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How to Initialize the Robot Arm (PolyScope X)

Release the joint brakes and prepare your robot arm for operation on PolyScope X. Covers the initialization status icons and step-by-step startup sequence.

Written by Doug Ayers
Updated today

This article is for robots running PolyScope X. If your robot runs PolyScope 5, see How to Initialize the Robot Arm (PolyScope 5).

After powering on your robot, you need to initialize the arm before it can move. Initialization releases the joint brakes and prepares the arm for operation.

Status Indicators

The button in the lower-left corner of the teach pendant shows the arm's current state:

Icon & Color

Description

PolyScope X stopped state icon

Off — The arm is stopped.

PolyScope X locked state icon

Locked — The arm is powered on but the brakes are engaged.

PolyScope X ready state icon

Active — The arm is ready for operation.

Steps

Make sure the robot arm is not touching anything (e.g., a table or fixture). A collision during initialization can damage a joint gearbox.

  1. In the lower-left corner of the teach pendant, tap the Robot State Off button. The Initialize screen opens.

  2. Tap Power On. The status changes to locked (brakes engaged).

    PolyScope X Initialize screen showing Power On button

  3. Tap Unlock. The joint brakes release — you'll hear a sound and see slight arm movement. The status changes to ready (green).

    On the UR20, you need to hold the yellow 3-Position Enabling (3PE) button on the teach pendant while tapping Unlock. See UR20 3PE Switch Usage for details.

    PolyScope X Initialize screen showing Unlock button

  4. Tap the dark blue bar to the right of the Robot State button to close the Initialize screen.

    PolyScope X teach pendant showing how to close the Initialize screen

How to Verify

The Robot State button in the lower-left corner should now show the green ready icon. The robot arm is ready for operation.

PolyScope X teach pendant showing green ready state after initialization

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