How are external e-stop signals wired within the control system?

External emergency stop (e-stop) signals are wired into the emergency stop board for several reasons related to safety and system design integrity.

The emergency stop board acts as a dedicated interface for managing all emergency stop signals coming from various sources. This ensures that these critical signals can be processed reliably and promptly to halt operation in case of an emergency. By routing e-stop signals through this specialized board, the system guarantees that the signals are isolated and prioritized appropriately, mitigating the risk of unintended operations or failures during an emergency scenario.

Additionally, the emergency stop board is often designed with fail-safe mechanisms and redundancy features to ensure that the system remains safe even in the event of a fault. This allows the emergency stop feature to function independently of other system components, ensuring that a user-activated e-stop can shut down the entire machine or system regardless of the state of other controls or subsystems.

Other wiring options, such as to the main controller, power supply unit, or servo drive, do not provide the same level of safety and reliability. Directly wiring to these components may complicate the emergency response, potentially allowing other system functions to continue, which can lead to dangerous situations.