We’ve all heard the phrase “what a difference a day makes,” yet when it comes to industrial safeguarding, the concern isn’t days, hours or even minutes. It is the milliseconds it takes for a machine operation to stop after a stop signal is given. That fraction of a second can make the difference between a life-changing injury and a safe machine cycle, the difference between a valued employee going home safe or being taken to the emergency room.
How can plant managers assure determine if a dangerous machine will stop in time? The answer is a portable or built-in Stop Time Measuring (STM) device. An STM is used to determine the total response time from the triggering of a machine’s operating control being activated to the exact moment when a dangerous movement comes to a halt. STMs are mainly used on reciprocating (stroking or cycling) machines, such as mechanical and hydraulic presses or press brakes. With optional accessories, STMs can also be used on machines that rotate, such as lathes, mills, and drills.