Table-Saw Technology Aims to Save Fingers

[EddieWalker]

I saw a good video and info on table saws on www.npr.org

When you get there, scroll down to the most emailed stories and click the one on table saw technology.

Or you can go directly to;

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4182602

This guy invented a sensor for a table saw blade that makes it just disapear the instant the blade comes into contact with flesh.

The video shows what happens when a hot dog is pushed into the blade. Only a small nick on the hot dog.

I was impressed and hope you are as well.

Eddie

 

[ScottAR]

Great device! I saw this in a special issue of Tools and Shops, a fine homebuilding/woodworking. The saw fires an alumnium cartridge into the blade so it stops as it falls from the table. Ruins the blade, but that's a small price to pay for leaving my fingers still attached to my hand.

 

[Bird]

I never heard of such, Eddie, and find the technology hard to believe, but if it works reliably, sure looks great. I've never been cut by a saw, probably because I never got over my fear of them (fear being a high degree of respect /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif), but a brother-in-law lost the first joint of an index finger a couple of years ago with his saw.

 

[bky]

I know a fella that has more money than time has bought one of these fine saws. Though i havent seen it yet i was told about it.

 

[Phred]

I have used a number of saws quite a lot and currently own a table saw. As a result I am well aware of the danger involved.

But I have a problem with this whole NPR story. How do I invent a product and then get a goverment supported news organization to avertise it for free and get the goverment to force every citizen who buys a saw to pay me an estimated $100 for this "safety" feature?

I heard the story on NPR and if it fires you must replace the blade and the aluminum block and firing mechanism at significant cost. Some will say small price to pay for a finger, but what about false triggering?

I have no problem with this product but I have big problems with mandating it!
This is not a ROPS. Far more complicated, and reliability and complication do not mix well.

Fred

 

[hobbyfarm]

Hey EddieWalker,

The website is here:
<font color="red">SawStop </font>

Cool item. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif It ought to come on all table saws.

 

[RonR]

So how does it recognize flesh?????????????

If it hits a soft spot in the wood, or if you saw through a hole in the wood, does it trigger?

I'm curious.

Ron

 

[chucko]

Yea or green wood

 

[hobbyfarm]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( So how does it recognize flesh?????????????

If it hits a soft spot in the wood, or if you saw through a hole in the wood, does it trigger?
)</font>

Hey Ron,
Isn't that kind of like asking: how does Tylenol know where to go to work? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Or, how does a toothache /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif know when to flare up? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jerrym4]

I remember reading about this almost 10 years ago. From what I remember this is a small amount of current available at the blade. when the blade comes in contact with flesh the onboard sensor recognizes the draw on current and triggers the mechanism.