A safety microswitch may be crucial to a new range of heavy duty shields, according to its manufacturer.
Illinois-based Rockford Systems has created electrically interlocked shields to be used for appliances such as drill presses, milling machines and lathe machines.
Furthermore, the company states that its "one-of-a-kind line" comfortably exceeds safety requirements from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the American National Standards Institute.
According to Rockford, if the interlocked shields swing out of position then the positive contacts on the safety microswitch would open, which consequently sends a stop signal to the machine's control to help protect the user.
In addition, the application also includes another enclosed microswitch in the extra-strength mounting brackets and features heavy duty arms manufactured from pressed steel to make it durable.
Shields are said to be high-impact resistant and offer protection for a machine's operator from things such as flying chips and coolant, thanks to its transparent polycarbonate structure.
The company is based 70 miles north-west of Chicago.