Neil Baylis wrote: > I'm looking to source an e-stop switch. I have some already with the > big red mushroom button that latches when you press it, and must be > turned to release. This is good. But what I want is a switch that can > also be operated by a signal from the computer. So if the computer > detects an e-stop condition, the mushroom button would pop down, just > as if I had pressed it by hand. I would drive it from a digital out, > obviously. > > Does such a thing exist, and can anyone point me at a source? > I'm sure that Pilz, Faulhaber, Schaffner and a bunch of other outfits have a device that will do what you want, in some manner. I don't think I have ever seen exactly a red mushroom switch that would mechanically activate, but these companies and others have safety-rated relays (for about $400) and safety-duty PLCs (about a grand and WAY up) for these sorts of requirements. They are all designed with extensive fault-tolerant, fail-safe electronic and mechanical components.
I include an all-electronic version of this in all my controller boards, and users can add external safety controls as they deem necessary. A latching relay is basically what you are looking for, it would then need a separate reset button. The problem with making it mechanical through the red button is that someone intentionally or accidentally jamming the button could prevent the E-stop action from happening. Jon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download Intel® Parallel Studio Eval Try the new software tools for yourself. Speed compiling, find bugs proactively, and fine-tune applications for parallel performance. See why Intel Parallel Studio got high marks during beta. http://p.sf.net/sfu/intel-sw-dev _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
