Table Saw Safety: Explaining Amazing Table Saw Technology

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a table saw technology that purportedly prevents serious injuries by distinguishing between human fingers and wood. Participants explore the feasibility, credibility, and mechanics of this technology, with a focus on safety implications and potential applications.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the credibility of the video showcasing the technology, suggesting it may be doctored.
  • Others propose that the saw retracts upon detecting a finger, although the mechanism of detection is debated.
  • One participant claims to know the company behind the technology but is restricted from disclosing details, suggesting the technology can differentiate between wood and flesh.
  • A hypothesis is presented that the technology might rely on differences in resistance between wood and a finger, though its practicality is doubted.
  • Another participant mentions that the technology involves imposing an AC signal on the blade to detect flesh, engaging a mechanical brake to stop the blade quickly.
  • There is a question regarding whether this technology works with materials other than wood, such as metal.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the specifics of the technology and its implications for safety standards in woodworking tools.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the credibility of the video or the specifics of the technology. Multiple competing views remain regarding its functionality and the claims made about it.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions made about the technology's operation, the credibility of sources, and the lack of detailed explanations about the mechanisms involved.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in woodworking safety, table saw technology, and innovations in injury prevention may find this discussion relevant.

munky99999
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http://www.muchosucko.com/video-amazingtablesaw.html

It is a table saw that does not cut off your finger, could someone explain this?
 
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I dunno... it looks like a doctored video to me. One frame has the saw, the next it's completely gone.
 
it retracts, watch it in slow motion, if u can.
 
I have to agree that it is doctored. Here is why:

1. The website you found the video doesn't look very credible
2. How does the blade know the difference between your finger and a piece of wood? You really can't tell.
3. I did a google search and couldn't find anything supporting this video.
 
well the site puts everything that could be funny to someone, there is a good chance that it was doctored, but I thought that they would have someone researching that very thing, cause that tool would be the standard if made.
 
My firewall is blocking the video, and I really don't want to disable it, but I think I know of this technology...in fact I know the company that developed it. I am also under a legal obligation not to say how it works. I can only say that it is possible to tell a finger from a piece of wood. It is a very clever idea. This particular site may or may not be showing the same thing that I know about, but it sure sounds like it. The demonstration sounds identical to the one used by my customer.
 
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Can you at least say what the company's name is, Ivan?
 
my hypothesis(haha) is that there is some sort of resistance a piece of wood would give, and obviously a finger with a less strong texture, would give a different resistance.

But I really don't think that is very practical.
 
enigma said:
Can you at least say what the company's name is, Ivan?

Since I don't know the politics of this I shouldn't say anything specific. I can assure you though that if I said how it worked, you would all immediately understand. No magic here.
 
  • #10
You will see this technology applied more generally soon. I assume that the demand for secrecy was due to patent issues. Of course, sometimes these things just get silly. For a long time I couldn't use the word "Wahoos" either - a new General Mills product - but this was supposed to be a really big deal.
 
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  • #11
http://www.sawstop.com/video.htm is the source of the video. A little more respectable. Ivan if this is not the same as your source then there has been some industrial espionage going on.

Oh yeah. It imposes a AC signal on the blade, flesh has much different electrical properties then wood, when the changes a mechanical brake is engaged stopping the blade in less then 5ms. They have similar systems for band saws.

Does this work with metal or only wood?

(A table saw cuts Al plate very nicely.)
 
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  • #12
Oh good. I was uncomfortable making a statement that I'm not allowed to back up.

The system that I know about should work with metal or wood.

There may be several approaches to this problem...
 

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