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Sawstop Industrial Cabinet Saw

From North Forge

Tools

Picture of Sawstop Industrial Cabinet Saw in the fablab

Model
Room Woodworking Room
Work envelope/max capacity
Link to manual https://www.sawstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Manual_ICS_Pre-Dust_Upgrades.pdf manual
Related tools
Trainer(s) Paolo Riva
Training Sessions
Knowledge keeper(s)
Training document(s)
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Safe Work Procedure https://northforge.ca/community/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Saw-Stop.pdf#new_tab
Consumables
Software this machine has no software listed
Equipment type tool
Woodworking Room Precautions apply   

You will be working in the Woodworking Room . In order to keep safe from hazards created by you or other workers using any of the tools in this room, the following precautions apply in addition to any other precautions:

Safety

Hazards

  • Dust
  • Noise
  • Fire (friction from tools, polymerizing oils)
  • Projectile (materials or tools shattering, kicking back)
  • Laceration (sharp tools or workpieces)
  • Entanglement (spinning parts sucking user into equipment)

PPE

  • Hearing Protection
  • Respiratory protection (minimum N95 mask; respirator preferred)
  • Safety Glasses
  • Safety shoes

Tie back or remove loose hair, clothing, jewelry, etc.

Precautions

Do

  • Read the Safe Work Procedure and obtain North Forge approval before using the equipment for the first time.
  • Plan cuts carefully; use safety devices (push sticks, clamps, sleds, featherboards) where required.
  • Maintain a calm but vigilant attitude. If you are stressed or in a hurry, it’s best not to use the equipment.
  • Tie back long hair and jewelry; remove earbuds and hoodie cords.
  • Check the workspace for slip and trip hazards.
  • Ensure the equipment is in good condition (guards installed and working, blades are sharp and intact, no clogs in dust extraction hoses).
  • Make sure others in the area are aware of what you're doing. Warn any bystanders if your work can affect them.
  • Inspect the material for cracks, knots, or debris before starting - material can shatter or kick back if it is not stable.
  • Stand outside of any kickback zones.
  • Check the equipment for trapped debris when done, particularly trapped beside or under blades.
  • Use a brush and/or vacuum to clean most of the dust before finishing with compressed air.
  • Follow instructions in Oily Rags Bins

Do not

  • Use the equipment if you are tired, intoxicated, or otherwise impaired
  • Rush
  • Distract operators - if you need to get someone’s attention, stand to the side and wait until they notice you. Do not wave, shout, or touch the operator.
  • Leave the equipment with equipment still running - note that hearing protection can prevent users from hearing when the blade is/is not running.
  • Cut or sand metal due to risk of sparks and equipment/property damage.
  • Dispose of oily rags in the general waste bins.

Housekeeping

  • Check the working area for slip and trip hazards (sawdust, oil, offcuts) before and after working
  • Do not leave air hoses or extension cords laying across walkways where people can trip on them
  • Check hoses for excess sawdust or other clogs
  • Empty the dust collector if it is filled to more than halfway up the viewing window (~1 garbage bag worth of dust)
  • Empty waste bins if they are more than 75% full
    • Bag waste should be less than 6x6”
    • Blunt any sharp corners that could puncture the bag
    • Replace waste bags after emptying
    • Firewood bins are only for untreated wood with no paints or stains
  • Spread oily rags out to dry and dispose of them in the oily rags bin.
  • Return all fab lab tools to their proper locations
  • Remove all personal tools, materials, and equipment from the room
    • Fire code prohibits storing material in the wood room
  • Turn off the equipment and dust collector.
  • Turn off the room exhaust if you are the last one in the room.
    • Room exhaust is interlocked with equipment power; turning off the exhaust will turn off all equipment in the room!

edit these instructions at Instructions:Sawstop Industrial Cabinet Saw

SawStop Table Saw

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Want to improve this page? Here are some instructions you can add:

  • How and when to use safety devices (featherboards, push sticks)
  • How and when to use North Forge's sleds and fixtures
  • What types of blades are suitable for different jobs

We also need photos:

  • Blade change procedure
  • Photo of SawStop indicator lights
  • Sawstop Override key
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Purpose

The table saw is highly versatile. In general, it functions in the following roles:

  • Cutting at 90 degrees to the edge or face
  • Cutting at angles other than 90 degrees to the edge or face (miter/bevel cutting)
  • Cutting slots/dadoes

Saw Stop System

The Saw Stop table saw has a safety system that will automatically retract and stop the blade when body parts contact the blade. Always check that the material being cut will not accidentally activate the safety system. Note that this system will destroy the cartridge and sometimes the blade.

