Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a workpiece support surface, a throat opening defined in the workpiece support surface, an arbor shaft configured to support a shaping device, the arbor shaft positioned beneath the workpiece support surface and accessible through the throat opening, and a camming device rotatably mounted at a location adjacent to the throat opening, the camming device including a first camming surface portion configured to cam against a second camming surface potion of a throat plate inserted into the throat opening, thereby locking the throat plate within the throat opening.

Abstract: A table saw in one embodiment a swing arm movable along a swing arm path between a first swing arm position adjacent a latch hold mechanism and a second swing arm position spaced apart from the latch hold mechanism, a blade supported by the swing arm, a charge coupling plate mounted in close proximity to the blade so as to form a capacitor, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the swing arm when the swing arm is maintained at the first swing arm position resulting in a bias on the latch hold mechanism, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer the force to the swing arm in response to a sensed change in capacitance of the capacitor.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a drop arm assembly movable along a drop path between a first drop arm assembly position whereat a portion of a shaping device supported by the drop arm assembly extends above a workpiece support surface and a second drop arm assembly position whereat the portion of the shaping device does not extend above the workpiece support surface, an actuator housing configured to house a first actuating device at an active location at which a force from the first actuating device is transferred to the drop arm assembly, the actuator housing including a slit configured to position a second actuating device at an inactive location, and a control system configured such that when the first actuating device is housed, the control system controls the first actuating device to transfer the force to the drop arm assembly when an unsafe condition is sensed.

Abstract: A method of resetting a drop arm assembly in a power tool assembly from a first drop arm assembly position whereat a portion of a shaping device mounted on the drop arm assembly does not extend above a workpiece support surface, includes removing a throat plate from a throat plate opening, moving at least a portion of a blade wrench downwardly through the throat plate opening, operably coupling the blade wrench with an arbor shaft of a drop arm assembly, releasing a first latch from engagement with a drop arm frame of the drop arm assembly after removing the throat plate, pulling the coupled blade wrench in an upwardly direction to a second drop arm assembly position whereat the portion of the shaping device extends above a workpiece support surface, and latching the drop arm assembly at the second drop arm assembly position with a second latch.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a drop arm assembly movable along a drop path between a first drop arm assembly position whereat a shaping device portion supported by the drop arm assembly extends above a workpiece support surface and a second drop arm assembly position whereat the portion does not extend above the workpiece support surface, the drop arm assembly including a capacitive coupling plate bracket formed from a non-conductive material and connected to a drop arm frame, and a capacitive coupling plate mounted to the capacitive coupling plate bracket, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the drop arm assembly when the drop arm assembly is at the first drop arm assembly position, and a control system operably connected to the capacitive coupling plate and configured to control the actuating device to transfer the force to the drop arm assembly when an unsafe condition is sensed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a table saw assembly includes a motor assembly, an electrically conductive belt operably connected to the motor assembly, an arbor shaft operably connected to the belt, a drop arm assembly rotatably supporting the arbor shaft, and a first pulley rotatably supporting the belt, the first pulley including an inner bore and an outer surface, the first pulley configured to electrically isolate the inner bore from the outer surface.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a drop arm assembly including a drop arm frame and an arbor shaft configured to support a shaping device at least partially above a workpiece support surface, the drop arm assembly configured to move within a drop plane to drop the shaping device completely beneath the workpiece support surface, a belt operably connected to the arbor shaft and configured to rotate the arbor shaft through a slave pulley, the slave pulley having a slave pulley axis of rotation, a motor including a power shaft operably connected to the belt through a motor end pulley, the motor end pulley having a motor end pulley axis of rotation, and an orbit bracket configured to orbitally support the drop arm assembly, the orbit bracket defining a drop arm orbit axis located between the motor end pulley axis of rotation and the slave pulley axis of rotation.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a workpiece support surface, a throat opening defined in the workpiece support surface, an arbor shaft configured to support a shaping device, the arbor shaft positioned beneath the workpiece support surface and accessible through the throat opening, and a camming device rotatably mounted at a location adjacent to the throat opening, the camming device including a first camming surface portion configured to cam against a second camming surface potion of a throat plate inserted into the throat opening, thereby locking the throat plate within the throat opening.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a table saw assembly includes a motor assembly, an electrically conductive belt operably connected to the motor assembly, an arbor shaft operably connected to the belt, a drop arm assembly rotatably supporting the arbor shaft, a first pulley rotatably supporting the belt, the first pulley including an inner component defining an inner bore and an outer component defining an outer surface, the first pulley configured to electrically isolate the inner bore from the outer surface, and an alignment adjustment mechanism operably connected to the first pulley, the alignment adjustment mechanism configured to selectably position the first pulley along an axis of rotation of the first pulley.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a workpiece support surface, a latch movable between a first latch position whereat a drop arm assembly cannot be moved from a first position whereat a shaping device does not extend above the workpiece support surface to a second position whereat the shaping device extends above the workpiece support surface, to a second latch position whereat the drop arm assembly can be moved from the first position to the second position, an actuator housing configured to receive an actuator device, and a reaction plug configured to be selectively seated with the actuator housing, the reaction plug configured such that when an actuator device is installed in the actuator housing and the reaction plug is moved from an unseated position to a fully seated position, the reaction plug forces the actuator device to move the latch from the first latch position to the second latch position.

