Abstract: A saw such as a chop saw, a circular saw, a compound miter saw or a sliding compound miter saw having a rotatable saw blade is provided with a laser arbor alignment system. The laser arbor may include a power generator that generates power as the saw blade and the laser arbor are rotated by a spindle. The generator may include a stator comprising an electrical magnet or a permanent magnet mounted on a fixed portion of the saw. The other portion of the generator is a rotor comprising a coil that is rotated with the laser arbor to generate power for the laser. Power may also be provided to the laser by slip ring contacts from a stationary source to the laser arbor.

Abstract: A compound miter saw having a bevel adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angle of inclination of a cutting disk relative to a top surface of a turntable. The bevel adjustment mechanism includes a first knuckle for adjusting the angle of inclination of the cutting disk about a tilt axis and a second knuckle for adjusting the upward and downward movement of the cutting disk. The first knuckle includes a fixed portion mounted adjacent the outer periphery of the turntable and a rotating portion cooperating with the fixed portion. A scale and indicator are provided on the fixed and rotating portions to measure the angle of inclination of the saw assembly relative to the tilt axis. A locking mechanism secures the rotating portion to the fixed portion to secure the saw in a cutting position.

Abstract: A hammer drill has a motor which drives an axially displaceable intermediate gear mounted in an intermediate gear arrangement. An impact mechanism is formed by including interacting impact cams between either the intermediate gear and the housing, or the motor armature shaft and the housing to generate a reciprocating motion on an output spindle or shaft. A spindle locking mechanism is included which causes an intermediate gear to be disengageable with respect to the output shaft, while still permitting the impact mechanism to be engaged. Such an arrangement allows the hammer drill to operate in a hammer-only or chipping mode.

Abstract: A throat plate insert for a table saw is provided having a scale on the upper side thereof adjacent the region of the elongated slot for the circular saw blade. The scale provides an indication of the height of a specified diameter saw blade corresponding to the chordal length of a segment of saw blade protruding through the elongate slot.

Abstract: A rotary direction indicator provided for use with a rotating element which causes the rotation of an associated member. The rotary direction indicator has an internally compliant body fixed in a normal to a central axis which has formed thereon a pair of arrows which appear to be three-dimensional moving in a clockwise direction. One of the three-dimensional arrows appears to plunge into the surface of the body while the other of three-dimensional arrows appear to rise out of the surface of the body thereby providing a visual indication of a correspondence between the direction of rotation of the rotary element and the movement of the associated member.

Abstract: A reciprocating saw includes a housing having an upper surface and a side surface, and a blade holder supported on the end of a reciprocating saw bar. The blade holder is adapted to support a saw blade such that the resulting cutting plane lies outboard of one of the housing's surfaces, while a reference plane, orthogonal to the cutting plane and intersecting a cutting edge of the blade, lies outboard of the other of the housing's surfaces. Preferably, each surface includes a flat, and the blade's cutting edge is supported proximate to an intersection of the planar extensions of the flats. A wobble drive assembly including a single wobble plate with an integral counterweight advantageously permits a relatively outboard position of the saw bar on the housing to reduce bending moments on the bearings supporting the saw bar.

Abstract: A molded limit gauge for measuring workpiece thicknesses. The limit gauge includes a body having one or more elongate ridges extending longitudinally therealong. Each ridge has a plurality of notches extending laterally through its upper portion. Each notch has a unique longitudinal dimension that is uniform. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of each notch and the land between each notch is horizontally flat. In a second preferred embodiment, each of these surfaces has a configuration of a laterally convex curve. The limit gauge body is configured such that it can be mounted atop a planing machine. So mounted, it can function as a structural top of the planing machine. Measurement of a board thickness is accomplished by attempting to slide the board through notches that appear to match its thickness. A range of board thickness is defined between the indicated sizes of two adjacent notches that respectively allow and do not allow passage of the board through.

Abstract: A table-top cutting machine having a base; a circular saw main unit having a saw blade and a drive therefor, the circular saw main unit being moveable between a precutting and a postcutting position and being pivotable to incline the saw blade. A turntable is also provided and is rotatably supported by the base. Locking mechanisms maintain the positions of the circular saw main unit and of the turntable and are operated by handles disposed at the front of the turntable. A stop is also provided to set and maintain the circular saw main unit with its saw blade in a vertical position. This mechanism is likewise operated by a handle disposed at the front of the turntable.