| Machine guards are devices that are used to protect | | | | Type of operation, Size & shape of stock |
| users from a machine. They form a barrier between | | | | & and type of materials, Handling method, |
| the user and the machine and thus help prevent any | | | | Layout of work area, Production requirements. |
| unforeseen accidents. Machine guards are available in | | | | Consideration of these requirements will help to |
| many different types, and are generally | | | | determine the appropriate method of safeguarding a |
| manufactured for specific applications. For example, | | | | particular machine, and the most effective and |
| machine guards for vertical milling machines will be | | | | practical method should always be chosen. |
| different in form to machine guards for horizontal | | | | Safeguards can be grouped into five general |
| milling machines, drilling machines and lathes. | | | | classifications, and these are : |
| These guards are made to serve several different | | | | Guards, Devices, Gates, Location & distance, |
| purposes such as the prevention of small chips of | | | | Feeding & Ejection methods, Miscellaneous aids. |
| machined material or swarf, from spraying into the | | | | Guards are barriers which prevent access to danger |
| air, or to prevent the misuse of the machine by | | | | areas, and a fixed guard is a permanent part of the |
| unauthorised persons. Machine guards can be custom | | | | machine. It can be constructed from plastic, bars, |
| made to fit many different types of industrial | | | | sheet metal, wire or any other material that can |
| machinery, and these can include: | | | | withstand any impact it may endure while in use. |
| Milling & CNC Milling machines, Lathes & CNC | | | | Other types of machine guard can include adjustable |
| Lathes, Grinding machines, Drilling machines. | | | | guard, self adjusting guard and interlocking guard. |
| Along with many other different types of machinery... | | | | Severed fingers, crushed arms and hands, blindness, |
| As already mentioned, there are many ways to | | | | can be the result of bad work practice, and |
| safeguard machines, and many different aspects to | | | | safeguards are essential for protection against such |
| consider. For example: | | | | needless injuries. |