Problem Type: Equipment
Workspace: Woodshop
Asset: Table Saw 2 - Sawstop
Summary: possible cartridge detection issue
Additional Info: triggered a cartridge in the off position (both switches off), but did not pinch blade
Report generated from a filing. This report has also been sent to Asmbly staff, leadership, and space leads with any contact info that was provided. Provide additional photos or resources here to help. When the problem is resolved, ensure it is marked.
Possibly the cartridge was triggered by the previous session/user the blade was touched while it was coasting down when the red switch was turned off. The safety circuit remains engaged until the blade comes to a full stop. So if the blade was contacted at the last very second, the cartridge would be activated but will not fully engage the blade. The machine can detect the absence of a cartridge as well as if the gap of the cartridge is too big. In both instances it will not come on or give you a single solid green light. If for some reason the cartridge is touching the blade, as soon as the machine is turned on, it will activate. The cartridge requires electricity to function, is an electronic circuit. There are two other instances that are very unlikely. When the drive belts get old and brittle, it creates static electricity that can activate the cartridge randomly or for no reason. The bench mark is around three years of heavy use or operating the table saw with a lot of sawdust inside the cabinet. The belt on the one by the miter saw was changed about nine months ago and the other is about a year older. The second would be a worn shaft bushing. Is a brass part that has an electric plug (is where the circuit is energized to the blade) if is worn out it sporadically interrupts the circuit that activates the cartridge during use for no reason. The benchmark for this to happen if ever, is ten to fifteen years. Neither machine is close to that stage. The one by the back door all the electric harnesses and the shaft assy. Where changed shortly after the purchase of the second saw which is the one by the miter saw. So both machines are at the same stage when it comes to that which is around three to four years. If you send the cartridge to Sawstop they will analyze it and tell you when in the process was activated (prior use, during, or in the coast down). They will also tell you weather it was metal contact or skin.
more detail should have been added - this same error (flashing green light, followed by an additional solid red) occurred even after the main power was shut off and on, and then again after the cartridge was replaced (and again after the main power for the table saw was turned off and on)
this is not an issue of the saw being touched in the prior session
The cabinet door was left open, this why there was no power. I shut the door this morning and the saw is working perfectly.
Don’t feel bad Sidroy83, there is no way you would have known to check the access doors. Those doors are used only for maintenance or repair. Everything the “normal” user supposed to know is accessible from the top of the machine or on the chart located on the side of the power switch. Most people don’t know about the trouble codes generated by the access doors. You have to read the manual and even then is easily missed. Michael does maintenance and has seen or experienced that problem before. The doors did not even crossed my mind as they are not supposed to be opened unless you know what you’re doing. Anyway, FYI: there are times when you change the cartridge that you may have to do the on-off sequence several times (I say 3 times) before the system accepts the new cartridge and gives you a solid green light. This is not in the manual. I think it mostly happens when the main switch or tag out switch (left bottom of the cabinet) is not turned off. After that the machine functions normally. Thanks for taking the time to report and give feedback.
thanks for the follow up on this and for the solve - any photo of which door was too be shut? I haven’t encountered this issue before and that would have been an easy fix
Number 13 on left side. This photo is a newer model but the door is in the same area. Sometimes the door looks closed but you have to wiggle the latch so the barrel goes all the way up to close the switch.
Both need to be closed, sorry forgot the newer models have that. The one by the door you can leave the above door open and it will work. The small door on the left has to be closed right on both saws.
