Articles Download Safety & Security Forum myUR Go to Main Site
 

Safety notice for CB3 robots - current distributor

The purpose of this message is to provide an alert on the Current Distributor on some CB3 robots

Last modified on Mar 06, 2025

Official Safety Notice in English (pdf format) - Click for download

To: Universal Robots Customers and Distributors
From: Universal Robots Global Technical Compliance
Date: 22 March 2021
Subject: SAFETY NOTICE – CB3 (Generation 3) Current Distributor Board Replacement
Version: 1.3


FOR OTHER LANGUAGES, PLEASE REFER TO THE END OF THIS ARTICLE

 

Affected Serial Numbers:

UR3 serial numbers:

  • starting 2021330 with the last 3 digits: 074, 077-082, 090, 092, 094-096, 098-101, 104, 106, 107, 112.

UR5 serial numbers:

  • starting 2020351 with the last 3 digits: 156-179, 206-209, 211-215, 217-230, 232-255, 258-262, 264, 270-298, 300-304, 306-340, 342, 343, 346-354, 356, 362, 372-378.

  • starting 2021350 with the last 3 digits: 005-010, 013-020, 023-051, 053-110, 121-198, 200, 218, 219, 221, 224, 232, 233, 235, 236, 238-245, 248, 290, 295, 300-307, 309-312, 314-320, 322, 323, 325, 332, 342, 343, 374, 416, 460, 467, 496, 517, 518, 557, 582, 591-593, 704, 706-709.

UR10 serial numbers:

  • starting 2020301 with the last 3 digits: 026-031, 071, 072, 077, 078, 081, 082, 085, 086, 089, 090, 092, 095-097, 101, 102, 104-108, 110, 116, 120, 123, 126, 127, 129, 130, 139, 159-161, 166, 167, 169, 170, 171, 175-184, 188, 194, 196, 199-204, 207, 208, 210, 212, 227, 228, 233-236, 243, 244, 250-254, 260, 261, 270, 272, 276-280, 285, 286, 295-298, 301-303, 305, 306, 311-325, 327-331, 333, 334, 338-341, 343-346, 348-350, 372-375, 382, 383, 444-461, 464-476, 479-486, 517-520, 565, 567, 568, 570-577, 580, 588, 589, 591, 615, 617, 619-622, 685-689, 725, 728-730, 736-740, 742-748, 751-754.
  • starting 2021300 with the last 3 digits: 001, 015, 077-079, 087, 088, 159, 160, 165, 166, 173-178, 185, 193, 211, 212, 221-224, 244, 245, 253, 281-284, 287, 311, 312, 316, 317, 322-324, 326-333, 336-342, 344-347, 349, 350, 354, 356, 401, 430, 434, 435, 500, 552, 558, 563, 608, 619.

 

After extensive testing and analysis, we discovered that the UR CB3 Current Distributor board can fail. The failure typically results in the robot not working (no movement). In limited circumstances, overheating and a fire could result. To prevent this from happening, all Current Distributor Boards version J3 are being replaced with a version having easily recognized relays.

All CB3 robots shipping from Universal Robots have the relay-type Current Distributors. This Safety Notice is about the robots in the field that need the Current Distributor Boards replaced.

To minimize risk of a fire due to J3 Current Distributor board, Universal Robots urges all CB3 robot customers with affected serial numbers to change the Current Distributor board to the version with relays.

The Current Distributor board is not readily visible until disassembly of the control box. First check the serial number to determine if a board change is needed. The serial number is printed on the labels on the robot and the control box. A control box label example is shown in the following picture.

WARNING: CB3 control boxes with the above serial numbers
  • Do not power-up or use these robots if they have J3 Current Distributor boards
  • A fire could result.

To eliminate this risk, replace the J3 Current Distributor board with the board with relays.

The following document links provide the files and procedures to replace the Current Distributor:

Procedure for replacement HERE

Video for replacement HERE

See the CB3 Service Manual HERE

FAQs for this Safety Notice are developed and updated on an on-going basis: HERE

The UR Support site has many useful files: www.universal-robots.com/download

If you have questions about this Safety Notice, contact your regional UR representative

 

Universal Robots expressly disclaims liability for any and all damages or injuries caused as a result of customer’s failure to install, operate and maintain the robot in strict compliance with the User Manual and Service Manual, train personnel as needed for the application, follow and implement the recommendations in the Safety Notice at https://www.universal-robots.com/articles/ur/how-to-videos/replacing-a-current-distributor-on-cb3-robots/.

Attached files