Lathe Safety Chuck key Holder Lock out

[shopandmath]

Lathe Safety Chuck key Holder Lock out

This is a preview video of a new safety feature for a lathe.
It is a key Interlock system. That will not allow you to turn the lathe on or have the lathe running. Without the key, return to a specific pedestal. Or microswitch.
I have had this idea for around 15 years and never implemented it yet.
The reason for the preview video? Is I am looking for feedback. Because we have approximately one hundred lathes. That we need the tool with this safety feature. I would like to get it perfected. So, there is not. Twenty models with version 1 and 20 models with version 2.
Any feedback that you can provide? Insights on something I did not realize or see. I would appreciate it.

[ductape]

This is a good idea, and may be convenient enough to prevent some joker from spending the time to make a fake chuck key in order to defeat the safety switch.

[mklotz]

Idiot proofing an environment where people are trained to go on to work in commercial shops that have no such idiot proofing seems unwise to me. The danger of such safety devices is that the students will unconsciously feel that they are protected and there is no need for them to develop the thinking and muscle memory that will protect them at their future work sites.

The device is a good solution to the problem that will make the rapacious lawyers happy but it's a solution to a problem that the protectee should learn to solve himself.

[BuffaloJohn]

Idiot proofing an environment where people are trained to go on to work in commercial shops that have no such idiot proofing seems unwise to me. The danger of such safety devices is that the students will unconsciously feel that they are protected and there is no need for them to develop the thinking and muscle memory that will protect them at their future work sites.

The device is a good solution to the problem that will make the rapacious lawyers happy but it's a solution to a problem that the protectee should learn to solve himself.

I have to agree with Marv on this, safety needs to be the responsibility of the user.

My lathe came with an interlock being the cover that needed to be flipped down (it is up in your video). I quickly bypassed that microswitch because that cover made it hard to see what was going on. I did make a key holder that was on the back apron so that I had a place for the key to be. I could have moved the interlock to that, but it is better to develop discipline. Why – because mechanical devices can fail and while microswitches are very reliable, I have replaced a few broken ones for various machines (including a washing machine).

I teach firearm safety and one of my examples in learning muscle memory is to have a student demonstrate carrying a cordless drill. Invariably, they will put their finger on the trigger – muscle memory. We weren’t “pretending” it was a firearm, we were just showing the natural muscle memory. That memory becomes a habit and also can be learned to be safe.

What I would do is have a holder for the key on each lathe as that is where it is supposed to go when running. I would then have students assigned to do a check on each operator, just an observation and record successes on a piece of paper. They don’t have to do it close to the operator, a distance away. All students get assigned this task so they all see how the others are doing. The instructor can intervene if needed, but only the instructor does feedback.

Learn to put the tool(s) away before starting work. Keep the workspace clear before starting up. Keep it simple, make it easy to develop good habits…

[olderdan]

I agree with Marvs comments, maybe a better solution would be a notice above every machine (including pillar drills) NEVER LEAVE CHUCK KEYS IN THE MACHINE.
If they see it all the time it may sink in.

[mklotz]

Folks seem to remember things longer if they learned it under embarrassing circumstances.

The old high school shop class method worked well. If you were caught with the key in the chuck and your hand not on it, you had to wear a chuck key on a rope around your neck for the next several classes. Often an oversized (and thus much heavier) key was used.

Of course, in the liberal, namby-pamby environment of today, this approach would be impossible.