Mechanical braking system for exercise machines

A method for braking moving components of an exercise machine, the method comprising:

• providing a treadmill including:
• a running deck having a belt roller disposed at one end thereof and a continuous belt disposed around said running deck and belt roller;
• an electric belt motor comprising a stator and rotor, said electric belt motor operatively coupled to said belt roller via a motor axle;
• a flywheel disposed on said motor axle;
• a mechanical brake which is an electromagnetic brake comprising:
• a brake mount sized and shaped to mount to said electric motor, said brake mount mounting said mechanical brake to said stator;
• an armature movable between a braking position and a non-braking position and biased to said braking position by a biasing means;
• a brake pad disposed between said brake mount and said armature;
• and
• a brake coil;
• and
• a main circuit board;
• supplying said electric belt motor with electricity;
• operating said electric belt motor with said electricity, said operating turning said belt roller to move said continuous belt around said running deck;
• supplying said mechanical brake with electricity to energize said brake coil, said energized brake coil moving said armature from said braking position to said non-braking position;
• said main circuit board:
• accessing an amount of incline of said running deck;
• detecting a stopping event;
• and
• instructing a brake controller to brake and hold said continuous belt with said mechanical brake only if said amount of incline is above a predefined threshold when said stopping event is detected, by removing said electricity supply from said mechanical brake, said removing said electricity supply de-energizing said brake coil such that said biasing means moves said armature to said braking position.