Abstract: A slide and actuator mechanism for the vertical travel of the cutting tool on an Inverted pin routing machine. A slide that provides a rigid support for the cutting spindle and is durable, unaffected by wood dust, adjustable for exact alignment with top mounted guide pin, and inexpensive to manufacture. The actuator lever that moves said slide vertically by applying lifting pressure at the balance point so that the cantilevered motor mount will not cock or bind on the shaft that it rides and thus allows for gravity retract of the motorized cutting tool. Conventional shaft and bushing slides of this type use two shafts with two to four bushings riding on both shafts requiring the shafts to be in absolute perfect alignment to avoid tight spots and binding over the entire travel of the slide. Otherwise expensive alignment devices on the shafts are incorporated or extremely accurate machining methods are required, both of which would put the product price out of the range of the intended market.

Abstract: A rotary profile cutting machine is provided which includes supports for the workpiece and a slender cutting tool wherein a workpiece can be moved into the bite of the rotating tool. The tool is held at opposite ends in tension so as to minimize torsional and bending loads on the tool.