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CNC job restrictions/brand advice
Hi, my brother luckily managed to live through SCA last sunday, and is getting great care at his hospital, and making a quick recovery. now we are posed with the overwhelming task of deciding on a brand of ICD to have placed, so he can get back to a relatively normal life. My brother is only 39, and we have no history of heart problems in our family, so we have no idea what the differences may be from one brand to another. He is very high energy, and is constantly busy with something, but the majority of his focus for the past 20 years has been his job of a CNC programmer. For him to have to change careers or even companies at this point would be almost unimaginable right now, as he is the core of most everything his company makes. his boss has made comments that they will do what ever needs to be done at their shop to get him back to work, but my brother isn't the kind of guy to expect others to help him.
If anyone has any advice on problems they have had with an implantable defib in a CNC machine shop environment, or better yet, the problems they haven't had, My brother and I would greatly appreaciate it.
Also please let me know what brand and model of ICD you have to help make that decision easier as well.
Thank You in advance,
mnboy
8 Comments
Another lucky Duck
by donr - 2012-08-17 05:08:31
Cecil: You likewise had a good bunch to work for, Sounds like they cooperated w/ you, though it took a bit of a nudge from whatever the Labor Board is.
That is the true idea of the ADA - which unfortunately has been a) ignored successfully by dinosaurs or, b) taken advantage of in ways it was not intended to be used.
I know Kennametal well - they were/are a BIG ammo metal parts mfgr - also do a lot of high speed precision cutting heads. I bought a super hard nozzle for etching glass, using silicon carbide. It has lasted ten times as long as any other I've ever bought.
I can see how you could have problems w/ sintering furnaces - some pretty wicked currents through them. What are they? In the Kilo amps? Gauss is what you are looking for.
Please bail me out on a couple things.
Were your machines 440 V 3 phase?
Did magnetic chucks when "turned off" affect your PM?
Did magnetic chucks when anchored to the bed affect your PM?
Did stray fields around the motors & supply lines to them affect it?
How crowded was the machine area? Could you walk between the machines w/o an adverse effect?
How close to the main supply panels & ckt brkrs could you get?
Did not know you were in that business. Thanks for the detailed discussion of survival in a magnetic jungle. I've had many opportunities to wander through manufacturing plants w/ a lot of CNC machines, but it was WELL before PM days.
I'd appreciate the answers to my questions so I can store it in the back of my mind in the event a similar question is asked again & you do not answer it.
Don
Brother's boss is a Bijou!
by donr - 2012-08-17 07:08:22
In the true spirit of the Americans w/ Disabilities Act, they don't come any better than that boss - who will make almost beyond "Reasonable Accommodation" to allow your brother to keep his job!!!!!
Tell your Brother NOT to be a proud dork & refuse an honest offer of assistance. In these economic times that's no attitude to take. There will be certain limitations on him for the rest of his life. Not major, believe it or not, & it's too soon to be burning bridges out of pride.
Don't EXPLOIT this offer, work w/ it & find out what accommodation actually is needed for him to work there.
This one should be a walk in the park; a piece of cake; easy as pie; a slam dunk, etc!
This sounds like a small business - as opposed to one dominant in its field. CNC machinery poses only two threats to an ICD Host who is a programmer:
1) Magnetic fields associated w/ magnetic hold downs on vises associated w/ the table. and,
2) Magnetic fields associated w/ motors.
As a programmer, he should NOT be mucking around in the POWER circuits for the machines at all. He should not be doing any maintenance on that section of the tools.
Any time he is around the machinery, all he has to do is ensure that the magnetic chucks have their circuits interrupted by whatever mechanism does that. Those magnets are STRONG suckers - the Arnold Schwartzeneggers of the device. They are meant to be so strong that a man, even w/ some of the lifting devices, cannot move them when the magnets are turned on. So that is easily accommodated for - just make sure that the magnets are disabled.
Tell him NOT to walk up to operating motors & hug them to his chest.
So he mucks around in the computers controlling the machinery. Last I knew (I worked for Allen-Bradley of Milwaukee), the computers were simply PC's adapted to machine shop environments, so no big deal there.
If there's anything else, he as a programmer, should be able to avoid it. Just keep his distance from any BIG magnets.
