-------------------------------------------------- From: "Olin Lathrop" Sent: Monday, July 12, 2010 8:19 PM To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." Subject: Re: [TECH]:: Auto stop table saw - demo with real finger > If the system is cheap enough and > the cost+hassle of resetting it is minimal, then it will be more widely > deployed and thereby save more injury than a fancy system nobody installs. > It also wouldn't give a false sense of security and invite sloppiness like > SawStop may in some cases. > > So maybe the target should be to do what you can for a reasonable cost > that > can be reset in one minute or less with no consumables to replace. Yes that sounds like a reasonable target, at least to start with, and if it achieves better results then it's a bonus. The main reason it occurred to me in the first place (as I'm sure it occurred to many others) was the cost of resetting/replacing the SawStop system seems (to me) like it's biggest problem, and possibly the main reason for people avoiding it (apart from the fact that it cannot prevent injury completely as a guard if used correctly will). Something that works as a good backup system to a proper guard, is reasonably cheap/simple to manufacture and install, resets quickly with no extra cost, sounds quite attractive from a consumers point of view and as you say would be less likely to invite sloppiness etc. I think it makes sense that such a system would always have to have something else in place that's non-reliant on a circuit performing it's duty correctly, so backup rather than main safety feature sounds like a good idea, especially for the times when people need to remove the guard for some reason, or do something accidental or stupid. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist