[snerbles]

When I worked at an industrial integrator, we had a hard requirement for hard-wired e-stop circuits run by safety relays separate from the PLC. Sometimes we had to deal with dangerous OEM equipment that had software interlocks, and the solution was usually just to power the entire offending device down when someone hit an e-stop or opened a guarding panel.

About a decade ago a rep from Videojet straight up lied to us about their 30W CO2 marking laser having a hardware interlock. We found out when - in true Therac-25 fashion - the laser kept triggering despite the external e-stop being active due to a bug in their HMI touch panel. No one noticed until it eventually burned through the lens cap. In reality the interlock was a separate kit, and they left it out to reduce the cost for their bid to the customer. That whole incident really soured my opinion of them and reminded me of just how bad software "safety" can get.

[I_dream_of_Geni]

To be fair, reps don't really know anything deep about their product. They just parrot what they are told (or they wing it, which, i guess, can be lying). They are pushed to sell, and they will say anything to sell.

[snerbles]

Their competitor (and our preferred vendor at the time) was always forthright with us about the capabilities of their lasers.