If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a nicely built power tool. Seriously, I love the smell of a workshop in the morning! Of course, I’m not as big of a fan of all the bleeding that normally occurs in said workshop… and I tend to do that a lot while I’m building things.
So, anything that can be done to increase the safety of a power tool is a good thing. And the table saw is one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the world! 60,000 table saw accidents occur every year – that’s one every 9 minutes.
Now there is an answer to this problem. The SawStop.
SawStop Saws are the most advanced saws in the world. Each saw is equipped with a safety system that detects when someone accidentally contacts the spinning saw blade, and then stops the blade in milliseconds.
This video tells the entire story, but if you want to see the SawStop in action skip right to the 4:05 mark and check out this incredible piece of machinery.
This one comes courtesy of my neighbor Steve, who knows what a power tool freak I am. :-)
They have had this technology for some time and haven’t sold it to the mass market because of cost. Very sad, but let’s hope other manufacturers give us consumers the choice. Reminds me a lot of electrical engines IMO.
I’ve got 100$ that says an old blade will fly apart due to the kinetic energy of the instantaneous stop. Small pieces of carbide flying out of the saw like a frag grenade. I love the smell of blood in the morning.
Making a saw harmless with the use of technology.
60,000 a year.Woooh.Nice bit of sensing used in this saw.
60,000 injuries per year is a big amount.
… it makes the world a safer place.
or tools usable for fools who should not use it.
Pretty incredible design…but I wouldn’t have wanted to be one of the early testers !
They can perfect the mechanism and start releasing smaller versions for kids as play sets :D
Good idea to use the voltage drop in the blade to ensure safety
Just another expensive high tech means of saving man from from his own ineptitude.