The FANUC A05B-2518-C370#SGL is a teach pendant (iPendant) used as the primary handheld interface for programming, operating, and maintaining FANUC industrial robots. What makes this specific variant notable is the “#SGL” designation, which is commonly sold in the service market as a “Symbolic Global Teach Pendant.” In plain factory language: it is intended to work with a universal symbol overlay so operators can use consistent icon-based labels across different applications and regions, reducing dependency on a single language keypad layout.
For many plants, the pendant is not just an accessory—it is the fastest way to interact with the robot at the cell. When you need to jog an axis, touch up a point, confirm I/O behavior, review alarms, or recover from a stop, the teach pendant is the tool that keeps the work on the shop floor instead of turning it into a desk-and-email problem. This is especially true for facilities running multiple robot processes (material handling, arc welding, spot welding) across international teams, where a symbolic overlay can reduce training time and operator errors.
Quick Specifications (Table)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer / Brand | FANUC |
| Part Number | A05B-2518-C370#SGL |
| Common Market Description | Symbolic Global Teach Pendant |
| Typical Controller Association (vendor-stated) | FANUC R-30iA robot control; also listed for R-J3iC in service channels |
| Display (vendor-stated) | Listed as LCD; some vendors specify 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen, 640×480 |
| Safety Controls (vendor-stated) | E-Stop & deadman/enable switches |
| Overlay / Labeling | Universal symbol overlay (service-market description) |
| Availability Channels | New / surplus / refurbished / repair-exchange depending on vendor |
| Lifecycle Note (vendor-stated) | Often listed as discontinued by manufacturer in reseller catalogs |
Compatibility note: Teach pendants can look similar while being electrically or configuration-incompatible across controller generations and safety chains. The safest rule is to match the exact part number including suffix and confirm compatibility with your controller documentation or a trusted supplier cross-reference.
What “Symbolic Global” usually means in practice
Service vendors describe the #SGL pendant as having a universal symbol overlay that allows it to be used across multiple robot application contexts such as spot welding, arc welding, and material handling.
This is less about adding new robot capabilities and more about improving human usability and standardization across different sites or teams. In plants where technicians rotate across lines or where training materials are shared globally, a symbolic overlay helps in several ways:
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Cross-language consistency
Icons and standardized function labels reduce dependence on one language keypad. That can cut training overhead and reduce mistakes during recovery tasks. -
Faster operator “muscle memory”
When key locations and symbols are consistent, technicians can move from one cell to another with less friction—useful in high-mix facilities where different processes share similar robot platforms. -
Easier multi-process support
A service description explicitly states that the SGL overlay can support common process categories (handling, arc, spot) at an interface level.
That does not automatically mean every pendant is interchangeable for every controller or option set; it means the interface labeling is more universally oriented.
Core functions on the shop floor
A teach pendant like the A05B-2518-C370#SGL is typically used for:
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Jogging and manual motion control for setup, verification, and safe recovery
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Teaching points (approach, process, retreat) and validating clearances
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Program interaction including edits, step-through checks, and cycle verification
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Alarm and status review at the cell to reduce time-to-diagnosis
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Commissioning support when integrating end-of-arm tooling, fixtures, and sensors
In other words, the pendant is the interface that connects robot logic to real-world hardware when you are physically standing next to the machine and need direct control.
Display and interface expectations
Reseller and automation suppliers commonly describe this pendant family as an LCD-based teach pendant, and one vendor provides more explicit interface claims: a 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen with 640×480 resolution, plus an alphanumeric keypad and function keys.
Those specifics can vary by revision and listing quality, but the operational takeaway is consistent: it is designed for at-the-cell navigation, combining display visibility with tactile controls for fast input.
The “touchscreen” detail is worth handling carefully. In real plants, touch capability can be helpful for navigation, but many teams still rely on the physical keypad for reliable operation with gloves and in harsh environments. Whether the touchscreen is used heavily or not, the pendant’s value is that it supports a complete workflow: view information, command motion safely, and perform program-level tasks without leaving the cell.
Safety controls: why buyers should care
Radwell’s catalog entry for A05B-2518-C370#SGL highlights E-Stop and deadman switches.
That is not a marketing flourish. Teach pendants are tied into the robot’s safety chain, especially in teach mode where controlled motion is permitted only under deliberate operator action. When sourcing used or refurbished pendants, these safety controls are the first things that should be verified:
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E-Stop function and mechanical integrity
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Deadman/enable switch feel and consistency
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Cable strain relief and connector condition
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Evidence of testing, warranty terms, and return policy
Because failures in these areas can stop commissioning work, trigger safety faults, or create unacceptable risk, “cheap but unverified” is rarely cheap in the end.
Controller compatibility and sourcing reality
Service channels often describe the A05B-2518-C370#SGL as used with FANUC R-J3iC and FANUC R-30iA controlled robots.
Many resellers also provide purchase and repair options (surplus, exchange, repairs), which is typical for high-value automation HMIs where the installed base remains large even after a part is discontinued.
Radwell explicitly lists it as discontinued by manufacturer, yet still offers supply/repair pathways.
That’s a realistic pattern in industrial automation: “discontinued” often means you should plan spares and repair strategy, not that the part vanishes from the world overnight.
Summary
The FANUC A05B-2518-C370#SGL is widely sold as a Symbolic Global teach pendant (iPendant), oriented around a universal symbol overlay to support consistent operation across teams and applications.
Reseller catalogs commonly associate it with R-30iA (and in service channels, also R-J3iC) robot controllers, and describe it as an LCD-based pendant with E-Stop and deadman switches as core safety elements.
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