A system for monitoring cutting devices in a packaging production line having a line for supplying a material to be cut, an area of a predetermined type of cutting device, and a packaging output line is provided. The system includes means for counting cutting actions of the cutting device, configured to provide a time series of cutting action counting data, a video camera to frame an area of the output line, the video camera configured to provide video data of packaging elements in the output line, first code means, configured to run, on a computer, a first algorithm for recognizing cutting defects starting from video data, the first algorithm providing defect recognition data, and second code means, configured to run, on the computer, a trained expert algorithm to predict cutting performance degradation based on historical defect recognition data, time series of cutting action counting data, and type of cutting device.

A saw has a system for sensing the torque on a cutting blade to signal when the blade begins to cut material. The saw has a drive belt extending between a driven wheel and a drive wheel and a belt tensioner that engages a side of the belt and maintains tension in the belt. The belt tensioner is movable to maintain the tension in the belt. A control system calculates the movement of the belt tensioner. The saw has a system for determining the size of the sacrificial blade. A through beam photoelectric emitter and receiver pair are positioned on opposite sides of the blade such that a largest cutting blade is moved above the beam regardless of a horizontal position of the cutting blade and sensor senses a vertical position of the axis of the blade. The sensor senses the vertical position of the blade axis when the blade is moved above the beam.

A safety system prevents cutting machine operators from being accidentally carried through the infeed chute into the machine's cutting mechanism. An operator wears a safety device on his wrist and/or ankle and a sensor array mounts on opposing sides of the cutting machine's infeed chute. The sensor array elements are wound in opposite directions and connect in series opposing. The magnetic field of the safety device induces a current in the sensor array as it moves in the proximity of the sensor array. The safety system generates a signal which is proportional to the sum of the induced currents. When the signal exceeds a threshold, the safety system shuts off power to the feed mechanism and/or the cutting blades of the cutting machine, preventing injury to the operator.

A method for cutting a preform usable for production of a turbomachine part and including a weaving of a plurality of threads, the threads including single threads that are visually identifiable, along a cutting contour calculated based on a preform model in which the threads have a reference arrangement, the method including: taking an image of the preform; processing the image to determine a deviation in an arrangement of the threads which are visually identifiable relative to the reference layout; correcting the cutting contour according to the deviation; and cutting the preform along the corrected cutting contour.

A saw has a system for sensing the torque on a cutting blade to signal when the blade begins to cut material. The saw has a drive belt extending between a driven wheel and a drive wheel and a belt tensioner that engages a side of the belt and maintains tension in the belt. The belt tensioner is movable to maintain the tension in the belt. A control system calculates the movement of the belt tensioner. The saw has a system for determining the size of the sacrificial blade. A through beam photoelectric emitter and receiver pair are positioned on opposite sides of the blade such that a largest cutting blade is moved above the beam regardless of a horizontal position of the cutting blade and sensor senses a vertical position of the axis of the blade. The sensor senses the vertical position of the blade axis when the blade is moved above the beam.

Table saws with safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems detect and react to dangerous conditions, such as contact between the blade and a person. The table saws may include a switch, a first light that illuminates to indicate the safety system is operable, and a second light that illuminates to indicate that the safety system is inoperable. The switch may not power the saw when switched on if the second light is illuminated.

A method for cutting a preform usable for production of a turbomachine part and including a weaving of a plurality of threads, the threads including single threads that are visually identifiable, along a cutting contour calculated based on a preform model in which the threads have a reference arrangement, the method including: taking an image of the preform; processing the image to determine a deviation in an arrangement of the threads which are visually identifiable relative to the reference layout; correcting the cutting contour according to the deviation; and cutting the preform along the corrected cutting contour.

A power table saw has a saw blade driven by a motor with power selectively supplied to the motor by actuation of a switch. A riving knife is selectively positioned in an extended position and a retracted position relative to the blade. A blade guard is removably mounted to the riving knife above the blade. A sensible element on the riving knife can be detected by a first sensor when the riving knife is retracted, the first sensor has a non-null state when the sensible element is adjacent the first sensor and a null state otherwise. A second sensor has a null state when the blade guard is detected and a non-null state otherwise. A controller determines the states of the sensors and disengages power to the motor when the switch is actuated when the states of the sensors are different.

Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

A power tool includes a swing arm movable along a swing arm path, an actuating assembly configured to transfer a force to the swing arm, a control system configured to control the actuating assembly to transfer a force to the swing arm, and a detection system configured to detect the operability of the actuating assembly.