Give it a brake! :-)

MSDS Sheets or even stories of something stupid you've done in the workshop.

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charangohabsburg
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Give it a brake! :-)

Post by charangohabsburg » Tue Nov 04, 2014 10:25 am

If you, like me are often tempted to (and actually do) reach around the still moving blade of your not so new bandsaw, then you might consider to give this tool a brake (for its birthday, Christmas, or whatever).

The blade of newer bandsaws stops spinning quickly once the machine is turned off, according to European Standards ten seconds or less are considered as a "reasonable short time" for a woodworking machine to stop after it has been switched off *. My INCA bandsaw needed about 13 seconds, and also 10 seconds would still annoy me.

So I retrofitted the bandsaw with a foot-operated bicycle disk brake. When I step on the pedal a microswitch first cuts off power, which triggers the main switch off too. The foot one millimeter or so further down actual braking starts and the saw stops as fast as I want. Once I take foot pressure off the pedal the microswitch closes again, but as the saw's main switch is off

*
I have found this information on a HSE sheet here (see PDF "Retrofitting woodworking machine brakes WIS38")


Here some pictures of the "brake I gave" (to) my trusty bandsaw:
2014_P7700_2242c.jpg
The pulley with the disk is spinning counter clockwise, so that the plywood support of the brake gets pushed against the bottom of the saw frame.
2014_P7700_2242c.jpg (135.36 KiB) Viewed 26549 times
2014_P7700_2243c.jpg
The foot pedal, obviously!
2014_P7700_2243c.jpg (88.3 KiB) Viewed 26549 times
2014_P7700_2248-2c.jpg
The whole "brake system" in one picture.

The white thing hanging down from the fence is an additional switch, which allows me to "unplug" the saw without actually pulling the plug. ;-)
2014_P7700_2248-2c.jpg (118.48 KiB) Viewed 26549 times
2014_P7700_2244c.jpg
The innards 2: microswitch, electric and mechanical wiring.
2014_P7700_2244c.jpg (97.56 KiB) Viewed 26549 times
2014_P7700_2245c.jpg
The innards 1: in order to keep the microswitch closed without using the brake's business end spring I had to install a spring (a section of a de-toothed old saw blade) to the pedal.
2014_P7700_2245c.jpg (82.89 KiB) Viewed 26549 times
Thanks for watching, and don't reach around a spinning blade! :wink:
Markus

To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.

Kamusur
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Re: Give it a brake! :-)

Post by Kamusur » Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:18 pm



Excellent application Markus. There are 1 or 2 machines i know of that would not pass "OH&S" muster so if you don't mind i will pass your link on to a certain woodie i know. thanks M

Steve

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charangohabsburg
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Re: Give it a brake! :-)

Post by charangohabsburg » Wed Nov 05, 2014 2:19 am

Cheers Steve. Why would I mind if you help me to become famous? :lol:

Of course, a footbrake is not an overwhelming safety feature, it only prevents from getting impatient after switching off the saw, and as a side-effect I also find it nice that there is no more need to stretch my arm to reach the off-button (which a couple of years ago I have retrofitted with a "stop paddle" over the tiny stop switch).

And here a sound sample of the brake to compare the time the saw needs to stop completely - actually more than 15 sec. without braking down to less than 1 second when hitting the brake with violence which doesn't make much sense though because braking smoothly stops it also in about 2 seconds.


youtu.be/

... note how the worn out blade runs! :lol:
I'll have to replace it soon.
Markus

To be stupid is like to be dead. Oneself will not be aware of it.
It's only the others who suffer.

Kamusur
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Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:08 pm

Re: Give it a brake! :-)

Post by Kamusur » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:04 pm

Just checked it out on the other post Markus, and hope someone can get some fame or money :D

Steve

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DarwinStrings
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Re: Give it a brake! :-)

Post by DarwinStrings » Wed Nov 12, 2014 1:57 pm

Nice Markus, add a set of handle bars and your off.

Jim
Life is good when you are amongst the wood.
Jim Schofield

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demonx
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Re: Give it a brake! :-)

Post by demonx » Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:26 am

My laguna bandsaw has one of these factory fitted, it's the first time I'd seen a foot brake on a machine.

Great feature.

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