Abstract: An object detection system in a saw includes an electrically conductive plate positioned at a predetermined distance from the implement, a detection circuit comprising a transformer, and a single cable connecting first terminal and second terminals of the transformer. The single cable includes a first conductor electrically connected to the first terminal of the winding and to the electrically conductive plate, a second conductor electrically connected to the implement, and an electrical insulator positioned between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a latch movable between a first latch position whereat the latch supports a drop arm assembly in a first drop arm assembly position, and a second latch position whereat the latch does not support the drop arm assembly position at the first drop arm assembly position, and an arbor lock movable between a first lock position whereat the arbor lock prevents movement of the drop arm assembly toward the second drop arm assembly position when the drop arm assembly is in the first drop arm assembly position, and a second lock position whereat the arbor lock does not prevent movement of the drop arm assembly toward the second drop arm assembly position when the drop arm assembly is in the first drop arm assembly position.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a drop arm assembly movable along a drop plane, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the drop arm assembly to force the drop arm assembly along the drop plane, and a tool control unit assembly configured to control the power tool assembly, the tool control unit assembly including a printed circuit board (PCB) generally defining a PCB plane which is not perpendicular to the drop plane.

Abstract: A power tool assembly includes a drop arm frame with an opening configured to rotatably support an arbor shaft, a lower surface spaced apart from the opening, and a plurality of ribs extending between the lower surface and the opening. The plurality of ribs define a respective one of a plurality of axes, the plurality of axes intersect at a locus, and the locus is adjacent to, but spaced apart from, a center of gravity of the drop arm assembly. The power tool assembly further includes an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the drop arm assembly when the drop arm assembly is at the first drop arm assembly position, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer the force to the drop arm assembly when an unsafe condition is sensed.

Abstract: A user interface device for a saw is mounted to an exterior of a housing in the saw. The user interface device includes a light emitting diode (LED) mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), an antenna formed on the PCB, an optically opaque member with a first opening and a second opening, the first opening aligned with the LED, an optically translucent member engaging the second opening of the optically opaque member, and a base member connected to the PCB, optically opaque member, and optically translucent member, the base member being configured to be mounted to an exterior of a housing of the saw.

Abstract: A method for measuring brush wear in a motor of a saw includes generating, with a sensor connected to a brush in a motor of the saw, a first signal corresponding to a level of wear in the brush and identifying, with a controller, a level of wear for the brush with reference to the first signal. The method further includes generating, with the controller and a user interface device, an output requesting replacement of the brush in response to the identified level of wear exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A table saw includes a safety system to protect a user from injury. The safety system detects a sensed condition and rapidly moves a saw blade away from the user. The safety system includes a dual ratchet mechanism to prevent the blade from rebounding back above a work surface after an initial rapid retraction of the blade. The table saw has a swing arm that rotates to move the blade below the work surface. A first ratchet engages a first contact surface of the swing arm after rotation of the swing arm over a first range of angular displacements to prevent counter rotation of the swing arm. A second ratchet engages a second contact surface of the swing arm after rotation of the swing arm over a second range of angular displacements to prevent counter rotation of the swing arm.

Abstract: A table saw in one embodiment a swing arm movable along a swing arm path between a first swing arm position adjacent a latch hold mechanism and a second swing arm position spaced apart from the latch hold mechanism, a blade supported by the swing arm, a charge coupling plate mounted in close proximity to the blade so as to form a capacitor, an actuating device configured to transfer a force to the swing arm when the swing arm is maintained at the first swing arm position resulting in a bias on the latch hold mechanism, and a control system configured to control the actuating device to transfer the force to the swing arm in response to a sensed change in capacitance of the capacitor.