WireCrafters RapidGuard II Lift-Off Machine Guard System

wirecrafters machine guard

Machine guarding keeps people out of the reach of moving equipment, and in the US it is a regulatory requirement, not an option. OSHA’s machine guarding standard, 29 CFR 1910.212, requires safeguarding any machine part, function, or process that can cause injury. For robot cells, RIA TR R15.406 covers how to design a system of safeguards to protect workers, and ANSI B11.19 sets performance requirements for safeguarding, including guards. Neither standard picks the right safeguard for your machine. That comes from a risk assessment of your own cell, and a guard product is one part of that system.

RapidGuard II is WireCrafters’ answer to a problem every guarded cell has: the guard has to come off for maintenance, then go back on correctly. The lift-off design lets the panels come off while the fixing hardware stays on the post. WireCrafters states that the patent-pending T-slot mounting makes installation 50% faster than most competing products and lets one person install it. Panels are 10-gauge welded wire in a 1-1/4" square pattern, welded into a 13-gauge roll-formed angle frame. Posts are 2" x 2" 14-gauge tube with pre-drilled threaded inserts for the panels.

Key RapidGuard Features:
♦ Lift-off panels; panels come off while the fixing hardware stays attached to the post, designed to comply with RIA TR R15.406
♦ Tool-removable 5/16"-18 x 3/4" hardware, which WireCrafters states is compliant with ANSI B11.19 and RIA TR R15.406
♦ Standard panels 6'-1-1/2" or 8' high, 1' to 5' wide
♦ Posts for 6'-6-3/4" to 8'-5-1/4" installations (4" sweep), 2" square 14-gauge tube with 6" square x 1/4" baseplates
♦ Fully framed panels for added strength and stability
♦ Hinged and sliding doors, with an integrated lockout plate and pull handle standard on hinged doors
♦ Safety interlocks available with mounting plates
♦ Stock powder-coated black panels and yellow posts
♦ Hardware and anchors are included

Where Commonly Used:
Lift-off machine guarding is used around robotic work cells, CNC machines and presses, and conveyors and automation lines where equipment needs periodic maintenance access without dismantling the guard system.

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CustomMHS carries the full line of WireCrafters wire partitions, backed by the manufacturer's warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the RapidGuard II lift-off machine guard system?

RapidGuard II is a wire mesh machine guarding system built around a lift-off panel design, so panels can be removed while the mounting hardware stays attached to the posts. Panels use 10 gauge welded wire in a 1-1/4" square pattern welded into a 1-1/4" x 1-1/4" 13 gauge roll formed angle frame, mounted to 2" x 2" 14 gauge tube posts. CustomMHS carries the full line of WireCrafters machine guarding, backed by the manufacturer's warranty.

What does lift-off design actually mean?

It means the fixing hardware stays with the post rather than coming off with the panel. On a conventional guard, removing a panel means unbolting hardware that then has to be kept track of and reinstalled correctly. With lift-off, maintenance takes the panel out and puts it back without handling loose fasteners, and the guard goes back up the same way every time. That behavior is what RIA TR R15.406 addresses.

What standards does this system meet?

RapidGuard II is compliant with OSHA and ANSI/RIA safety standards. The 5/16"-18 x 3/4" tool removable hardware specifically meets ANSI B11.19 and RIA TR R15.406, and the lift-off design addresses the RIA requirement that fixing systems remain attached when guards are removed. That matters for facilities documenting robotic cell compliance, since the hardware specification is part of what gets verified.

How does RapidGuard II help your facility?

The direct gain is guarding that can be opened for maintenance and closed again correctly, which is where conventional guards tend to fail. When taking a panel off means dealing with loose hardware, panels get left off or reinstalled improperly, and the protection stops being reliable. Lift-off design removes that friction. On hinged doors, an integrated lockout plate and pull handle come standard, and safety interlocks with mounting plates are available, so access points can be tied to equipment controls rather than depending on procedure. Fully framed panels also add strength and stability across the run.