Conveyor Guarding

[nfie]

A company wants me to design an expanded metal guard that is easy to remove for service of the conveyor. The structure of the convey is steel. I was curious to know what the thoughts on using rare earth magnets to secure the guarding to the structure or should I simply leave holes to bolt it down. I only have a few pictures of the structure that have images of someone measuring it to go off of and this is my first time designing guarding of any kind.

 

[John2025]

I think it depends on how often it needs to be removed and how much they want to spend. If it's removable/openable then it probably needs an interlock. As far as magnets, I'd be skeptical as the end user, but maybe that's just me. I'd rather have tried and true, bullet proof construction.

 

[John2025]

Check out Table O-10 in Osha document 1910-217 for a nice chart of hole size to distance.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9841

 

[berkshire]

nfie,
You are better off designing with hook latches and screws . Magnets have a nasty habit of grabbing on in the wrong places. You want the guard to always be on in the correct position. If it has to come off and on quickly, use 1/4 turn fasteners .
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[lukin1977]

I would use magnets for the reasons said and also because the guard should be able to support the impact of a person or something else
Use bolts for supporting the guard

 

[lukin1977]

Typo. I meant: I would NOT use magnets

 

[Gustavo Silvano]

Sorry for my question, but the magnets that you are mentioning are used to fix de steel plate on place? Can you show me a link for this kind of fixing device.