E-stops on store bought machines

[Rick Mayfield (rcmayfld)]

If a tool is not in good working order, take it out of service and have it repaired.

If a tool is in good working order, leave it alone. 

Don’t attempt to be smarter than the manufacturer of the machine. 

Let the manufacturer carry the product liability for the machine.

Modifying these machines is really not a good idea.

 

[Ben Eishen]

I have to agree. On/Off switches are clearly marked on the jet machines. E-stops would only be needed if they were CNC'ed.
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Ben S. Eishen
773.234.7436 | b...@eishen.com

[Kitten]

We are not modifying the machines in any way that would impact their safety, we however are bringing them up to current safety standards.  Most if not all small lathes and mills sold today are equipped with an E-Stop. While a clearly marked On/Off switch is easy to operate when you're in a clear frame of mind, they are not easy to operate while you are getting tangled up in the machine.  Your ability to perform acts requiring dexterity go right out the window as soon as a cutter is boring into your hand and bone, or your long sleeve shirt has gotten you tangled up with the chuck which is currently beating your flesh an bone apart on the jaws.  When bad things like that happen, and they do... an E-Stop allows you to perform a gross motor movement and disable the machine. 

They are designed to be operated by hitting them with any part of your body and don't allow the machine to turn back on if you somehow in your panic manage to deactivate them.  This is no different the buying a lathe from the 50's and fitting a guard over the exposed belts.  Safety is continually improved over the years, and updating a machine to current safety standards is a good thing.  What would be a bad thing is bypassing interlocks, E-Stops, or various other safety measures, Adding safety is never a bad thing and that's all I am trying to accomplish.  

http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1332

[Ed Stafford]

I am very happy to see someone really paying attention to the level of safety required with this equipment.  I've been around wood working equipment all my life, and I can probably tell you a dozen different ways each piece can pretty much mangle and kill you.  Once you enter the world of metal working, the torque and strength of the machines goes up, and danger increases. 

These things are not toys, they're not your dad's hand saw, and they WILL rip your limbs out, mangle your body, and kill you in a hundred different ways.  It's not pleasant, it's horrific, and it happens every day because it only takes a half-second of distraction or zoning out.  Having proper safety measures, especially in a public-style atmosphere, is a benefit for everyone; especially since most people are hobbyists and have never taken the courses on safety for those machines.

I love working with wood and metal tools.. it's fun, and the things you can create is amazing.  Accidents happen, though.  The reason for the safety equipment is not only to keep you aware of what you are doing, but also to save your life should something bad happen.  Listen, learn, and keep the equipment blood-spatter free, please.

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Ed Stafford