Has anyone built a wireless remote emergency stop?
would be nice so i can stop the machine from across the shop.
You shouldn’t be on the other side of the shop with a CNC table running!!!
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The key word here is ‘EMERGENCY’.
I would not trust anything other than a mechanical contact that disconnects power in an ‘emergency’ with a torch capable of producing over 10,000 degree flame (and probably a LOT of RF static in the process).
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I agree with everyone here — the entire purpose of an emergency stop (e-stop) is reliability. In a proper industrial setup, e-stop circuits are active, meaning they require continuous current flow during normal operation. The e-stop switch is normally closed so that current can pass through. When the switch is pressed, current flow is interrupted and the machine shuts down.
This design also protects against wiring faults: if a wire breaks and current stops flowing, the system treats it just like an activated e-stop and prevents the machine from running.
Wireless e-stops are technically possible, but must be designed with safety in mind. The transmitter needs to send a constant heartbeat signal—typically 10–100 times per second—to the receiver. If the receiver’s timer runs out because it stops receiving that signal, it will open the e-stop circuit and immediately halt the machine.
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I made this suggestion to someone before, so maybe I’ll add it here.
While I do agree about the points above regarding safety, and not having a table running unattended, it would be awesome to see a break-away torch mount that taps into the torch firing cable as well.
A switch that remains depressed when the torch mount is in place, and opens the circuit if/when the break-away mount detaches.
This is common in many other table brands, and several have made their own break-away for these tables as well (whether machined or 3D printed).
This doesn’t solve the emergency stop by any means, but adds a small layer of comfort knowing that if the torch came off the gantry, it’ll shut off to prevent from damaging anything.
I saw a torch head broken off from the body since it collided with steel being cut during a tip up.
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I ran my Crossfire Pro and now run my Crossfire XR with a Wireless SNES style controller. While I do not leave my CNC running unattended I do use this controller to Pause (yellow)or Stop (red) the system in case of a tip up, error or potential crash . It has saved me many times. I beside the controller not connect rarely before i start cutting or going to sleep mode during a long cut ( a key press will wake it and the next key will register ) I have had little trouble. It make is very nice to be away from the computer to input a starting location or to save your from a crash or issues while you a watching the cut closely.
I do concur with everyone about not leaving the machine unattended.
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I use these quite often for the machines I design at work. The easiest implementation is a wireless crane pendant. But they can also cause more hassle than its worth. Walk out of range and the estop circuit trips, low batteries, estop circuit trips. Someone takes the remote home after shift, Hope you have a spare and spend the next half hour pairing them.
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any more information on this set up? links?
had a situation where an operator didnt understand what was happening but i could see it from across the shop and it took to long to get to the remote stop
follow this link
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No argument that having remote ‘controls’ is useful, however, the topic is Emergency Stop and I would never rely on such a device for an EStop function.
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If you were using a break-away mount it would be easy to hook it into the torch on/off to shut the torch off if it hit a tip up or something.
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I forgot about all your points, especially someone taking the remote home.