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All 4 Flashcards — Work envelopes and reach
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Question
What is a work envelope?
Answer
The three-dimensional space a user can reach without moving from their position. Everything the product asks them to touch must lie inside it.
Question
Normal reach vs maximum reach?
Answer
Normal reach is swept with the upper arm at the side and only the forearm extended — for constant and safety-critical controls. Maximum reach uses the whole extended arm — for occasional controls only.
Question
Why do reach and clearance conflict in a workstation?
Answer
Reach is sized from the smallest user, pulling surfaces lower and nearer; clearance is sized from the largest user, pushing them higher and wider. No single fixed geometry satisfies both, so the workstation adjusts.
Question
Where does an emergency stop belong, and why?
Answer
Inside normal reach, however rarely it is used. Frequency sets the zone for ordinary controls, but a safety-critical control must be reachable instantly without stretching.
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Full study notes for Work envelopes and reach
Topic 1.1 hub
Ergonomics
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