Abstract: A system for measuring a length of a work piece including a leveling fixture disposed at a first end of the work piece and a range target disposed at a second end. The leveling fixture includes a precision stop abutting against the first end and range finders configured to be substantially aligned with the first end. The range target includes a target stop abutting against the second end and a vertical portion substantially aligned with the second end when the target stop abuts the second end. The range finders are each configured to take measurements between the range finders and the vertical portion of the range target so as to provide a measurement of the length of the work piece.

Abstract: A power tool comprises a base defining a work surface for supporting a workpiece and a tool assembly supported on the base and having a working tool configured to perform an operation on the workpiece when it is supported on the work surface. A sensor is supported by the base in proximity to the work surface that is configured to detect a ferrous contaminant in the workpiece when the workpiece is supported on the work surface for operation by the tool assembly. The sensor provides a signal to a user interface that is configured to generate an output sensible by the operator of the power tool when the sensor detects a contaminant.

Abstract: A method of magnetically reinforcing a composite component including the steps of adding a composite mixture of a solidifyable material and magnetically attractable reinforcing particles to a mold, applying selectively a magnetic field to a predetermined location of the mold, migrating translationally the magnetically attractable reinforcing particles by the magnetic field to the predetermined location of the mold, and solidifying the composite mixture after the magnetically attractable reinforcing particles have migrated to the predetermined location of the mold.