Certain materials cannot be cut on the SawStop table saw. These include:

  • Wet Lumber (above Fiber Saturation Point/above 20% moisture content)
  • Metal
  • Foil-backed materials, including foil-backed acrylic
  • Carbonized (charred) wood, including laser cut edges
  • Epoxy resin

To check materials:

  1. Turn on the room exhaust, dust collector, and main power switch.
  2. With the blade stopped, press the material against the blade. Observe the colour of the indicator light:
  • Green means okay to cut.
  • Red means not okay to cut. The SawStop system will activate.

If the SawStop device activates during a cut:

  1. Turn off the power and dust collector.
  2. Report the activation directly to maintenance staff or via the #125-broken channel.

Maintenance staff will replace the SawStop cartridge and determine whether or not a safety incident report is required.

Bypass mode

You can bypass the SawStop system if you are cutting materials that would otherwise set it off.

  1. Turn and hold the bypass key (on the right side of the control panel)
  2. While holding the key, wait one second then pull the start/stop paddle. The blade will start spinning.
  3. Keep holding the bypass key for at least one second after the motor has started.
  4. The system will turn off bypass mode once the blade has come to a stop. You will need to turn it on again if you want to complete another cut.

Safety

Do:

  • Use the proper blade for the task and material
  • Use a splitter and riving knife wherever possible
  • Test the material against the SawStop before starting
  • Stand to one side of the blade to avoid kickback
  • Use safety devices like push sticks, featherboards, sleds, fixtures

Do not:

  • Cut pieces that are wider than they are deep without a miter gauge or sled.
  • Cut freehand - always use a fence, sled, featherboard, etc to guide the workpiece.
  • Stand or allow others to stand in the kickback zone (directly in front of and behind the blade).
  • Allow hands to come within 6” of the blade in any direction - use a push stick, sled, or fixture if required.
  • Cut wood that is warped, cracked, or otherwise damaged such that it can shatter or kick back when cut.

Emergency Stop

The blade can be stopped by pressing the red power paddle.

Operating Procedure

  1. Turn on the main power switch (small toggle switch).
  2. Prepare any safety devices that are required for a safe cut (sleds, push blocks, featherboards, outfeed table, etc)
  3. Test the material against the SawStop system.
  4. Set the blade height - typically ¼” above the top of the material.
  5. Turn on the blade by pulling the large red paddle button towards the operator.
  6. Stand to one side of the material to avoid kickback. Ensure no other people are in front of or behind the material.
  7. Proceed with the cut in a careful and controlled manner. With the left hand, push down on the workpiece and forward towards the blade. With the right hand, feed the workpiece forward. Do not push down with the right hand until the cut has started as kickback can occur.
  8. Once the cut has started, press down with the right hand.
  9. When the cut is complete, turn off the blade by pressing the large red paddle button.

Blade Changes

  1. Turn off the saw, saw breaker switch, and dust collector.
  2. Remove the zero clearance throat plate.
  3. Remove the riving knife.
  4. Use the two table saw wrenches to loosen the nut. Use caution not to drop the nut into the motor housing.
  5. Remove the used blade.
  6. Install the fresh blade such that the teeth are pointing down at the front of the saw.
  7. Firmly tighten the blade with the table saw wrenches.
  8. Reinstall the riving knife.
  9. Reinstall the throat plate, making sure it is flat and flush with the top of the table (plate must slide under adjustment bolts to be flush).

Shutdown and Housekeeping

  • Remove all workpieces and fixtures (feather boards, sleds, clamps) store them in their proper spots
  • Return the blade to the 90 degree (upright) position and lower it below the top of the saw
  • Reinstall the riving knife and splitter if you have removed them

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Do we have a splitter? If not, remove? 
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  • Check the motor housing and dust extractor tubes for dust:
    • Open the side panel and vacuum out the motor housing; close the panel and run the saw briefly to confirm interlocks are closed
    • Disconnect the dust tube to check for clogs, reattach the tube
  • Wipe the table, fence, handles with a brush
  • Sweep the floor around the table saw, band saw, miter saw, router table.