Power Tool

Power tools from Bosch, such as the cordless drill DDH181X, have a new technology to reduce the risk of kickback. As this drill and other tools are amped up with more power, the problem of managing kickback become more pronounced. That's where Active Response Technology comes in.

When one of these drills is jammed – put into a bind-up situation – applying power to the motor will not free the bit. Some of these new cordless tools have power to spare, and sudden high-torque movements rotate the drill … and the operator's wrists and arms. This at the least is tiring. It can be dangerous. Sometime the tool will twist out of the user's hand, swing around and hit the operator or someone close to the tool, causing bodily harm.

Active Response Technology helps to keep your electric drill from swinging around and sparing sprained wrists, cracked jaws and worse. It reduces the risk of sudden torque reactions in bind-up situations.

Active Response Technology Manages Kickback

With the Bosch Brute Tough™ DDH181X drill/driver or HDH181X hammer drill/driver (click the link for background on hammer drills ), the built-in acceleration sensor can detect the quick rotational reaction forces that develop when one of the drill bits binds. This sensor limits the tool's rotation by cutting off motor current. When that happens, the motor immediately shuts down, and this minimizes unwanted further rotation of the power tool, basically stopping it and making handling easier and more convenient.

This mitigates the risk of kickback during high torque applications with little drop-off in performance. For a list of power tools and their potential problems and solutions, OSHA has provided a list.