An automated cutting for scenic flats construction system and method for cutting of wide dadoes accurately spaced along sets of multiple boards to be used as studs or stiles for scenic flats, cleanly and accurately across the boards in one pass for each wide dado cut. A controller controls the automatic operation. A main unit with a support stand and a main-unit shell provides a sled unit extending and retracting along linear-bearing tracks by operation of sled actuators controlled by the controller. The sled unit provides a wide one-pass dado blade assembly capable of cutting a wide dado across multiple boards in one pass as the sled unit is moved along the linear-bearing tracks by the sled actuators under the control of the controller. After initial positioning of the set of uncut boards on an infeed table and against a positioning stop, the set of boards is held in place by hold-down clamps, the wide dado cut is made in one pass of the sled unit with the wide one-pass dado blade assembly, the hold-down clamps are released, the set of boards is moved through the main unit and toward a receiving table by a pre-set distance by a driving dog on a drive chain, the hold-down clamps are activated, and another wide dado cut is made in one pass, all under the control of the controller, repeating until all dado cuts are made to the set of boards.

A system including a lumber-pickup arm having a plurality of suction cups in a staggered configuration to pick up a piece of lumber that may be cracked, crooked or askew on the pile of lumber from which it is to be picked. In some embodiments, the system performs a method that includes locating a selected piece of lumber to be picked up; lowering the pickup arm so that at least some of the plurality of suction cups are seated on a first surface of the selected piece of lumber; reducing air pressure within the at least some of the plurality of suction cups; raising and moving the pickup arm to move the piece of lumber to a first destination; and increasing air pressure within the at least some of the plurality of suction cups to release the piece of lumber at the first destination Cups not holding vacuum are deactivated.

A tile saw includes a saw with a cutting blade, a frame supporting the saw, a table supporting a workpiece and being slidable relative to the frame, and a rear fence secured to the table. The rear fence has an engagement surface and is adjustable between an operating position and a bypassed position. The bypassed position includes the engagement surface of the fence being no higher than even with the planar surface of the table to allow a workpiece to extend beyond a rear edge of the table. In the operating position, the engagement surface of the rear fence projects axially from the planar surface of the table to support the workpiece as the workpiece is pushed into the cutting blade during operation. The fence can be adjusted between the operating and bypassed positions by using any one of a cam lever clamp, pin and guideway, or rotatable latch.

A tile saw includes a saw with a cutting blade, a frame supporting the saw, a table supporting a workpiece and being slidable relative to the frame, and a rear fence secured to the table. The rear fence has an engagement surface and is adjustable between an operating position and a bypassed position. The bypassed position includes the engagement surface of the fence being no higher than even with the planar surface of the table to allow a workpiece to extend beyond a rear edge of the table. In the operating position, the engagement surface of the rear fence projects axially from the planar surface of the table to support the workpiece as the workpiece is pushed into the cutting blade during operation. The fence can be adjusted between the operating and bypassed positions by using any one of a cam lever clamp, pin and guideway, or rotatable latch.

Extension rails for table saws are disclosed. Some of the disclosed extension rails can be attached to a table saw without a user having to manipulate a lever or knob. Extension rails particularly relevant to portable table saws such as jobsite and bench-top table saws are disclosed, including extension rails that can provide 48 or more of cutting capacity on jobsite and/or bench-top table saws. A method of attaching extension rails to a table saw is disclosed that does not require the use of a tool or the manipulation of a knob or clamp.

An apparatus is provided for cutting a plurality of workpieces that is arranged relative to first, second, and third reference axes that are perpendicular to each other. The apparatus includes a cutting assembly and an input assembly. The cutting assembly includes a chassis, and first and second saw blades movably coupled to the chassis that are configured to respectively cut along first and second cutting planes that are transverse to each other. The input assembly includes a tabletop and first and second clamping mechanisms for clamping the workpieces collectively. The first clamping mechanism includes a first counterpart and a first movable member that is translatable along the first reference axis and translatable relative to the first counterpart. The second clamping mechanism includes a second counterpart and a plurality of second movable members that are each translatable along the second reference axis relative to the second counterpart.

An apparatus is provided for cutting a plurality of workpieces that is arranged relative to first, second, and third reference axes that are perpendicular to each other. The apparatus includes a cutting assembly and an input assembly. The cutting assembly includes a chassis, and first and second saw blades movably coupled to the chassis that are configured to respectively cut along first and second cutting planes that are transverse to each other. The input assembly includes a tabletop and first and second clamping mechanisms for clamping the workpieces collectively. The first clamping mechanism includes a first counterpart and a first movable member that is translatable along the first reference axis and translatable relative to the first counterpart. The second clamping mechanism includes a second counterpart and a plurality of second movable members that are each translatable along the second reference axis relative to the second counterpart.

A tile saw includes a saw with a cutting blade, a frame supporting the saw, a table supporting a workpiece and being slidable relative to the frame, and a rear fence secured to the table. The rear fence has an engagement surface and is adjustable between an operating position and a bypassed position. The bypassed position includes the engagement surface of the fence being no higher than even with the planar surface of the table to allow a workpiece to extend beyond a rear edge of the table. In the operating position, the engagement surface of the rear fence projects axially from the planar surface of the table to support the workpiece as the workpiece is pushed into the cutting blade during operation. The fence can be adjusted between the operating and bypassed positions by using any one of a cam lever clamp, pin and guideway, or rotatable latch.

Provided is a cutting tool that includes a cutting head, a frame, a working table, a guiding rail assembly, and a fence. The cutting head is configured to perform a cutting function. The frame is configured to support the cutting head. The working table is configured to place an object to be cut. The guiding rail assembly is configured to enable the working table to slide along a first straight line relative to the frame. The fence is mounted to the working table, includes at least one fence surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the first straight line. The cutting tool enables a workpiece to be cut to be stably placed on the working table during a cutting operation.

A system including a gantry structure; a first and a second saw head movable along at least part of the length of the gantry structure; and a first and a second lumber support also movable along corresponding lengths of the gantry structure. A controller moves the first saw head and first lumber support adjacent a first location along a board and moves the second saw head and second lumber support adjacent a second location along a board, and operates the first and second saw heads to cut first and second ends off the board. The controller then moves the saw heads and the lumber supports relative to the board to third and fourth locations and operates the first and second saw heads to cut third and fourth end pieces off. The saw heads and lumber supports optionally move together and rotate around respective vertical axes to enable angled board cuts.