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IndustryArena Forum > WoodWorking Machines > DIY CNC Router Table Machines > E-Stop,Limit Switches - Car door open switches ?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    617

    E-Stop,Limit Switches - Car door open switches ?

    Has this been tried ?

    The switches fitted to most car door pillars are push to break, so N/C (the ones that make the interior light come on)
    They are cheap
    The are available almost everywhere
    They are rugged
    They have fixing/mounting points
    They could easily be used with a hinged cover for e-stops

    As for limit/Home switches, it depends on how repeatable the contact point is.

    Is it worth spending a little time experimenting , or has it been tried and failed ?

    I'll be making up an e-stop with one 1st


    Just another of the ideas that came to me whilst trying to sleep

    Rich
    My 1st Build (ongoing) http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cnc_router_table_machines/134670-one_big_one_smaller_my.html

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    0
    They're open contact when in closed operation...ie no good,remember these only turn on the light when the car door is open.

    Blimey Tricky I can buy the proper switches for 99p on ebay.

  3. #3
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    Aug 2011
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    617
    Think again Double H
    My 1st Build (ongoing) http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cnc_router_table_machines/134670-one_big_one_smaller_my.html

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    767
    Hi Rich

    Those car door light switches could be used for limit switches but would be very poor as homing switches. This is because they are a simple push direct on the contacts to open the electrical contacts and there is nothing in those switches to ensure they break contact at exactly the same point each and every time. The mechanical microswitch uses an over centre butterfly construction to give a consistent and switch action for a given mechanical input change this is usually amplified further by an operating lever to provide over shoot protection for the switch. There are electronic switches of various types. The final choice is down to operating environment as much as financial cost.

    The limit switches can be arranged to make use of either normally open OR normally closed. Normally open are wired in parallel so that any one closing activates the motion limit feature which the motion control will interpret to stop that particular axis traverse. Normally closed are then connected in series. Also don't forget Mach3 also has the ability to set software switches to limit traverse action.

    Regards - Pat

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    2985
    Pat

    Little typo in your second paragraph.

    NO should be parallel
    NC should be series

    Matt

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    617
    N/C sounds a better idea to me, as you can then tell if a connection comes loose, or open.

    As for not having a precise contact point, I'll check on I have in the garage, but I'm pretty sure they make contact in the fully open (sprung) postition.
    I guess they might not be .001 tolerant though.

    I think for an e-stop they should work fine.
    My 1st Build (ongoing) http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cnc_router_table_machines/134670-one_big_one_smaller_my.html

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    767
    Hi Matt

    Thanks for pointing out my typo which I have now corrected.

    Regards - Pat

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    371
    No they are not good for E-Stop. E-Stop is push on, push and twist off. When you activate E-Stop you want it to stay activated until you reset. It's not momentary contact. It is NC when unactivated.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
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    617
    Quote Originally Posted by brtech View Post
    No they are not good for E-Stop. E-Stop is push on, push and twist off. When you activate E-Stop you want it to stay activated until you reset. It's not momentary contact. It is NC when unactivated.
    Ahh .. I didn't know that. I thought e-stop needed just a pulse to 'lock' the system until reset.

    Thanks
    My 1st Build (ongoing) http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cnc_router_table_machines/134670-one_big_one_smaller_my.html

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
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    105
    May have spoken too soon. I'll check

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    In most systems, if you momentarily trigger E-Stop, it won't start again by itself, but this is a safety system. You want a mechanical interlock from restart, not just an electronic one.

  12. #12
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    Aug 2011
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    617
    I'll admit now, I'm new to this DIY CNC.

    If I was designing a safety emergency stop system, it would be pulse stop.... then manual reset - after fault has been found.

    If the system relies on the stop button remaining 'pressed', then IMHO this is unsafe. if the button popped out, when an operator was clearing/fixing the problem, the machine will start up again and possibly Kill the operator !"

    I'll read some more on this, but if this is not the case, I might degign my own e-stop circuit

    Rich
    My 1st Build (ongoing) http://www.cnczone.com/forums/diy-cnc_router_table_machines/134670-one_big_one_smaller_my.html

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24216
    The type of E-stop buttons that do not use the retaining contact across a start P.B. use a mechanical latch, push to latch - twist to release.
    Although these are allowed, I myself prefer the start button reset circuit with momentary E-stop P.B.
    Group Schnieder/Telemecanique have a PDF of sample control circuits on their site.
    Al.
    Attached Files Attached Files
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    371
    If you have a positive "Start" button that must be pressed before any restart could occur after E-Stop, then a momentary contact E-Start is fine. Presumably you have to press START for every sequence, not just after an E-Stop.

    All the CNCs I've seen will not automatically restart after E-Stop, even if it's a momentary action. They all stop, and you have to restart them. On a common system using Mach and a G540, Mach stops and the G540 completely resets (does not drive the motors). You have to reset the E-Stop (push and twist), and then you have to re-enable Mach, and then you restart the program.

    The mechanical "push and twist to reset" is a mechanical backstop. If YOU pressed stop, YOU have to reset it, mechanically. Pressing "START" is fine. Push and twist to undo STOP is fine. It's a positive mechanical action that disallows any restart independent of the software.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    24216
    The bottom line is that the E-stop circuit and Reset is a hardwired function and Reset should not be a function of, or initiated by, the software HMI, apart from the HMI or controller E-stop OK/enable only.
    The customary way is now moving toward the use of safety relays to carry out the different functions and options that may be required of a Emergency stop.
    Al.
    CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design

    “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
    Albert E.

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