MINI HANDHELD UNIT 6FX2007-1AD13 6FX2 007-1AD13 6FX2OO7-1AD13

Siemens 6FX2007-1AD13 | SINUMERIK Mini Handheld Unit — Straight Cable 5m, 2-Channel E-Stop, 3-Step Enabling Button, Handwheel with Magnetic Latching, IP65, 24VDC

Overview

The Siemens 6FX2007-1AD13 is the SINUMERIK Mini Handheld Unit with a 5-metre straight cable — the portable operator terminal that puts manual CNC axis control in the machine operator's hand during setup, tool change, workpiece loading, and dry-run verification.

In the sequence of tasks around a CNC machine tool, there are moments when the operator needs to be at the workpiece rather than at the fixed operator panel: checking clearances with the spindle, positioning a probe on the part surface, guiding a tool to its reference position, or traversing axes manually while watching the cutting zone directly.

The handheld unit gives the operator full axis traversal control and emergency stop capability at arm's length from the machine action.

The MHU sits at the safety-critical intersection between operator mobility and machine control.

Everything about its design reflects that dual obligation — it must be easy to use with one hand, reliably communicate manual axis commands to the CNC, and be physically capable of stopping the machine unconditionally when the operator needs it to.

Siemens addresses this through a hardware design that combines a functional handwheel, clearly arranged control inputs, and two safety function circuits that meet the requirements of the machinery directive for safety-relevant operator controls.

The 5-metre straight cable of the -1AD13 distinguishes it from the -1AD03 variant, which carries a coiled 3.5-metre cable.

Straight cables are preferred in applications where the handwheel is carried around the machine perimeter rather than used at a fixed workstation — a 5-metre straight cable does not exhibit the spring-back tension of a coiled cable and is easier to handle on larger machines where the operator may walk several metres between the panel and the working area. 

The coiled variant suits operators who mostly use the handheld close to a fixed station and want the cable to retract tidily when not in use.

Key Specifications

Safety Architecture — Two-Channel E-Stop and Three-Step Enabling

The most technically important features of the MHU are its two-channel emergency stop and two-channel three-step enabling button — both implemented in hardware to meet specific requirements of machine tool safety standards.

Two-channel emergency stop (4-wire connection): The E-stop button has two independent normally-closed switch contacts, each wired in its own circuit path to the CNC and its safety relay monitoring. When the button is pressed, both channels open simultaneously and independently.

The safety relay monitoring logic in the controller continuously checks that both channels are consistent — if one channel opens without the other (a wiring fault, stuck contact, or cross-fault in the cabling), the monitoring detects the discrepancy and prevents the machine from running until the fault is cleared.

This dual-channel architecture provides the detection coverage required by EN ISO 13849 Performance Level d and EN 62061 SIL 2 for safety functions in machine tools.

Two-channel three-step enabling button (3-wire connection): The enabling button is the critical safety feature that allows hazardous machine motion — axis traversal with the handwheel or rapid traverse — only when the operator deliberately holds it in its middle position.

The three positions are: released (position 1, circuit open — motion inhibited), mid-position held (position 2, circuit closed — motion permitted), and fully pressed/panic-pressed (position 3, circuit open — motion inhibited).

This three-position logic ensures that the operator actively maintains the enabling condition: a frightened operator grabbing the unit tightly triggers position 3 and stops motion, while an operator who drops the unit loses position 2 and motion stops. Like the E-stop, the enabling circuit uses two channels for fault detection.

The enabling function is the mandatory safety control that allows setup and traversal in close proximity to the machine without the machine guarding enclosure closed.

Magnetic handwheel latching: The handwheel's magnetic latch holds it stationary when not in deliberate use.

Without this, a spinning handwheel on a dropped or jarred unit could send unintended axis motion commands to the CNC.

The magnetic detent provides enough resistance to prevent accidental rotation while remaining easy to overcome with intentional finger pressure.

