SawStop brake fired 10/21/2021

Wood Shop
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I was using the SawStop tonight and the brake fired… I can’t quite figure out why.

I took photos to aid in troubleshooting, but it seems to have fired after turning the saw off when I finished my first cut on a small board OR when I turned it back on to do my next cut. In either case, the blade was not spinning when it happened, the material is dry and untreated, there was no foreign matter in the wood. I left the final cutoff material on the upper corner of the blackboard by the door for inspection.

Another member arrived just as it happened, so together we reviewed the material, the condition of the brake cartridge, and the surrounding area.

Naturally, I’d like to avoid this happening in the future… I’m available if there are any questions I can answer.

Thanks…

Cartridge:

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Material FINAL CUTOFF edge:

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I’m thinking it’s your electric personality…

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Probably the ac in the ceramics room. We should move it to the ERP lab.

Seriously though we have has some sudden weather changes. I wonder if that attributed to it.

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Notably “unhumid” in the shop last night @ 9:30 PM… and we can rule out the ceramics a/c because I put it in my trunk @ 8:30 PM.

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Thanks for bringing this to the forum. We truly appreciate your details, honesty, and account of what happened to the best of your knowledge. Thank you for modeling the type of information we need when a piece of equipment fails.

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Thanks, yeah… I was pretty stunned when it wouldn’t start. As you can see from the cartridge brake there’s not even a scratch on the label. I wonder if it was still sensing after it stopped for some reason. Maybe measuring the blade with a metal ruler did it?! It’s my understanding that the light being off means that it is no longer sensing so I made it a habit to verify the light before adjust for my next cut.

@doug.wilson Am I mistaken about the indicator light and sensing status?

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I’m not sure the brake fired. If it did, it would be I’m contact with the blade and the pic doesn’t seem to show that. What symptoms lead you to believe it was triggered? Using a metal ruler to measure the fence position is fine. I can’t think of a single woodworker who doesn’t use a metal tape measure for that.

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It sure doesn’t seem to have triggered the brake to me.
I know the sawstop won’t start if it’s actively being touched/shorted. That could potentially be it?

Edit:
LOL I was sure wrong, remind me to shush next time :slight_smile:

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Yep, definitely did fire while the blade was stationary.

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Indeed! Interesting. I wonder what their policy is on that?

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Keep your electric mits off our shiny new A/C! Besides, it’s 100% made of plastic. Really. You just read that on the internet. #truth

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Is the saw back in service or still out of service?

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@doug.wilson replaced the cartridge last night.

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Hi everyone. Just to add to the conversation. The cartridge will fire even if the the blade is only moving the smallest amount and the lights aren’t on green. Don’t ask me how I know, but I do have a tape measure with a little paint missing.

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