zones. In setup and maintenance the robot moves at reduced speed, controlled from a teach pendant with an enabling device.
Light curtains
Where loading stations or conveyor openings call for it, safety light curtains protect the access point. Their position is calculated from the robot's stop behavior, not estimated.
Conveyor openings and grippers
Conveyor pass-throughs in the fence are sized to keep hands out of the robot zone. Gripper air circuits are designed so a part is not dropped when power or air pressure is lost.
Standards framework
Designed with reference to machine safety standards
IROCUBE cells are designed with reference to the European and international standards below. Which ones apply, and how, is evaluated for each project based on layout, robot model, access points and site conditions.
| Standard | Subject | Where it applies in the cell |
|---|---|---|
| 2006/42/EC | EU Machinery Directive | Legal basis for CE marking of the complete cell |
| EN ISO 12100 | Risk assessment and risk reduction | Foundation of the risk analysis |
| ISO 10218-2 | Safety of industrial robot applications and cells | Cell design, operating modes, robot integration |
| EN ISO 13849-1 | Safety-related parts of control systems | Design of each safety function |
| EN IEC 62061 | Functional safety of control systems | Safety-related control functions |
| EN ISO 13850 | Emergency stop function | E-stop devices and restart behavior |
| EN ISO 13857 | Safety distances to hazard zones | Fence height, openings, conveyor pass-throughs |
| EN ISO 14120 | Guards | Fixed fence panels and movable doors |
| EN ISO 14119 | Interlocking devices for guards | Door interlocks and guard locking |
| EN ISO 13855 | Positioning of safeguards | Light curtain placement |
| IEC 61496 | Electro-sensitive protective equipment | Safety light curtains |
| IEC 60204-1 | Electrical equipment of machines | Control panel, wiring, stop circuits |
| EN ISO 4414 | Pneumatic systems safety | Gripper circuits and behavior on air loss |
| EN 619 | Conveyors for unit loads | Part in-feed and out-feed conveyors |
This list describes our design references. It is not a third-party certification. For projects outside the EU, we review the requirements that apply at the customer site together with the customer.
Equipment
Safety-rated components from established manufacturers
Safety-critical parts of the cell come from suppliers with published safety ratings. The final selection is made for each project.
Guarding and access
- Safety door interlocksCoded switches with guard locking on every access door
- Request-to-enterControlled entry only after the cell reaches a safe state
- Perimeter fencingSeparates the robot zone from operator areas
Detection and stop
- Safety light curtainsAt loading stations and conveyor openings where needed
- Emergency stop buttonsAt every operator station and around the cell
- Enabling deviceOn the robot teach pendant for setup work
Control
- Safety relays and controllersDual-channel monitoring of safety signals
- FANUC DCSDual Check Safety for robot zones and speed
- Safe stop circuitsHardwired E-stop circuits in the control panel
Brands we work with
- Banner
Validation
Tested and recorded, not only designed
Every safety function is checked twice: at our facility before shipment, and again in your plant after installation.
-
01
Design review
Risk analysis, safety function requirements, safety distances and guarding layout are reviewed and documented before manufacturing begins.
-
02
Factory acceptance test
At our facility, before the cell ships, we test each E-stop, door interlock, guard lock, request-to-enter sequence and restart prevention. Results are recorded.
-
03
Site acceptance test
After installation, all safety functions are verified again in your plant. Machine interface signals and site-specific access and maintenance scenarios are tested.
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04
Handover
Validation records and documentation are updated and handed over with customer sign-off.
Documentation
What comes with every IROCUBE cell
CE marking is the result, not the process. Behind it is a documented record of how safety was engineered for your cell.
The EU Machinery Directive is being replaced by the EU Machinery Regulation 2023/1230. We follow this transition and update our risk analysis and documentation practice to match.
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- CE markingWith the EU Declaration of Conformity for the complete cell.
- Risk analysis reportHazards, risk evaluation and reduction measures for your layout and operating modes.
- Standards appliedThe standards used for your project and how they were applied.
- Safety distancesCalculations for guarding, openings and light curtain positions.
- Electrical schematicsPanel, wiring and stop circuit documentation.
- Pneumatic schematicsGripper and actuator circuits.
- Component documentationManufacturer documents for safety-rated components and the robot.
- FAT and SAT recordsSigned results for each safety function.
- Operating instructionsSafe operation, maintenance safety and alarm response.
Common questions
Safety and IROCUBE
Is every IROCUBE cell CE marked?
Yes. Each cell is delivered with CE marking and a risk analysis report for the specific layout and operating modes.
Are IROCUBE cells certified by a third party to these standards?
IROCUBE cells are designed with reference to the listed European and international standards. The standards that apply are evaluated project by project. The list is not a third-party certification.
Can the safety concept be adapted to our plant?
Yes. The safety concept is finalized for each project, based on cell layout, robot model, machine interface, access points and site conditions.
What happens to safety during maintenance?
Maintenance is a separate operating mode. Guards can only be opened after the cell reaches a safe state, and the robot moves at reduced speed with an enabling device on the teach pendant.
Next step
Let's discuss safety for your application
Every safety concept is finalized for the project: layout, robot model, machine interface and site conditions. Tell us about yours.