What is a common first step to troubleshoot intermittent motion caused by electrical faults?

• A. Check cables and connectors, shield grounding, measure continuity, verify safety circuits
• B. Replace all hardware
• C. Reboot robot controller and hope
• D. Increase speed

Answer: (A)

Intermittent motion from electrical faults usually comes from the wiring path itself—loose connections, damaged cables, or grounding and shielding issues. Start by inspecting the electrical path: check cables and connectors for looseness, corrosion, bent pins, or damaged insulation; reseat connectors and ensure they mate firmly. Verify shielding and that grounds are solid and common to the enclosure and control system. Use a multimeter to measure continuity on critical runs to confirm a reliable electrical path rather than intermittent contact. Also check the safety circuits to ensure they aren’t tripping or introducing noise into the control loop.

These steps address the most common culprits behind intermittent motion and are quick, non-destructive, and informative before considering hardware replacement. Replacing hardware is premature, rebooting the controller is a temporary workaround that doesn’t diagnose the wiring, and increasing speed can mask or worsen the fault.