What the 1010 alarm means

$MOVE_ENABLE is false because the external safety chain (E-stop circuit, safety relay or door contacts on X11) is open — the controller refuses all motion until the chain closes. This is one of the faults our repair team handles on KUKA KRC2 / KRC4 / KRC5 (KSS) systems — the cause is usually identifiable within the first on-site inspection.

Most common causes

  • An E-stop button is still pressed (cell, SmartPad or operator panel)
  • Safety door or guard switch open, misaligned or faulty
  • X11 safety jumper wiring missing or loose after maintenance
  • Faulty external safety relay in the cell
Field note: the first item on this list is what we find most often on real machines. Check it before you go deeper.

Step-by-step field fix

  1. Walk the cell and release every E-stop device
  2. Close and verify all safety doors and guard switches
  3. Inspect the X11 safety loop wiring against the cell circuit diagram
  4. Check the external safety relay status LEDs
  5. After closing the chain, reset and confirm $MOVE_ENABLE goes true
Safety first: never bypass safety circuits or force contactors closed. If the alarm involves E-stop chains, brakes or drive power, and you are not a trained robot technician, contact a professional — wrong moves here can cost you a robot or an injury.

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Tell us the alarm code, the robot model and what was happening when the alarm came up. Our engineers run these diagnostics every day, and remote diagnosis by phone or video call is free.

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Related Safety Chain & E-Stop alarms

1001 — Operator Safety Acknowledgment Required 1002 — Drives-On Not Asserted ($DRIVES_ON) 15074 — Safety Junction Error in Drive — Channel N
Other brands: we also keep field-fix libraries for ABB · Yaskawa · Universal Robots and more — see the complete alarm code hub.

Frequently asked questions

QWhat does the KUKA 1010 alarm mean?

$MOVE_ENABLE is false because the external safety chain (E-stop circuit, safety relay or door contacts on X11) is open — the controller refuses all motion until the chain closes. In field practice it belongs to the safety chain & e-stop family of faults.

QCan I clear a KUKA 1010 alarm myself?

Sometimes. Work through the step-by-step checks on this page — the first listed cause is what we find most often in the field. If the alarm returns after two attempts, or the fault involves power, brakes or safety circuits, stop and call a qualified robot service engineer.

QHow fast can a Henghuan engineer help?

On-site response in the Pearl River Delta within 30 minutes to 3 hours, across mainland China in 1-3 business days, and worldwide within 2-5 business days. Remote diagnosis by phone/WhatsApp/video is available immediately.

Written by the Henghuan Robotics repair team from field service experience. Alarm descriptions are our own summary for troubleshooting reference and may vary by controller and software version — when in doubt, check your KUKA documentation or contact us. Henghuan is an independent service provider, not affiliated with or endorsed by KUKA.