USA going to mandate anti injury technology on saws

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › USA going to mandate anti injury technology on saws

k1w1k1d

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#311824 17-Feb-2024 13:48

I see that the USA government is probably going to mandate that all table saws and contractor saws etc have a device that prevents users receiving cuts from the spinning blade.

The system would have to be something similar to the SawStop system that detects contact and instantly drops the blade below the table top.

Seems to be causing a few complaints from other manufacturers.

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#3196780 17-Feb-2024 13:55

It will be hand saws next!

AR15s are fine still tho......

common sense is not very common

gehenna

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#3196781 17-Feb-2024 14:04

The only way to stop a bad guy with a saw...

mdf

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#3196790 17-Feb-2024 15:19

Good video of the issue here:

https://youtu.be/kb6LRfGhr_g

lxsw20

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#3196855 17-Feb-2024 18:46

I've seen them in place on band saws in meat works. The first gen would destroy the blade on a stop, but the new ones don't.

They report back to the floor supervisor, and if the operator triggers the thing by getting their fingers too close too many times on a shift it shuts the saw down and won't let the operator restart it.

Great idea in situations like that, probably a bit over kill for the DIYer.

gehenna

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#3196856 17-Feb-2024 18:49

Sounds in that case like they are more concerned with the cost of replacing the gear than the fact the operator is getting too close consistently.

lxsw20

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#3196863 17-Feb-2024 19:32

Not in my experience.

k1w1k1d

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#3196865 17-Feb-2024 19:39

Might be some cheap saws available if the USA pass this and manufacturers dump stock into other countries?

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lxsw20

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#3196879 17-Feb-2024 21:20

Yeah but they'll all have 110v motors.

Jase2985

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#3196882 17-Feb-2024 21:39

lxsw20:

Yeah but they'll all have 110v motors.

not all, the battery ones will be fine, might also be some 220v ones

SepticSceptic

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#3196886 17-Feb-2024 22:56

lxsw20:
Yeah but they'll all have 110v motors.

Easy, run 2 in series....

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Please don't. Its a joke...

Scott3

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#3197437 19-Feb-2024 11:16

mdf:

Good video of the issue here:

https://youtu.be/kb6LRfGhr_g

Quick Summary:

Tech makes saws substantially more expensive - example saw would go from $299, to $499. Also would get heavier.
Once company (Sawstop, owned by TTS), controls the patents for the only anti injury technology (in the US) which can be built at a Tradie price point. (Competing systems have benefits beyond this system, but the price point means it is only viable for industrial / factory systems).
Some issues around transition (manufacturing re-tooling), clearing old stock etc. Potential run on old stock as people rush out to buy the cheaper, simpler saws.

Should note that Bosch made their own tech, but got sued by sawstop, and as part of the outcome of that, no longer offer that tech in the USA.

Main issues are really the cost. Likely to price many DIY'ers & infrequent Trade users out of table saws, pushing them to other saw types (circular saw, track saw etc).

And the Patent thing. Would be woefully unfair on the other brands that they be mandated to use a system where it is unviable to create a viable, reasonable cost system without infringing or licensing existing patents.

I think current IP laws are working to the detriment of society, and need a major shake up globally. I get the concept that the availability of an exclusive patent encourages R&D, but feel the current situation is way out of hand.

The dead weight cost of the patent system (incl enforcement is obscene), and the granting of unreasonably broad patents (i.e. mobile eye owning the patent to for using a camera in a vehicle to read speed signs), means the world would be a better place if we did away with the patent system. Inventors would need to rely on the first mover advantage, trade secretes etc & continuous innovation to profit from their invention, as there is noting stopping competitors from innovation on top of a product once it comes to market.

Also need to be careful as regulations can be outpaced by technology. A good example of this is the NZ product safety law for bikes which references an Australian standard. This standard requires all kids bikes of a certain wheelbase (matches with 16" tire size, amusingly many 12" and 14" bikes are not covered) to have a backpedal coaster break as kids of that size do not have the hand strength to operate hand breaks. Something that is completely false in a modern setting with both child specific levers, and powerfull disk and V breaks commonplace.

Suspect NZ will be a slow mover in the table saw reulation space, so suspect the $295 Ozito at bunnings is fairly safe.

Bung

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#3197602 19-Feb-2024 16:38

Scott3: Should note that Bosch made their own tech, but got sued by sawstop, and as part of the outcome of that, no longer offer that tech in the USA.

Sawstop hold a patent covering the blade/finger detection method. With 3 patent attorneys being the founders of Sawstop they seem to have patents covering most approaches to the problem. For some reason or another (probably money) negotiations with existing manufacturers broke down over 20 years ago.

Mehrts

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#3197624 19-Feb-2024 18:33

SepticSceptic:
lxsw20:

Yeah but they'll all have 110v motors.

Easy, run 2 in series....

...
..
.
.

.
Please don't. Its a joke...

Dual weild!

neb

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#3197686 19-Feb-2024 22:43

k1w1k1d:
I see that the USA government is probably going to mandate that all table saws and contractor saws etc have a device that prevents users receiving cuts from the spinning blade.

Table saws are by far the most dangerous piece of home workshop equipment there is, leading to 30,000 injuries a year in the US. On the other side of the coin, Sawstop have been pushing really, really, really hard to get legislation passed essentially mandating the use of their patented tech for quite some time now. So this is a triumph for Sawstop lobbying, not anything to do with safety.

Tinkerisk

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#3197693 20-Feb-2024 04:59

Who actually knows the film "Texas chainsaw massacre"? :-) hehehe

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