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Sawstop problems

8/4/16       
Blaise Gaston

Website: http://blaisegaston.com

am having an unusual problem with my Sawstop table saw and wondered if anybody else had the same experience. After changing a blade i was inserting the table insert and touched the blade with the insert. The saw STARTED and made a couple of revolutions and then stopped. Today an employe was adjusting the height of the blade and touched the blade with either his finger or a ruler and the saw STARTED again for a couple of revolutions. Just a few minutes ago the saw STARTED when he turned on the dust collector and was not even near the saw. Again it just turned a few times and stopped. We have tried to recreate the problem with no success so can't figure out what is wrong. Anybody have any ideas.

8/4/16       #2: Sawstop problems ...
SawStart

That sounds like a pretty scary bug you have there. Have you contacted the factory - I would imagine they would be curious as to what is causing that anomaly - I am too, as I was planning on buying one later this month.

As an old timer, and someone who watched Twilight Zone, season 2, episode 4 when it was first broadcast, I unplug any machine before I work on it. Paranoid? Yep.

8/5/16       #3: Sawstop problems ...
james mcgrew Member

I would contact SAWstop, I will also ask my guys as we have had them a few years now.

Please report back !

8/5/16       #4: Sawstop problems ...
Tom Gardiner

Lock this saw out until it is fixed. You can't risk an accident!

8/5/16       #5: Sawstop problems ...
Matt Krig Member

Sawstop is very helpful over the phone, just have your serial number and model ready. We had a similar problem and it was a dirty contact on the paddle switch.

8/8/16       #7: Sawstop problems ...
Blaise Gaston

Thanks for all the response. I have talked to Sawstop at length and they do not know what is causing the problem. In the past I have found them to be very helpful but they do not seem interested in figuring out what the problem might be--just want to sell me all new switch box.
Matt- Can you tell me more about the problem you had with the switch box?
Thanks much
Blaise

8/8/16       #8: Sawstop problems ...
Matt Krig Member

After re-reading your post, just spend the money to replace the box inside the cabinet. I thought at first you had a dirty contact behind the paddle switch, but this is likely the box that's bolted to the bottom or side below the drive belts.
Don't play around, just get it replaced right away as those who grow accustomed to Sawstop tend to grow accustomed to working in close proximity of the blade.

8/8/16       #9: Sawstop problems ...
Blaise Gaston

Thanks-First they told me it might be the box on the floor and I opened it up and did the tests they wanted and they decided it was fine and the problem is the switch box. They also suggest I upgrade the saw to REV2 so I guess I will do that.
I just can not believe that they are so uninterested in this problem because I suspect that someone else will have it happen and will not be as lucky as we were and will get cut. And I still think it is a wonderful saw and every shop should have one.

8/9/16       #10: Sawstop problems ...
door shop guy

Is your dust collection system wired into the saw so that when the saw is turned on, the DC starts automatically? Most of my machines are wired to the DC like this and i have never had a single problem like this.
Could static electricity cause this?
Pretty disapointing SawStartStop does not want to find the problem!

8/9/16       #11: Sawstop problems ...
KD

I have worked in industrial electronics for 39 years and have run into similar problems. I would suspect high voltage spikes on the power line. Turning on the dust collector is the tip off. Find some one with a line monitor and check to see just how "dirty" the power is. I have seen spikes as high as 14,000 volts (in the nanosecond range) on a 480 volt supply. If this is the case then the first attempt at a cure would be to install MOV's (metal oxide varistor) of the right voltage rating on all the power equipment power lines. Have someone that knows what he/she is doing do the work. MOV's are cheap. The last resort is to install a isolation transformer before the SawStop. That is of course if replacing the electronics in the saw stop doesn't solve the problem. My advice is worth every penny you pay for it.

8/9/16       #12: Sawstop problems ...
B.H. Davis Member

I forwarded this thread to one of the founders of SawStop and have posted his response below. I figured one of his tech's was working on this and I'd be letting him know about the issue. I think the fact that he was already involved in the issue speaks volumes about the quality of the company.

BH Davis

Thanks for sending along the link to the thread. That case was brought to my attention last week and I agree it is concerning. The problem with troubleshooting it is it was so intermittent that it was hard to decide how to go about figuring out what was wrong. I figured it was better to simply have him upgrade the saw to the Rev 2 components and be certain that the problem was solved. If we would have tried to trouble shoot the saw, it would have required replacing sequential components and waiting to see if each solved the problem. Since the components would cost almost as much as upgrading it seemed to me it made more sense in terms of getting the customer's problem solved as quickly and certainly as possible to do the upgrade rather than try and trouble shoot one component at a time. While the latter would be more interesting for me personally, it would be a pain for the customer.

Steve

8/9/16       #13: Sawstop problems ...
rich c.

I like KD's answer. Might also check the quality of the ground at the main box. Could be damaged ground wire or connector.

8/10/16       #14: Sawstop problems ...
Blaise Gaston

Thanks KD I have had this saw for 9 years with no problem. Is the issue of high voltage spikes something that can just develop over time?

8/10/16       #15: Sawstop problems ...
KD

These things can develop at any time. If something big on the same power line is new to your neighborhood or something new in your shop or spike suppression on one of your or your neighbors machines has failed. MOV's have a long but limited life depending on how dirty the power is, you can tell when they fail when there is a black spot where they used to be. Get the line monitored it may not be the problem. http://www.atecorp.com/products/fluke/433.aspx? Find someone in your area that knows what he/she is doing to hook this up. Like I said before my advice is worth every penny you pay for it.


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