Table Saw

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SawStop Table Saw

Make: SawStop

Model: PCS31230

Ace: Needed (Makerhub@georgefox.edu).

Location: Wood Shop

Description

The table saw is a fundamental part of any woodshop and is used for cutting wood and acrylic. There are two basic cuts that are normally performed. A rip cut is made along the grain and a cross cut is done perpendicular to the the grain. A fence is used to keep the material straight when pushing through the saw. While the saw is usually used for cutting the long side of a piece of material, jigs and tools are also available for doing cross-cuts on the table saw. Fixtures make sure the material stays in place as it’s pushed through and helps keep it straight.

The SawStop table saw has a unique safety feature. The SawStop safety system is designed to make the machine as safe as possible. A unique cartridge is located in the machine. Any conductive material that makes contact with the blade fires and jams the cartridge block into the blade. The blade then stops spinning and drops down out of the way into the body of the saw. All this happens within 5 milliseconds, helping to ensure the blade inflicts minimal damage. **This is NOT an excuse to ignore the 3 commandments and safety rules. Merely a way to help prevent more serious accidents.

Documentation

Terminology

Rip - Cuts made along the length of the wood
Cross-cut - Cuts made across the grain along the shorter side of the wood
Push stick - A piece of wood or plastic used to push the wood being cut through the blade while keeping fingers away from the blade
Fence - A guide for measuring the cut and guiding the wood
Riving Knife - A flat metal device that mounts behind the saw blade. This device prevents material from closing up on the blade and causing a dangerous condition called a material kickback.

User Manual

Background

Training

Overview

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General Use

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Demonstration

Demonstrate you can safely setup the saw and rip a board. You will then proceed to cross cut one of the remaining piece.

1. Ensure that the material you are cutting has at least one straight edge and no nails or foreign objects. The straight edge will slide against the fence when ripping.

2. Measure the width of the board and determine the width of cut desired.

3. Lift the locking handle on the fence and slide the fence to the desired cut width using the scale. Make sure you use the scale for the correct side of the blade.

4. Lock the fence by pressing down on the locking handle.

5. Use the blade lift handle on the front of the saw to set the height of the blade approximately 1 tooth above the height of the material by placing the material next to the blade. This limits the exposed blade.

6. Turn on the power switch on the front of the saw and the dust collector. The green light on the saw will flash and turn solid green when the saw is ready.

7. Make sure nothing is touching the blade. Turn on the saw by gently pulling on the red paddle switch located on the front of the machine. The paddle switch is also the off switch when pressed.

8. Line up the flat side of the material with the fence without touching the blade. The fence is a guide and the material should be pressed firmly into the fence as well as down on the table.

9. Slowly feed the material in towards the blade while keeping your fingers clear of the blade. Use a push stick to keep your fingers away from the blade.

10. Make sure you keep a firm hold on the material and do not stop feeding the material until it has passed beyond the blade.

11. It is helpful to have someone assisting on the back side of the saw to help hold material being fed off the table.

12. When the saw cut is complete, press in on the paddle switch to turn off the saw.

13. Move the fence off to the side by lifting the brake handle and sliding the fence off to the side.

14. Place the cross cut sled on the table by aligning the table slots with the rails on the sled.

15. Slide the sled over the blade and use the material to set the blade height using the blade height handle on the front of the saw. The blade should be roughly one tooth taller than the top of the material.

16. Place the material flat edge against the back of the sled and align the material with the edge of the blade.

17. Once the blade is clear pull the red paddle switch to turn on the saw.

18. Slide the sled forward to cut through the material at the desired location.

19. Slide the sled back to you so it clears the blade.

20. Power down the saw by pressing the red paddle switch located on the front of the machine.

21. Lower the blade below the table using the crank handle on the front of the machine

Certification

Foxtale Quiz

https://foxtale.georgefox.edu/moodle/mod/quiz/view.php?id=812007

Troubleshooting

Maintenance

General maintenance