[bgasser]

Looking on Amazon and Ebay there seems to be a wide variety of E-Stops. Whats the difference and are the cheep ones worth getting vs the high priced ones?

bgasser
Kansas City

[ger21]

It would help to know exactly which ones you are comparing.

[Al_The_Man]

Are you just talking the buttons?
If so there are two styles, Momentary and push-on Twist Off.
There are Telemecanique style (my favorite) on ebay from China, they must be knock-offs for the price.
One thing that also distinguishes an E-stop button is the mandatory yellow background or circular label, this is to conform to NEC/CEC NFPA79 etc.
Al..

[bgasser]

Here are some from Amazon:


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d_i=5739464011


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d_i=5739464011


https://www.amazon.com/SIEMENS-STOP-...s=e+stop&psc=1


Price varies a lot.

Ben

[ger21]

The Siemens is a quality brand, where the other two are chinese knockoffs.

I buy mine from Automation Direct, where the prices are in the middle range of these, and you can easily get spare parts and additional components.

[Al_The_Man]

Here are two on Ebay, one the same as the Amazon.172129141266
This one is the relabled Telemecanique., the ones I use. 172678082076
Al.

[CitizenOfDreams]

Here are some from Amazon:
Price varies a lot.

As Gerry said, the first two are cheap Chinese buttons. They look too flimsy to me, I personally prefer the ones with a metal base:


The Siemens button looks nice and includes the yellow background required by the standard, but its price is hardly justified for a hobby machine.

[Al_The_Man]

, I personally prefer the ones with a metal base:

.

That is the Telemecanique/Group Schneider version I use their whole series of P.B. and 2-3 posn. switches. They are nice because you can configure the switch as you please and also stack them off the back.
But you don't want to know the original Telemecanique price for them!
Al.

[wizard]

In the 22mm hole category Telemacanigue and Allen Bradley make very good and rugged E-Stops. In the large hole group I'd only consider Allen Bradley. Not that there are a number of good E-stops in the sub 22 mm hole size there are a number of good E-Stops from the various Japanese industrial suppliers. FujiElectric for example has a nice 16 mm series.

Many of the cheap E-stops don't hold up well to a panic hit. Even the older Seimens E-Stops would die when hit by a little old lady. There are a very large number of cheap E-stops on the market that are not worth bothering with in my mind.

For me it is a toss up between the Telemacanique and Allen Bradley 22 mm series. These have proven to be reliable. The nice thing with the 22 mm series is if you have tools to work with 1/2" conduit you are all set.

[bgasser]

Thanks a lot for the help. An additional question regarding e-stop buttons, how many should be installed on a 50x72 inch machine. My gut tells me 4, one on each corner plus possibly one near the computer. Is this overkill?

bgasser
Kansas City

[wizard]

Thanks a lot for the help. An additional question regarding e-stop buttons, how many should be installed on a 50x72 inch machine. My gut tells me 4, one on each corner plus possibly one near the computer.

Is this overkill?

This is hard to answer but if the machine is open with no guarding it might not be enough. I'd would like to see E-stops on the gantry if this is a moving gantry machine. The gantry presents the biggest risk to an operator. E-Stops at the corners are probably more useful for killing the machine if it is about to crash or is crashing. One solution might be E-Stops on the gantry and one at the operators console.

I might add that a lot of places would not even allow an open machine capable of automatic operation on the plant floor. Guarding around the entire machine would be required and that includes interlocked doors. There are a lot of variables here but if you are in the USA you really need to consider OSHA regs. Ultimately if something happens and you are not compliant with the rules you can be in bad shape legally if someone gets hurt.

bgasser
Kansas City

[Al_The_Man]

You probably can't get enough E-stops, but one at any strategic points within the reach of the operator is usually required.
I picked up one of the Telemecanique out of China and they are pretty spot on down to the CE markings and part numbers etc. not sure how they get away with it,
Al.