No more missing fingers

[red750]

My local Men's Shed just took delivery of a Saw Stop saw, bought as part of a Federal Government grant. For those who have not seen a Saw Stop demonstration, here is a video:

 

 

Our local member, Michael Sukkar MP, member for Deakin, our local electorate, was on hand, and was given the opportunity to try out the saw, using a hot dog, as depicted in the video.

 

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[spacesailor]

Doesn't it wreak the saw & require extensive repair ?

 

spacesailor

 

 

[David2ayo]

Blade is damaged,stopping device is destroyed but you still have your fingers so you can fix it. Check out the other videos which come up, one where a guy took off a small section of his thumb but much less damage than if it wasn't there.

 

Its a bit like a car airbag - you hope you never need it, but when it (expensively) goes off you are truly thankful.

 

David

 

 

[red750]

The blade and arresting gear comes as a plug-in unit, costs about $250. Is your hand worth $250? It works on the moisture content in what you are cutting. So it will go off if the wood has too high a moisture content. You need a moisture guage to check it. You can disable the sensor if you need to cut damp wood. The default setting is "ON", so if you forget to turn it on before shutting down, it will automatically be on when the machine is turned on again.

 

 

[Marty_d]

How does it measure the moisture content? And will that still work if the operator has work gloves on?

 

 

[David2ayo]

Its sure to measure the moisture once it has ripped the glove off!

 

 

[red750]

This is the brake mechanism with a blade imbedded in it. A strong spring normally sits over the thing that looks like a needle, which is held in the blue plastic housing. When the brake is released, the spring throws the metal stop into the teeth, deforming as it absorbs the momentum of the blade.

 

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[red750]

 

How does it measure the moisture content? And will that still work if the operator has work gloves on?

 

SawStop Saws Detect Contact With Skin. The blade carries a small electrical signal, which the safety system continually monitors. When skin contacts the blade, the signal changes because the human body is conductive. The change to the signal activates the safety system.

 

If you are wearing a glove, it will cut into the glove but stop the instant it contacts your skin.

 

 

[Marty_d]

Bloody clever.

 

 

[David2ayo]

No, Marty, there's no blood. Thats the whole idea!

 

David

 

 

[kgwilson]

It's a useful device if you have idiots operating a power saw. It costs heaps every time you demonstrate it. New blade, new stopping device. If you don't demonstrate it how do you test it to make sure it still works & won't cut your finger or hand off next time?

 

 

[red750]

We had the distributors there to supervise the demonstration, they paid for it. The saw itself was paid for by a Gov't grant. What better way to spread the word about the saw than have the Minister Assisting the Treasurer actually try it himself.You use the videos to train new operators, and tell them to be careful, and if they set it off they pay for it. It has auto reset on power-up. If everything is not OK, the blade doesn't turn.