A footswitch is a foot-operated switch used for control in various settings. It allows for hands-free operation in activities such as driving, artistic pursuits, and industrial machinery. It can act as a failsafe and is found in unexpected places throughout daily life.
As the name suggests, a footswitch is any of several types of foot-operated switches. It can work in a simple binary fashion, with just an on and off setting, or it can work on an increasing scale. What most adults are familiar with is a car’s accelerator pedal.
In any operation where both hands need to be used, a footswitch is a perfect way to add more control. While you’re driving a car, your hands are used to steering, shifting gears, operating the radio, and if you’re naughty like most of us, using your cell phone and drinking your coffee. Having a pedal to control acceleration and braking lets you use your hands for other tasks.
The freedom to use both hands on a project is useful or vital in many artistic and production processes. Many types of cutting and shaping tools use a foot switch as a clutch or speed control. Since both hands are required for operator safety, especially when dealing with heavy machinery, this allows for maximum control.
In industrial settings, a foot switch can also act as a failsafe. In this case it is also “dead man”, ie if the operator is away from the controls for any reason, the machine stops. This helps prevent accidents that could be caused by a careless or drowsy operator. A foot switch will also stop a machine if the person operating it is pulled from his seat and becomes entangled in the machinery.
Artistic pursuits often involve the use of both hands, so a footswitch can come in handy here too. Guitarists and bassists can use a single or an entire card to change the sound of their instrument or to control their gear. Pianos and organs use pedals, which are also types of foot switches.
Potters using a wheel can control its speed with a foot switch, leaving both hands free to shape the clay. Electric sewing machines use one to control the speed of the needle, but even older manual models use a version that the operator feeds by pressing. From industrial machines to musical instruments, whether it’s for safety, control or ease of use, foot switches are found in unexpected places throughout our daily lives. If you look around, you’d be surprised at how many different things have such a switch attached.
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