Table saws with safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems detect and react to dangerous conditions, such as contact between the blade and a person. The table saws may include a switch, a first light that illuminates to indicate the safety system is operable, and a second light that illuminates to indicate that the safety system is inoperable. The switch may not power the saw when switched on if the second light is illuminated.

An alignment device for a portable motorized miter saw may allow a user to easily reproduce cuts of the same length, even when the miter saw is taken off and replaced back on a portable miter saw stand. The alignment device includes a three piece connector that allows for easy set-up of wings on either side of the saw, which are used to support the material being cut. Because the wings attach directly to the saw itself, the wings stay in exactly the same relationship to the saw blade. Thus, when a stop is attached to the wing, material can be cut to the same size lengths, even though the saw may be taken down one day and set up another day.

A miter saw and a workpiece support are provided. The workpiece support has a circular disc-shaped turntable penetrated by a saw blade slot serving as a passage for the saw blade lowered into the working position, a holder on one side for fastening the saw unit, and a radial arm which extends the turntable and the saw blade slot in the longitudinal direction of the slot radially outwards on a side opposite the holder. A radial arm connection is provided, on which the radial arm is detachably and co-rotatably attached to the turntable, or on which a radially outer radial arm outer portion of the radial arm is detachably and co-rotatably attached to a radially inner radial arm inner portion of the radial arm formed integrally with the turntable. The miter saw has blade that can be moved transversely and lowered from a position above the workpiece support.

A bevel angle lock and detent system for a miter saw includes a first locking unit fixed relative to the turntable and a second locking unit coupled to a bevel arm of the miter saw. An actuator is moveable between a first position and a second position to move the second locking unit relative to the first locking unit. In the first position, a brake member of the second locking unit is engaged with an arcuate surface of the first locking unit to lock a saw unit relative to a turntable. In the second position, the brake member is disengaged from the arcuate surface, thereby permitting pivoting movement of the saw unit, and a detent member of the second locking unit is engageable a detent aperture of the first locking unit to locate the saw unit relative to the turntable at one predetermined bevel angle.

Table saws with safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems detect and react to dangerous conditions, such as contact between the blade and a person. The table saws may include a switch, a first light that illuminates to indicate the safety system is operable, and a second light that illuminates to indicate that the safety system is inoperable. The switch may not power the saw when switched on if the second light is illuminated.

Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

Table saws with safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems detect and react to dangerous conditions, such as contact between the blade and a person. The table saws may include a switch, a first light that illuminates to indicate the safety system is operable, and a second light that illuminates to indicate that the safety system is inoperable. The switch may not power the saw when switched on if the second light is illuminated.

Throat plates for table saws and table saws are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws have at least one securement mechanism to secure and prevent inadvertent removal of the throat plate from the throat of the saw. In some embodiments, at least one of the securement mechanisms also provides a height adjustment mechanism and/or prevents vertical removal of the throat plate. In some embodiments, the throat plate has an accessory mounting port that provides a portal for accessories, including safety accessories, to extend through the plate from beneath the table of the saw. In some embodiments, the port extends from the plate's outer perimeter to divide the plate's rear end portion into a pair of spaced-apart members. In some embodiments, these members are independently secured to the table saw and retained apart from each other by one or more of the securement mechanisms.

Table saws are disclosed. The table saws can include a blade, an arbor, an arbor block, an elevation carriage, and a latch that connects the arbor block and the elevation carriage. The arbor block can have a first position in which the latch connects the arbor block and the elevation carriage, and a second position in which the latch does not connect the arbor block and the elevation carriage. The arbor block can pivot from the first position to the second position upon the occurrence of a retraction force. The table saw can include an actuator to cause the occurrence of the retraction force, and detection electronics to detect contact between the blade and a person. Woodworking machines with detection and reaction systems are also disclosed. A reaction system can include an explosive that causes retraction of a cutting tool.

In some examples, an apparatus includes a base including an arm selectively movable with respect to the base. The arm is selectively rotatable about a first arm axis. A base plate is engaged with the arm. A tool is configured to be detachably coupled to the base plate. The tool is movable with the base plate when coupled to the base plate. The apparatus includes a first mode with the tool coupled to the base plate and the arm being selectively rotatable about the first arm axis, a second mode with the tool coupled to the base plate and the arm being constrained from rotating about the first arm axis, the arm being substantially stationary with respect to the base; and a third mode with the tool detached from the base plate.