Design Evaluations of Radial Arm Saws

Abstract

Due to the recent do-it-yourself philosophy of marketing for general furniture and household items in addition to the actual financial savings associated with producing one's own items of need have increased the market for miniaturized production type equipment such as drill presses and radial arm saws. Thus far such equipment only existed in shops where they were only used by the professionals and the novice had only the least access to them. Due to the changes in the market, it has become evident that the design of such equipment should be monitored to ensure that all users are effectively considered in their design.

This paper reviews the design of small production type equipments with emphasis on a typical radial arm saw. The actual operation of the saw is presented and the design problems are noted. The critique was based on several widely used human factors design criteria. Further specific solutions are provided for a redesign of the equipment. A mock-up of a newly designed saw is then presented where improvements are incorporated. Finally, a set of design criteria are established in order to provide the manufacturer of such production equipment with guidelines on how to economically improve the design for the user of their products.

A videotape is produced in order to use human factors guidelines for evaluations of a radial arm saw. The tape also presents a 3 dimensional model of a redesigned saw. Acceptable humor was used throughout the production of the tape in order to increase the effectiveness of the presented material.