Talk to him - he'll know where the magnets are. Tell him to stay away from the electric power centers for the machines. That should be 3 phase 440 volt, high amp stuff. Ditto for the lines connecting the machines to the power centers. Staying away from them means about twice the length of his arms. I had my PM affected by a 240 V 30 amp water heater cable - BUT - I passed my PM within 6 inches of it. Significant magnetic fields drop off very quickly w/ distance from the electric lines creating them.
Don
lucky duck
by manaman - 2012-08-18 12:08:42
just sent a private message, let me know if you gt it! If not send me an email to naturesmanna@embarqmail.com.
Already type two replies to you and you haven't received either. I'll send via regular e-mail
thanks,
cecil
Thanks for the Help
by mnboy - 2012-08-21 11:08:46
I would like to thank everyone for the help in understanding the dangers my brother will face when he goes back to work.
He had a PM/defib combo implanted on Monday, and is now resting to get better.
He was feeling great on Saturday and was anxious to leave the hospital, then he crashed. he ended up being defibrillated 14 times in 12 hours over saturday night and sunday morning.
Now he is resting comfortably in his hospital bed with the PM keeping him running smoothly at 80 BPM. He seems to be depressed about the thought of having a PM at only 39, but I don't think he has had the chance to realise how truly lucky he is to even be alive at this point. Hopefully your words of wisdom on what he will be able to do when returning to work will help lift his spirits.
thanks again.
Not unusual to get depressed...
by donr - 2012-08-22 12:08:52
...when you have something that dramatic happen to you! That's a LOT of defib's. Pretty traumatic, too.
Right now is not a time to discuss it w/ him, but expect him to be a bit anxious about the new device.
There are several issues that may plague him. they are all centered around the reliability of his ICD. They will emerge as the nagging question in his own mind that kinda goes "What will happen if my ICD fails - will it kill me?"
The answer is - look, it has already saved you 14 times! That's more than your own heart did! Right now that PM is far more reliable than his own heart. IT is made from the same technology that the recent Mars lander has in it. The same technology that took men to the Moon & back. Besides, it has enough back up algorithms in it than the hosp has pills! Also, it can self diagnose & tell him that it has something wrong & it should be replaced. As a CNC programmer, he should feel comfy about having such a reliable device in him to help. It's made from the same materials (Titanium) that deep sea exploration vessels are & the SR 71 recon airplane was. It's one tough little sucker!
Bottom line: As soon as you see anxiety/depression, do something. Don't let it go, thinking it will go away by itself. It won't. Write us a note & someone will dive in to help. The best thing is when he gets over the initial surgery issues, bring him in & introduce him to us so he can communicate first person.
Don
You know you're wired when...
You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.
Member Quotes
I consider my device to be so reliable, that I never think about a failure.
working in CNC
by manaman - 2012-08-17 04:08:29
I read your post with interest!
I have a Medtronic EnPulse E2DR01 (DDDR) which is duel chamber with rate response.
I work with Kennametal, Inc for nearly 12 years (before I retired) in the maintenance department. We had over 60 CNC machines (grinders) running at all times with presses, sintering furnaces (electric) and a huge parts washer (fully automated and had a magnet about four feet by four feet in one wash tank) no telling how may electric motors, magnetic chucks, ultra sonic units in plant.
The only thing that gave me any issues were in the sintering department (when the furnaces were running (there were three of them). Because they were electric there was a lot gause (not sure of spelling) but anyway its an elctrical term. I could not even walk into the department with out becoming weak,nausated, etc. It would mess my PM up so bad it would take hours sometimes to correct itself. This would only happen if more than ONE unit was on line and I stayed away from close contact with unit. Management (and I) figured what was happening and made certain that only one unt was online during the day shift. If more than one was need I was allowed to stand in doorway and instruct how to make repairs! As far as the rest of the machines as long as I was in back (a couple feet away from magnetic chucks) it did not do anything at all. As far as other magnetic equipment I found if I kept it at least 2 feet way I had no problems> As for the BIG magnet I just went a different route to get from area "A" to area "B".
When I came back to work from implant I had to (mandentory) walk thru the ENTIRE plant as make notes of heart rates in EVERY AREA. There were issue with management but my doctors and labor board took care of it.
As my doctor put it; "We are putting this (PM) in to make sure you continue to work, not put you on disability.
Your brother should be over joyed that his bosses want to help him!
Regards,
Cecil
Private e-mail me if you wish