Pivoting saw system
A portable table saw in one embodiment includes a base, a first support post and a second support post, each of the first and second support post extending upwardly to a location higher than the base, at least one support rail having a first end portion supported by the first support post and a second end portion supported by the second support post, a saw movably mounted to the at least one support rail at a location between the first end portion and the second end portion, the saw positioned above the base and movable along the at least one support rail, and a first pivot mechanism configured to pivot the saw with respect to the base.
1. A portable saw system comprising:
a base;
a first support post and a second support post, each of the first and second support post extending upwardly to a location higher than the base;
at least one support rail having a first end portion supported by the first support post and a second end portion supported by the second support post;
a saw movably mounted to the at least one support rail at a location between the first end portion and the second end portion, the saw positioned above the base and movable along the at least one support rail; and
a first pivot mechanism configured to pivot the saw with respect to the base, wherein:
the saw defines a saw blade plane;
the base defines a support plane; and
the first pivot mechanism is configured to pivot the saw with respect to the base about a pivot axis defined by the intersection of the saw blade plane and a plane parallel to the support plane.
2. The portable saw of claim 1 , wherein the first pivot mechanism comprises:
at least one arcuate guide surface having a first radius of curvature centered on the pivot axis;
a guide follower configured for movement along the at least one arcuate guide surface; and
a locking mechanism configured to positionally fix the guide follower with respect to the at least one arcuate guide surface.
3. The portable saw of claim 2 , wherein:
the first pivot mechanism comprises a guide slot including the at least one arcuate guide surface;
the guide follower is received within the guide slot; and
the guide follower includes a first articulating surface configured to articulate with the at least one arcuate guide surface.
4. The portable saw of claim 3 , wherein the first articulating surface is an arcuate surface having a second radius of curvature centered on the pivot axis.
5. The portable saw of claim 4 , wherein the at least one arcuate guide surface comprises:
a first arcuate guide surface configured to articulate with the first articulating surface; and
a second arcuate guide surface configured to articulate with a second articulating surface of the guide follower.
6. The portable table saw of claim 1 , wherein the saw is mounted to the at least one support rail by the first pivot mechanism.
7. The portable saw of claim 1 , wherein:
a first portion of the first pivot mechanism is fixedly connected to the first support post; and
a second portion of a second pivot mechanism is fixedly connected to the second support post.
8. The portable saw of claim 7 , wherein:
the first support post is fixedly connected to the base; and
the second support post is fixedly connected to the base.
9. A saw system comprising:
a base;
a first support post and a second support post, each of the first and second support post extending upwardly to a location higher than the base;
at least one support rail supported by the first support post at a first location and supported by the second support post at a second location;
a saw movably mounted to the at least one support rail at a location between the first location and the second location, the saw positioned above the base and movable along the at least one support rail; and
at least one pivot mechanism configured to pivot the saw with respect to the base, wherein:
the saw defines a saw blade plane;
the base defines a support plane; and
the at least one pivot mechanism is configured to pivot the saw with respect to the base about a pivot axis defined by the intersection of the saw blade plane and a plane parallel to the support plane.
10. The saw of claim 9 , wherein the at least one pivot mechanism comprises:
a first arcuate guide surface having a first radius of curvature with an origin on the pivot axis;
a guide follower configured for movement along the at least one arcuate guide surface; and
a locking mechanism configured to positionally fix the guide follower with respect to the at least one arcuate guide surface.
11. The saw of claim 10 , wherein:
the at least one pivot mechanism comprises a guide slot including the first arcuate guide surface;
the guide follower is received within the guide slot; and
the guide follower includes a first articulating surface configured to articulate with the first arcuate guide surface.
12. The saw of claim 11 , wherein the first articulating surface is an arcuate surface having a second radius of curvature with an origin on the pivot axis.
13. The saw of claim 12 , further comprising:
a second arcuate guide surface configured to articulate with a second articulating surface of the guide follower.
14. The table saw of claim 9 , wherein the saw is mounted to the at least one support rail by the at least one pivot mechanism.
15. The table saw of claim 9 , wherein:
the at least one pivot mechanism comprises a first pivot mechanism and a second pivot mechanism;
a first portion of the first pivot mechanism is fixedly connected to the first support post; and
a second portion of a second pivot mechanism is fixedly connected to the second support post.
16. The saw of claim 15 , wherein:
the first support post is fixedly connected to the base; and
the second support post is fixedly connected to the base.