At SPS 2026 in Nuremberg, mayr power transmission is showing how safety brakes for robots and gravity-loaded axes can also become a source of maintenance data. The focus is the ROBA-topstop safety brake combined with the ROBA-brake-checker module for sensorless monitoring and the ROBA-gateway for network connectivity, alongside custom hollow shaft brakes for torque motors.
ROBA-topstop: fail-safe holding for vertical axes
Fail-safe brakes engage when power is interrupted, so a vertical axis or a robot arm stays in position after a power failure or an emergency stop. The ROBA-topstop is mounted between the motor and the drive output, which means it can also be retrofitted on existing machines with limited adaptation work. It is designed as a compact, self-contained module with O-ring seals at the interfaces and IP66 protection as standard.
A practical detail for maintenance: because the brake sits between motor and output, the vertical axis remains secured even when the motor is removed. Adaptable flange dimensions simplify integration, and a standardized connector makes it easy to wire the brake into sensorless monitoring systems. TÜV has qualified the ROBA-topstop as a “well-tried component” for Category 1.
Sensorless brake monitoring with ROBA-brake-checker and ROBA-gateway
The ROBA-brake-checker determines the brake condition from the current and voltage curves of the coil, without additional sensors on the brake. It detects critical parameters such as switching time and coil temperature, which allows maintenance to be planned before a fault occurs.
The ROBA-gateway adds network connectivity. The data collected by the brake-checker can be fed into existing remote maintenance systems or used to build digital twins, giving more transparency over the drive train.
Brakes for robots and torque motors
- ROBA-servostop: modular series of servo brakes for standard servomotors, with hub and toothed rotor, in classic or compact designs.
- ROBA-servostop Cobot: compact, lightweight version for integration in the joints of lightweight robots.
- Hollow shaft brakes: custom electromagnetic brakes with a ring geometry that matches high-torque hollow shaft motors used as direct drives, from robotics and observation technology to marine systems and underwater robotics.
Validation tool for ISO 13849
mayr also supports the engineering phase with a validation tool that includes the B10d safety value and helps dimension brakes according to DIN EN ISO 13849-1. Structured as a user guide and checklist, it collects the information required by DIN EN ISO 13849-2: applied basic and well-tried safety principles, validated components and fault lists. Engineers can use it to check whether a brake can be treated as a well-tried component in their specific application.
Why it matters for engineers
Safety brakes are usually treated as passive components that are only checked during inspections. Sensorless monitoring changes that: switching time and coil temperature become trend data, and a slowly degrading brake can be detected before it fails a brake test. For machine builders, the retrofit-friendly mounting and the validation documentation also reduce the effort needed to justify the safety function in a risk assessment.
Product details are on the ROBA-topstop product page and the ROBA-gateway page. Visitors can find mayr power transmission at SPS 2026 in Hall 4, Stand 278. More exhibitor news is in our SPS section and in the mayr power transmission section.