Based on contributions by MarkHamberg.
A quick reference for the most-used buttons on a FANUC teach pendant, for when the layout isn’t obvious yet. Pendant type used here: A05B-2801-C395.
What you need
- A FANUC teach pendant
Reference
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| Deadman switches (back of pendant) | Hold half-pressed while jogging or running a program. Releasing it — or pressing it too hard — stops the robot immediately. This is a safety fallback, not a normal way to stop the robot. |
| Teach/Auto mode selector | Switches the pendant between TEACH mode (manual control and programming) and AUTO mode (the robot runs the stored program automatically). |
| Emergency stop | Instantly stops all robot movement. |
| Jog keys | Manually move or rotate the robot along axes; hold SHIFT while jogging. Use the frame key to choose linear or joint-by-joint movement, based on the selected tool/user frame. |
| F-keys (F1–F5) | Select the on-screen option shown directly above each key. |
| Frame key | Switches the active coordinate system between WORLD, TOOL, USER, and JOINT. |
| Line-by-line / cycle start | STEP runs the program one line at a time (useful for testing); CYCLE START runs it continuously. |
| RESET | Clears alarms and errors on the controller — use after an E-stop or fault. |
| EDIT | Opens program edit mode. |
| MENU | Opens the list of functions, error log, and setup screens (including frame setup). |
| Program explorer (SELECT) | Opens the list of programs. |
| Open current program | Reopens the last-edited program at the line you left off. |
| Register (DATA) | Opens position registers and variables for viewing and editing. |
| Functions / messages | Shows system messages. Use ABORT here when a program calls another program and you need to stop that call. |
Related
- How to set up tool, jog, and user frames on a FANUC teach pendant
- Troubleshooting common FANUC robot errors
Rewritten and consolidated (Sept 2026) from the original student how-to’s: Important buttons on Fanuc Teach pendant.