Machine Security

[jeffscarstrucks]

Hopefully this is not an issue that anyone ever has to deal with but as I look at my collection of blue machines that are very light and small it occurs to me that if someone were to get in to my shop then they could do a lot of damage dollar wise in a big hurry. My machines are on one cart with a cable through the handles and the cart but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas or other suggestions. Apparently theft is a big problem when inverter machines are used on job sites. My units never leave home and I'de like to keep it that way! Thanks, JEFF

[Tanner]

A really good door lock! No, you could try a kryponite new york chain through the handles of the welders. That'd work..maybe. The chain is about...5lbs and comes with a cover so it doesn't scratch welders/bikes.

[INTP]

Getting into a garage seems to be a common thing for thieves to do around here. My father-in-law has had many tools walk off from his garage over the years. I've done some things to make getting into the garage a bit harder, and I've also made the good stuff harder to get at should they make it in.

One thing I did was make a cage. It's made of angle and expanded, with two doors on front and a shelf inside at the top. Inside it, I store my O/A rig, a rolling tool cart, and anything that could be used to cut metal. My welders are tethered to it. Other things I just make heavy. Then I leave the HF tools around so they can fill their hands with that instead.

As for the garage door, a common trick of thieves is to cut a hole in the door and reach in to pull the cord to disconnect the opener's drive. I drilled a hole in the disonnect and put in a cotter pin to prevent this. I just have to remove the pin to use it myself. Also, I don't leave the garage door opener in side the vehicle if I park outside the garage. If they get into my car (easy) they'll be in the garage too easy with it.

I have some other tricks up my sleeve, but I'm not posting them on the internet. I think you get the idea, though.

[arcdawg]

intp has the right idea.....DONT LEAVE CUTTING TOOLS WITHIN REACH....

AND GET YOU SELF A BIG DAWG

DAWG

[JOHN1]

Been in Law Enforcement for 20 years.

GET A DOG, THEY NEVER FAIL!!

John

[fun4now]

DOG AND HF TOOLS

bolth great ideals.also a pawn shop wont take anything with numbers or a name on it.back when i was building houses i painted all my tools with bright pink paint and put a set of numbers on it (dont use your ssn but use similer #to look like it 4 digets)theves dont always use pawn shops but its hard to trade a pink tool for dope.it also makes them easy to spot so you can take a drive around the job sites and spot them.most guys got a hangup about pink.
my bulmastif just had puppies so my shop watch dog is still in training. well all he dose now is eat and poop
most breakins are grab and run so if you have a hand full of hf tools around lose and a chain on the welders you should be ok in your home. most likely the theaf you get wont know enough to take the time to get the good stuf.

[ASKANDY]

I agree on the dog!

My 10 yr old Doberman will greet you at the shop door if you try to get in late at night. I call it the biggest dog house on the block. Even has heat and air for her.
I also bought some wireless security camaras that work pretty good if your shop is close enough to the house to recieve the signals. My shop is just at the limit of range so last month I got 4 wired with sound camaras to replace the wireless.
Radio Shack has alarm systems too that are pretty resonable.
I also took pictures of the shop from all angles and my tool boxes with each drawer opened by itself to show contents for insurance if needed.

Be safe.

Andy

[hankj]

I live in the country. The sherrif's deputy can get here in ten minutes, or ten hours, depending on what's going on in the county! Two labs, one German Shepherd, two loaded handguns, one loaded shotgun (except when the grandkids are here - guns unloaded and locked in safe - just 3 dogs!) Come and get it, if you can!

Be well.

hank

[arcdawg]

WE HAD A CAR THAT SOME LIL PUNKS RIPPED THE WHEELS OFF OF (CHRISTMAS EVE ) FEW YEARS BACK.........SO WE DO NOT DEPEND ON THE COPS !!!
THEY WERE LIKE DUST FOR FINGERPRINTS ? THAT WOULD BE WORK !!

NO GUNS, JUST A NOSEY DOG.....AND A BIG *** BASEBALL BAT.....
AND A SWINGER WITH A SHORT FUSE !!!!

YOU COME ON MY PROPRETY LOOKIN TO RIP ME OFF BE PREPARED TO HAVE YOUR JAW WIRED SHUT !!

I WORK HARD FOR MY TOOLS.........

IF ANYONE HAS ENOUGH NUTS TO TRY RIPPING ME OFF.......THEY HAVE A OPEN INVITE...........TO THE E.R.

DAWG

[Tanner]

easy there killer...

[Steved]

ANDY:

I have a suggestion for this since you are close to the engineers who build the electronics for these machines. (If implemented I am looking for a good price on a Big Window Elite........

As mentioned before, the majority of the thefts are on inverter machines due to their inherent low weight. It is not all that easy to walk off with a 200+ lb transformer welder and I would assume that the heavier machines do not go missing often.

The inverter machines are heavily microprocessor controlled with large flybacks and this reduces the weight considerably.

From an engineering standpoint it would be quite easy to have a startup routine in the processor that works something like this:

IF (Timestamp < 24 hours & THEFT_PREVENTION == TRUE) then
Run machine normally
ELSE
Have user enter THEFT_PREVENTION code
Reset 24_hour_timer
ENDIF
Run machine normally.

In other words, every 24 hours the user will have to enter in a code (5 digit or so) for the machine to run. Since they are already microprocessor controlled this should not be that much of a change. The trick in this application is to NOT make the security code programmable. It must be a hard-coded piece of software from the factory so that if someone steals the machine they will not be able to reset the machine to defaults and reprogram the security code.

If someone steals the machine it will not run after 24 hours so why steal it?

From an engineering applications point of view this sort of thing is NOT difficult, including the hardcoded security sequence of numbers.

There may be slight cost increases to the machine to include a method of entering in the security code, LCD display + keypad, but this should not add more than $50 to the price of the unit. I am sure that many people would pay the extra $50 so that their machines do not get liberated from them.

This would really set the bar for the Blue machines and the other colors would be at a disadvantage. All other things being equal, would you purchase a theft prone machine or a non theft prone machine?

Just my two cents.

Regards,

Steve

[JOHN1]

Was with LAPD 14 yrs now a Sheriffs Deputy.
You have a right to protect your home and family.
Here we may have only one Deputy per 100 sq. miles, so enough said.

So get a BIG DOG. Never have been to a burglary in all these years where there was a Big Dog or even a Mutt present and available.

BAD GUYS DON"T LIKE DOGS.

John

I have 3 Rott's

[fun4now]

watch out

if you come for mine you gota deal with this guy

[fun4now]

OK OK

so he need a few pushups and a situp or two then he will be fine.give him a week or two LOL
gess ill have to relie on the lock out till then sounds like a good solid ideal.

[ASKANDY]

Steve,

I like your thoughts!! And even though we do have the lock out features on the Dynasty's, your version is more foolproof and actually adresses theft.
I will check to see if anyone has been working on this type of program and if not, I will pass your suggestion on!

Have a good one!

Andy