Power tool methods and systems are provided for aligning a power tool to implement an angled cut in a workpiece. The power tool includes a first distance sensor and a second distance sensor. The power tool measures a first distance to the workpiece with the first distance sensor and a second distance to the workpiece with the second distance sensor. The power tool calculates an angle between the power tool and the workpiece based on the first and second distances, and indicates the angle via an angle output indicator of the power tool. The power tool may measure an angle between the power tool and the workpiece using a proximate edge and a distal edge of the workpiece, and indicate whether the power tool maintains a correct angle as it traverses a cut through the workpiece from the proximate edge to the distal edge.

Power tool methods and systems are provided for aligning a power tool to implement an angled cut in a workpiece. The power tool includes a first distance sensor and a second distance sensor. The power tool measures a first distance to the workpiece with the first distance sensor and a second distance to the workpiece with the second distance sensor. The power tool calculates an angle between the power tool and the workpiece based on the first and second distances, and indicates the angle via an angle output indicator of the power tool. The power tool may measure an angle between the power tool and the workpiece using a proximate edge and a distal edge of the workpiece, and indicate whether the power tool maintains a correct angle as it traverses a cut through the workpiece from the proximate edge to the distal edge.

A sawmill includes a saw carriage and a swing saw which in turn has a circular blade and a drive shaft. The mill also includes a pair of ground engaging tracks. The saw carriage has a pair of posts/uprights each supporting an opposite end of a cross-frame, which incorporates a clamp at each end, and these can be tightened against one of the posts to stabilise the saw carriage. The saw cantilevers from the saw carriage such that the saw's drive shaft is to one side of the cross-frame regardless of whether the blade is in a vertical or horizontal cutting orientation. The carriage moves along the tracks to carry the saw to make cuts in the longitudinal dimension of a log. The saw is also arranged to move laterally along the carriage between the uprights to make cuts the lateral dimension of the log.

A sawmill includes a saw carriage and a swing saw which in turn has a circular blade and a drive shaft. The mill also includes a pair of ground engaging tracks. The saw carriage has a pair of posts/uprights each supporting an opposite end of a cross-frame, which incorporates a clamp at each end, and these can be tightened against one of the posts to stabilise the saw carriage. The saw cantilevers from the saw carriage such that the saw's drive shaft is to one side of the cross-frame regardless of whether the blade is in a vertical or horizontal cutting orientation. The carriage moves along the tracks to carry the saw to make cuts in the longitudinal dimension of a log. The saw is also arranged to move laterally along the carriage between the uprights to make cuts the lateral dimension of the log.

A lumber board cutting apparatus including a housing, an infeed drive, an outfeed drive, a lumber board cutter, and a lumber board gripper including a gripper arm, a lumber board mover connected to the gripper arm, and a lumber board clamper connected to the gripper arm.

Twisting of a locking member due to cogging torque is reduced without lowering the locking and unlocking operability for a user. A power tool includes a housing, an electric motor located inside the housing and including a permanent magnet, a shaft rotatable about an axis relative to the housing to transmit power from the electric motor, a locking member movable between a lock position and an unlock position in a nonenergized state of the electric motor and engageable with the shaft at the lock position to lock rotation of the shaft, and an abutting member that applies, to the locking member at the lock position, a force in a direction opposite to an axial torque caused by the permanent magnet and applied to the locking member.

The technology disclosed relates a robotic workstations and methods for cutting timber. The robotic saw workstation can achieve improved cutting of timber. In one configuration, the robotic saw workstation includes a robot manipulator capable of moving an end effector adapter plate to points in a three-dimensional work volume under programed control of a programmable robot controller executing stored instructions. A cutting head is affixed to the end effector adapter plate. The cutting head further includes a support structure; a rotatable shaft; a blade coupled to the rotatable shaft; and a motor coupled to the rotatable shaft for driving the blade. Configurations include multiple manipulators disposed to make multiple cuts in a log substantially contemporaneously, cutting heads implementing circular, band or chain sawing mechanisms, continuous or batch-feeding of logs into and out of the workstations.

The technology disclosed relates a robotic workstations and methods for cutting timber. The robotic saw workstation can achieve improved cutting of timber. In one configuration, the robotic saw workstation includes a robot manipulator capable of moving an end effector adapter plate to points in a three-dimensional work volume under programed control of a programmable robot controller executing stored instructions. A cutting head is affixed to the end effector adapter plate. The cutting head further includes a support structure; a rotatable shaft; a blade coupled to the rotatable shaft; and a motor coupled to the rotatable shaft for driving the blade. Configurations include multiple manipulators disposed to make multiple cuts in a log substantially contemporaneously, cutting heads implementing circular, band or chain sawing mechanisms, continuous or batch-feeding of logs into and out of the workstations.

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.

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.