Emergency Stop

From CoMakingSpace Wiki

For security reasons, several of our machines and power tools have emergency stops available.

Emergency stops come in various variations which will be described here:

Foot switches

Foot switches can come in two variations:

  • Normally open: Only supply power to the tool when the switch is pressed
  • Normally closed: Interrupt power supply when the switch is pressed

Right now, we have normally closed pedal switches attached to the table saw and the router table. Another tool which should get one is the bandsaw (the pedal switch and "schuko-kupplung" are on the e-bench. If a normally closed switch is combined with a machine switch with undervoltage release, the machine gets turned of and does not automatically turn on again.


In case you want to add a pedal stop to any machine:

  1. Make sure the machine does not turn on automatically when getting power ("Anlaufsicherung"). This can e.g. be ensured by a machine switch with under-voltage release.
  2. Buy a pedal. So far we have made experiences with these pedal switches. You can check the PM1 one at the router table. Please note you might need a "schuko-stecker" and "schuko-kupplung" as well
  3. Solder cables to the pedal and attach it all to the machine you want to equip.

Machine switch with under-voltage release

A machine switch with under-voltage release is an important security feature for many machines we have.
It usually comes with a red and green button. Pressing the green button will supply power to the machine and thus turn it own. Pressing the red button will stop the power supply.
The security feature is that when power gets lossed for whatever reason and gets restored, the switch will change to "off" automatically. Therefore, the machine does not get turned on again automatically when power is restored.

If you want to equip a new tool with this, you could for example buy a Kjd-20, which can handle up to 10A.