Alarm Lookup

Purpose

Use the lookup as an evidence-first triage tool. Record the alarm, active mode, recent operator action, and axis or spindle state before clearing anything. The lookup is most useful when it shortens the path from symptom to safe recovery rather than when it encourages blind resets.

Recommended workflow

1. Confirm the actual part target, tool condition, and controller constraints first.
2. Use the tool to build a reviewable baseline, not an unverified production extreme.
3. Compare the output with machine limits, holder clearance, finish targets, and restart logic.
4. After prove-out, tune one variable at a time and store the accepted rule with revision context.

How to interpret the result

This tool is most valuable when it helps the team answer three questions: Is the target clear? Is the process controllable? Can the result be repeated across shifts and machines? Whether the output is a chart, an estimate, or a program skeleton, it should be read together with machine capability, inspection method, tooling condition, and recovery expectations. That is what turns a convenient calculation into a usable production baseline.

Common risks and checks

Most wasted time comes from treating every alarm as either purely electrical or purely programming-related. Good teams separate root alarm, cascade alarm, and recovery risk. They verify whether the machine can restart safely, whether offsets changed, and whether the alarm will repeat under load.

When the result disagrees with the shop floor, check units, defaults, controller assumptions, tool condition, and recovery steps before questioning the core math. Teams get the best value when they feed the prove-out result back into setup notes, revision logs, and shift handoff documents.

Visual reference

Related tools

• alarm-diagnostics
• gcode-viewer
• gcode-reference

Final recommendation

Put the tool inside a fixed engineering loop: establish a baseline, validate the first piece, tune one variable at a time, and freeze the accepted rule with context. That approach delivers repeatability instead of one-off numbers.

Key FANUC alarms

SV001 — Servo overload

Cause: Axis load exceeds configured threshold.

Resolution: Check axis drag, ball screw condition, and servo parameters.

OT007 — Positive overtravel

Cause: Machine axis moved beyond positive travel limit.

Resolution: Jog axis away from limit and verify soft limits.

PS014 — Illegal address

Cause: Program contains unsupported word or malformed address.

Resolution: Inspect the block and compare with controller manual syntax.

SP905 — Spindle alarm

Cause: Spindle drive reported fault or overload.

Resolution: Check drive alarm history, cooling, and spindle motor status.

TH012 — Overheat warning

Cause: Thermal load exceeds recommended range.

Resolution: Reduce load and verify coolant/chiller operation.