Great Falls machinist injured in lathe accident

[Winegrower]

The Takisawa and some other lathes have a full foot operated switch about as long as the ways...that has always seemed like a great idea...it stops the lathe instantly and cuts power.

 

[Charles scozzari]

Scary. I NEVER wear clothing that could get tangled in a machine, really bad idea.

I did this because it can stop the machine in an instant, even if your body hits it. You can't get to the foot brake or switch fast enough.

 

[hotrats]

"I did this because it can stop the machine in an instant, even if your body hits it. You can't get to the foot brake or switch fast enough."


Thanks for posting this! I'm going to have to add this safety addition

 

[Charles scozzari]

Thanks for posting this. I'm going to invest in this safety addition!

Even if your lathe doesn't have a foot brake you can wire into the stop switch or the line feed. Its well worth the effort.

 

[rwdenney]

The drum switch on my 78-year-old lathe is behind the carriage and I have to reach over the saddle to get to it. This is not that safe, though it means the lathe can be turned off from the back of the machine.

I have planned to add a magnetic switch to the front of the lathe, upstream of the drum switch, which means both switches can be used to shut off the lathe. It would be reachable by my left knee if not by my left arm.

My lathe doesn't have a brake, but the spindle runs in journal bearings and doesn't freewheel very far. (Far enough to do real damage, though.) The motor is single-phase, so there's no way to add an electronic brake. A mechanical brake that didn't break things would be seriously challenging to design and implement.

I'm highly respectful of the lathe, however, learned from being similarly respectful of the table saw (which is the most dangerous tool in most hobby shops). (My cabinet saw has a magnetic switch reachable from the front, with a stop button that can be slammed with a knee if necessary.) I saw a video of a lathe worker who was machining a shaft maybe ten feet long and about a foot and a half in diameter in a large traditional lathe of about 30" swing and maybe 24 feet long. He reached over the spinning shaft to adjust something. It grabbed his overshirt. The video editor blurred the worst of it but the way in which the lathe wrapped him around that shaft and spun him until someone else ran over and shut it off sticks with me. Of course, he was killed instantly. It's the stuff of nightmares, to be honest.

I don't reach over spinning stuff to get to my current switch. I stand closer to the tail and nothing attached to me is over the spinning bits. But I'm also afraid of strings from crappy steel. I need to improve the arrangement.

There are lots of old machinists who still have all their parts in working order. I want to be one of them.

Rick "the acetylene torch in the lathe picture that I use for soldering on tubas does not live there--it's just there for a few minutes to get it out of the way of moving the Bridgeport into the shop" Denney

 

[Charles scozzari]

The drum switch on my 78-year-old lathe is behind the carriage and I have to reach over the saddle to get to it. This is not that safe, though it means the lathe can be turned off from the back of the machine.

I have planned to add a magnetic switch to the front of the lathe, upstream of the drum switch, which means both switches can be used to shut off the lathe. It would be reachable by my left knee if not by my left arm.

My lathe doesn't have a brake, but the spindle runs in journal bearings and doesn't freewheel very far. (Far enough to do real damage, though.) The motor is single-phase, so there's no way to add an electronic brake. A mechanical brake that didn't break things would be seriously challenging to design and implement.

I'm highly respectful of the lathe, however, learned from being similarly respectful of the table saw (which is the most dangerous tool in most hobby shops). (My cabinet saw has a magnetic switch reachable from the front, with a stop button that can be slammed with a knee if necessary.) I saw a video of a lathe worker who was machining a shaft maybe ten feet long and about a foot and a half in diameter in a large traditional lathe of about 30" swing and maybe 24 feet long. He reached over the spinning shaft to adjust something. It grabbed his overshirt. The video editor blurred the worst of it but the way in which the lathe wrapped him around that shaft and spun him until someone else ran over and shut it off sticks with me. Of course, he was killed instantly. It's the stuff of nightmares, to be honest.

I don't reach over spinning stuff to get to my current switch. I stand closer to the tail and nothing attached to me is over the spinning bits. But I'm also afraid of strings from crappy steel. I need to improve the arrangement.

There are lots of old machinists who still have all their parts in working order. I want to be one of them.

Rick "the acetylene torch in the lathe picture that I use for soldering on tubas does not live there--it's just there for a few minutes to get it out of the way of moving the Bridgeport into the shop" Denney

At my and I'm sure many others my age it could mark the end of what we do remain relevant.

 

[coolidge]

I did this because it can stop the machine in an instant, even if your body hits it. You can't get to the foot brake or switch fast enough.View attachment 514119View attachment 514120View attachment 514121

THAT is a brilliant idea. As someone who works alone in my shop I'm going to give serious consideration to adopting that to both the mill and lathe thanks!

 

[rwdenney]

I did this because it can stop the machine in an instant, even if your body hits it. You can't get to the foot brake or switch fast enough.View attachment 514119View attachment 514120View attachment 514121

Can you explain what's happening here? I'm not understanding the mechanism. How does it stop the lathe instantly with no input?

Rick "dense" Denney

 

[Charles scozzari]

Wow, thanks very much. When I first posted it some time ago some had legitimate feelings as to its value. When I work in my rather small shop NO ONE is there when I am running my machines. Like you, if I were to have a problem I'm on my own alone. this gives me a possible way to stop the machine quickly. In a situation where you are in trouble you may not be able to use you foot brake or go for the switch. if God forbid your arms or clothing are wrapping on the work piece you can lean into it and in will stop the machine. Working alone, if someone comes into the shop it can scare the chit out of you and you can get hurt. I have a rear view mirror mounted to my lathe to give me a heads up. You mentioned your doing something for your mill. I moved the on anf switch lower on my mill to have an easier shot at hitting off in a jam. Im not paranoid I just use what I consider common sense to help keep me safer. Thanks again, Charlie.

 

[Charles scozzari]

Can you explain what's happening here? I'm not understanding the mechanism. How does it stop the lathe instantly with no input?

Rick "dense" Denney

It uses the same circuitry as in the stop switch and foot brake. All it is a link to operate the foot brake with your body or hand at arms length which kills the motor and stops the spindle. Thanks, Charlie.