Abstract: A saw. In one embodiment, the saw includes a base, a table, a motor that rotates a blade, a sensor, a controller, and a display element. The table is movable with respect to the base. The blade is movable between a first, substantially vertical position and at least one angular position removed from the first position. The sensor includes an optical encoder disc, and generates and transmits a signal indicative of the angular position of the table with respect to the base or the angular position of the blade with respect to the first, substantially vertical position by monitoring one or more optical reference elements included on the optical encoder disc. The display element receives the conditioned signal from the controller and displays the angular position of the table with respect to the base or the angular position of the blade with respect to the first, substantially vertical position.