[bekindandopen]

You might be surprised at how many machines work that way, though.

There's the classic aphorism about tools like lathes: "This machine has no brain, please use your own." But that's usually in an industrial setting with OSHA, mandated safety trainings, inspections, a culture of reporting unsafe practices without judgement, etc.

As CNC machines get cheaper and smaller, we are starting to see things like laser cutters sold to consumers with a pair of glasses and a manual rather than an enclosure. Hope you remember to lock the door if you have kids or pets...

It is a worrying trend which seems to be accelerating in the US due to crumbling and senescent regulatory institutions.

[darkerside]

Those new consumer goods are a lawsuit away from fixing whatever dangerous characteristics they are shipping with today.

[Spooky23]

No, they are a mandatory binding arbitration away from keeping accountability at bay, with an NDA.

[ryandrake]

More like they are a lawsuit away from shutting down. It’s far easier to kill the product and then cry about how unfair lawsuits add no regulation are than to just fix the problems.

[IshKebab]

Lathes are a good example of exactly what I'm talking about! The manual might say "don't start the lathe with the chuck key still in place" but that doesn't stop people from doing it.

A much better solution is to add a physical safety interlock which prevents you from starting the lathe without removing the chuck key, which is exactly what some lathes do!

I agree the safety level of a lot of Chinese machines is very poor.