Removing the risk of jamming fingers under the rollers

[Gerald D]

From here:

Let's use this thread to develop ideas to remove the risk of getting fingers caught under the x-rollers . . . .

[Castone]

One could mount some clips at the pinch points ,that just cleared the V rails be a .062" or so. Just a slotted pc of metal bolted to the gantry, so it would just push your hands out of the way or what ever was on the rails. You could even add a felt wiper to the back of it if you wanted to/ Just an ideal.

[inventall]

I have thought about this because, like myself my six year old loves tools and playing with them! Since he was 3 there were 2 rules in my shop:

#1 DON'T touch the power tools
#2 You are not allowed to get hurt

This has worked so far. But The MM is 3000 miles away from him right now. In December, when his brother is done baking in the oven the MM is coming home. And I am not sure if #2 will listen.

I had the thought of rigging a kind of bump e-stop on both sides of the gantry and in front of the rollers kind of like a wood chipper stop bar. One switch as long as the gantry on both sides. The "deflector screen" may be easier but what about tiny fingers?? The rails are the perfect height to lift up on and see what the robot is doing.

[Gerald D]

If everyone thinks that the y-rails/car are safe, then we can lengthen/bend the tips of the gantry ends to form a similar situation for the x-rails. (We could screw felt wipers there as well, giving safety and maintenance benefits, but let's focus this thread on safety)

[Kobus_Joubert]

If you have 2 beers, one in each hand, then no problem.

[bradm]

Kobus, I think the danger window opens when you finish one of the beers

[Kobus_Joubert]

Yes I was joking around again. This machine as all power driven tools is / can be very dangerous. You need to be wide awake when you are around this machine. Some guard around the X-wheels will be an improvement. Until then I shout at anybody entering the workshop to stand on both legs and don't touch the machine ANYWHERE...most of all not my E-STOP button after it has being running for an hour or so.

[DMS]

Not very beautiful one but simpler and working solution. Made out of readily available items.

Required -

1. GI/Alu/Iron sheet fair thickness 4"x3" (or 4" for proper height)
2. Felt pad of suitable size, 1/2 " thickness.
3. Two rivets, Alu will do.

Result -

1. Finger Guard.
2. Rail cleaner.
3. Rail Lubricator.
4. Proxy path Cleaner.


Observation -

1. It clears away finger/palm while gantry moving, I unloaded stepper, pulled Gantry hard while left hand fingers on rail holding tight purposely, fingers dragged with pad, if rails were sharper and hand holding is tight fingers may get cut. Fingers did not be pinch between rollers and rail and GI sheet did not bend.

2. Cleans proxy path, can clean most of dust away.

3. Felt was thick, so I sliced it to easily pass over stopper.

Only one is made, 3 are pending.

[javeria]

What would be good is to have a wedge shaped block with a grrove for the rail, that would lift any object off the way of the v roller.

[hennie]

Can we also think of doing something to the corners of the main beams, up till now I walk into these corners probably once a day,ouch!

[javeria]

how about the recron filled pillows on all the 4 ends : LOL

actually have seen a couple of bots with a frame which prevents anyone from coming very close to the machine while its working - maybe that might be a solution to all.

RGDS
Irfan

[DMS]

What would be good is to have a wedge shaped block with a grrove for the rail, that would lift any object off the way of the v roller

and jam against stoppers. LOL

Can we also think of doing something to the corners of the main beams, up till now I walk into these corners probably once a day,ouch!

IMHO a simple rubber hose piece cut can do the trick.