Impact resistance of materials for guards on cutting machine tools: requirements in future European safety standards
Mewes, Detlef ; Trapp, Rolf-Peter
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics
2000
6
4
507-520
machine tool ; safety of machinery ; safety devices ; standard ; standardization
Safety of machinery
English
"Guards on machine tools are meant to protect operators from injuries caused by tools, workpieces, and fragments hurled out of the machine's working zone. This article presents the impact resistance requirements, which guards according to European safety standards for machine tools must satisfy. Based upon these standards the impact resistance of different guard materials was determined using cylindrical steel projectiles. Polycarbonate proves to be a suitable material for vision panels because of its high energy absorption capacity. The impact resistance of 8-mm thick polycarbonate is roughly equal to that of a 3-mm thick steel sheet Fe P01. The limited ageing stability, however, makes it necessary to protect poycarbonate against cooling lubricants by means of additional panes on both sides."
Digital
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.