Ripping
Guard Nose Function
The guard nose (hold down) must be set
correctly during ripping to act asa partial
barrier against the infeed side ofthe
blade, to help keep the workpiece fiat on
the table, and to deflect workpiece chips.
It must be lowered to just clear the
workpiece.
The guard nose must be re-set each time a
different thickness workpiece is cut. Fol-
low the Ripping Set-Up Procedure to cor-
rectly set the guard nose. Set guard nose
first, then set pawls and speader.
Pawls and Spreader Function
The pawls and spreader must be set cor-
rectly during ripping to reduce the risk of
kickback, to prevent wrong way feed, and
to act as a partial barrier to the hazardous
outfeed side of the blade.
The spreader rides in the workpiece kerr
to keep it open. This reduces the chances
that the cut workpiece will spring closed
and pinch the blade. Pinching the blade is
a cause of kickback.
The pawls rest level on the upper surface
of the workpiece. During cutting they
allow the workpiece to pass freely from
the infeed to the outfeed side, but help
stop the kickback motion from outfeed to
infeed side by grabbing into the workpiece
surface.
The spreader and pawls must be re-set
each time a different thickness workpiece
is cut. Follow the Ripping Set-Up Proce-
dure to correctly set the pawls and
spreader.
Inleed Out Rip
Position
Outfeed
Spreader
Pawl
65