Woodworking machines including conductive cutters adapted to cut workpieces, and motors adapted to drive the cutters are disclosed. The machines also include a contact detection system adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutter, and to distinguish contact between the person and the cutter from contact between the workpiece and the cutter. The machines further include a reaction system adapted to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of contact between the person and the cutter by the contact detection system.

Detection system for power equipment

A saw with a safety system is disclosed. The safety system includes a detection system adapted to detect contact between a person and a blade while the blade is moving. The safety system further includes a brake system adapted to engage the blade and to stop the blade when the detection system detects contact between the person and the blade.

Safety systems for power equipment

A miter saw is disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to stop the blade from rotating, to create an impulse against movement of the blade into the cutting zone, or to cause the blade to move away from the cutting zone.

Miter saw with improved safety system

A workpiece-supporting fence has a pair of movable fences movably attached to a fixed fence which is secured to a base of the device in which the fence is being used. The pair of movable fences are located on opposite sides of a working tool such as a saw blade. A fixed clamping arrangement is associated with each movable fence and provides a single point actuation member for each movable fence to clamp the movable fence to the fixed fence such that the movable fence is vertically aligned and flush with the fixed fence. In one embodiment, each movable fence is provided with a gap-filling flap which is pivotably secured to the movable fence to be movable between a lower and an upper position. In its lower position, the gap-filling flap minimizes the gap between the movable fence and the working tool. In its upper position, the gap-filling flap provides additional support when working with taller or thicker workpieces. The workpiece-supporting fence further includes a fence position indicator which allows for the positioning of one or both of the movable fences for providing clearances for a specific miter and/or bevel cut. In addition, the workpiece-supporting fence incorporates a detent system for locating the fence at tone or more of the most popular miter and/or beveling settings.

Adjustable fence for a compound miter saw

Improved methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood.

Detection systems for power equipment

A miter saw with an optical system for projecting an optical alignment marker onto a workpiece. The miter saw has a base, a turntable rotatably supported by the base, a fence disposed above the base for supporting the orientation of the workpiece located on the base, a support coupled to the rear portion of the turntable, and a cutting apparatus including a blade for cutting the workpiece. The cutting apparatus is pivotally coupled to the support for positioning the blade from a raised position above the workpiece to an operational position for engagement with the workpiece. The light projection system is attached to the cutting apparatus for projecting an optical alignment marker onto the workpiece so that the location at which the blade engages the workpiece is in a selectably adjustable relationship with respect to the position of the optical alignment marker on the workpiece. A belt-driven embodiment of the miter saw has an adjustable pulley system comprising a motor connected to a drive pulley, a blade pulley connected to the blade, the blade pulley being in substantial alignment with the drive pulley, and a belt for connecting the drive pulley with the blade pulley. An adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the drive pulley and the blade pulley is provided so that the tension on the drive belt may be adjusted.

Miter saw alignment system

An optical system for projecting an alignment marker on to a workpiece relative to the circular blade of a power saw. The light projection system projects a planar beam of light along a plane defined by one side of the blade to designate the location at which that side of the blade will enter the workpiece. An adjustment mechanism may be included to allow movement of the light projection system so that the planar beam of light can be selectively located parallel to the plane defined by either side of the blade.

Dennis C. Huntsman

Papers

Miter saw alignment system

Optical alignment system for circular power saws