New Safety Feature Detects Flesh

nmb3000 writes "SawStop has introduced a new safety feature for dangerous power tools such as table and band saws which, if accurate and reliable, could result in a lot fewer people visiting the emergency room due to deadly accidents. Using the difference in electrical capacitance between various substances, the system can stop a blade rotating at 4000 RPM in less than 5 milliseconds after detecting contact with flesh. It's hard to understand just how effective this is until you see the demonstration videos where a hotdog is used in place of a potential victim's finger. The site also gives a brief explanation of how the system works as well as some high-speed videos showing just how quickly the blade stops rotating. I wonder if this same technology might be used to protect you neighbor's cat from your robotic lawnmower?"

Comments

Re:Nope, this isn't new

[rtaylor]

Personally, I would never use one of these things. If you use your tools properly, and avoid running 'bad' wood through your tools, you will never have a problem. Avoid distractions, pay attention, and use push sticks.

Since normal people will never trigger the device, they will, of course, never need to replace the device either.

But it sounds like a great system for the one time the dog manages sneak in and it trips you. Or for schools where a kid, every few years, seems to manage to injure themselves.

Seriously...

[hlh_nospam]

A bandsaw is commonly used to cut meat in butcher shops. I'm guessing that this device would not work on that application.

Also, gotta wonder if this sort of thing might actually *increase* the number of injuries from power cutting equipment -- by reducing the level of respect for the destruction power of the equipment. Sorta like some of the safety features of automobiles has led to some folks driving more agressively...

Re:How does the brake

[Electrum]

That's simple ... you DO have to install a new device every time, at fairly high cost. One of the reasons most folks don't like this device.

That's silly. The cost of losing a finger or an arm is greater.

Too bad more safety professionals don't read /.

[Bahumat]

I work in the Loss Control industry, which is a fancy way of saying I try to make jobs safer for people so that A) you still have your limbs at the end of the day, and B) your employer doesn't have to pay through the nose for injuries/casualties.

I showed the videos to the Director of the company and immediately it's been making it's rounds through the office. This is exciting technology, this is *important* technology. Ask the thousands of labourers, carpenters, shop workers, around north america who've lost digits to cutting accidents what they think of this technology. No, you won't hear a goddamn negative thing.

Some people have complained about the inventor of the technology trying to make the device mandatory on cutting tools. Is this self-serving for him? Hell yes. Is he still in the right? Undoubtedly. Hard hats, steel toe boots, rebar covers, flagmen, confined space entry, are all areas of industry that are strongly regulated by governments, and made mandatory by law. This should, without a doubt, join it.

One significant aspect of the technology that needs to be addressed however, and raised by a fellow /.'er, is that the cartridge must be re-useable. Not infinitely, but it should be able to hold at least 6 good stops to itself before needing a cartridge change. (By law, and good safety policy, such systems should be regularly tested.)

I look forward to this technology becoming industry standard. The man who invented it is going to be filthy, stinking rich, and definetly deserves to be. That's what innovation leads to; success.

And for the rest of you going on about "You don't need this if you're careful.", I call bullshit. You need a hardhat, you need safety goggles, you need steel-toe boots. *YOU* can be careful, but you can't control all variables around you. That's why they're called 'Accidents' when they happen.