Connector Ports — X51, X52, X55, X60

The four connector ports on the MHU connect to specific interface points on the SINUMERIK CNC:

X51 carries the handwheel signal — the incremental pulse output from the electronic handwheel, which the CNC converts to axis position commands in JOG handwheel mode.

X52 handles the axis selection rotary switch and the handwheel resolution (feed override) selection inputs, allowing the CNC to know which axis the operator is commanding and at what traverse resolution.

X55 carries the enabling button circuit — the safety function output that the CNC's safety hardware monitors to allow or inhibit axis motion.

X60 connects the E-stop circuit to the SINUMERIK's emergency stop monitoring chain, integrating the MHU's E-stop button into the machine's overall emergency stop architecture.

The allocation of these functions to separate connectors — rather than a single combined connector — allows the MHU to connect through the SINUMERIK's defined interface ports directly, with the CNC hardware maintaining independent monitoring of each safety function.

The metal connector specified for this variant provides the mechanical robustness needed for repeated connection and disconnection in the machine tool environment.

FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between the 6FX2007-1AD13 and the 6FX2007-1AD03?

Both units are identical in functionality, safety features, connector ports, and dimensions. The single difference is the cable: the -1AD13 has a 5-metre straight cable, while the -1AD03 has a 3.5-metre coiled cable.

The coiled cable naturally retracts when slack, keeping the cable tidier near a fixed station. 

The straight cable maintains consistent length and lies flat, making it easier to manage when the operator moves around the machine perimeter.

Selection between them is determined by how the handheld unit is used on the specific machine.

Q2: The enabling button has three positions. What happens if the operator holds it fully pressed (panic position)?

When the enabling button is fully pressed — position 3 — both enabling switch contacts open and the enabling circuit presents the same open-circuit state as the released position. The CNC's enabling input monitoring detects this as enabling removed, and any active axis traversal command is stopped.

The machine does not move while the enabling button is in position 3.

This is the intended safety behaviour: a startled or frightened operator gripping the unit tightly causes an inhibit, not a motion command.

The operator must consciously hold the button in the mid-position to maintain the enabling condition.

Q3: Can the three user-assignable function keys be programmed for any CNC function, and how are they configured?

The three function keys (with slide-in label strips for custom inscription) are connected to the MHU's signal interface and appear as digital inputs to the SINUMERIK controller.

Their assignment to CNC functions — such as spindle start/stop, coolant on/off, or user-defined PLC functions — is configured in the machine's PLC program (ladder or function block logic) and/or the SINUMERIK machine data.

The slide-in label strips allow the machine builder or maintenance team to inscribe the key function labels to match the programmed assignments, providing clear operator guidance for the customised functions.

Q4: Is the 6FX2007-1AD13 compatible with all SINUMERIK CNC generations, or specific models only?

The MHU is designed for SINUMERIK CNC systems that provide the X51/X52/X55/X60 interface ports — this covers SINUMERIK 802D sl, 828D, 840D sl, and related variants that implement the standardised handheld unit connection interface.

Compatibility with a specific machine requires confirming that the machine's SINUMERIK NCU or PPU provides these connector ports and that the machine's PLC program and machine data include the handheld unit interface configuration.

For older SINUMERIK generations with different handheld interface specifications, a different MHU variant or an interface adapter may be required.

Q5: The MHU has IP65 protection. Can it be cleaned with water jets or chemical cleaning agents?

IP65 certifies protection against low-pressure water jets from any direction — this covers normal washdown cleaning of the machine area and incidental water spray.

It does not certify high-pressure jet washing. 

For chemical cleaning agents, the plastic housing material's resistance to specific chemicals (cutting fluids, degreasers, coolant additives) should be verified against Siemens' materials data for the MHU housing before routine chemical exposure. 

Oils and water-based cutting fluids that are common in machine tool environments are generally compatible with the housing material, but concentrated solvents or aggressive cleaners may cause surface degradation over time.