stopsdevices

Stopsdevices is a general term used to describe devices that halt motion, operation, or progression in a mechanical, electrical, or software system. They are deployed to prevent damage, reduce risk to people, and control sequencing of processes. The term covers mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and software-based solutions and is common in manufacturing, robotics, elevators, and transport systems.

Common types include mechanical stops such as end-of-travel blocks and positive stops; electrical emergency stop devices (E-stops) like pushbuttons connected to safety circuits; limit switches and safety interlocks that detect position or presence; braking systems in drive trains; and software or controller halts that stop a process through programming logic.

Applications vary from safeguarding stationary equipment during maintenance to stopping moving machinery rapidly in an emergency. Designers emphasize reliability, rapid actuation, and user accessibility. Safety characteristics often include fail-safe behavior, redundancy where appropriate, and routine testing or inspection to verify operation.

Standards and best practices inform the design and validation of stops devices. ISO 13850 provides guidance on emergency stop devices, while broader machinery safety standards address compatibility with safety-related control systems and risk assessment. In practice, stops devices are integrated with control logic, interlocks, and machine guards to meet regulatory requirements and enable safe operation.

See also: Emergency stop device, Limit switch, Safety interlock, Machine safety.