Patent ID: 8181350
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: B23D,B26B,B27B,H02G

Abstract:
1. A precision cutting system, comprising: a cutting tool having a rotatable blade, said blade having cutting edge defining a cutting plane; and a guide assembly removably attached to said cutting tool, said guide assembly comprising a first support structure, a second support structure, a guide structure for guiding a workpiece, and at least one adjustment member, wherein said cutting tool is separable from said guide assembly such that said cutting tool is operable and useable without said guide assembly; said first support structure including a first inner end, a first outer end, and a cavity therebetween, wherein part of said blade is disposed within said cavity and said first support structure substantially surrounds said part of said blade such that said first support structure functions as a blade guard, wherein said first support structure provides the only attachment of said cutting assembly to said cutting tool so that said cutting tool and said first support structure move together, and wherein said blade of said cutting tool extends out of said first support structure between said first inner end and said first outer end; said second support structure including a second inner end and a second outer end, wherein said first support structure is movably attached to said second support structure; said guide structure fixed to and extending from said second support structure adjacent a working portion of said blade, said guide structure disposed on an opposite side of said second support structure relative to said first support structure, said guide structure including a first support member, a second support member and a channel extending along and between said first and second support members, said channel defining a longitudinal axis of said guide structure and said working portion of said blade extending through said channel and between said first and second support members, said first and second support members extending along said longitudinal axis, and said first and second support members diverging from one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis and away from said first support structure and away from said channel to form an open side of said guide structure for providing access for the blade to a workpiece in a directed that is orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, wherein a transverse angle is formed between said first and second support members, said first support member forming a first angle with said cutting plane of said blade, and said second support member forming a second angle with said cutting plane of said blade, said first and second angles being acute angles on opposite sides of said cutting plane, and all of said angles being measured in a plane that is substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis; and said at least one adjustment member connected to said first support structure and to said second support structure for adjusting and fixing the relative positions between said first and second support structures; wherein the amount of said blade that extends through said channel is adjustable and fixable by moving said first support structure relative to said second support structure and then fixing said adjustment by said at least one adjustment member for exposing a selected amount of said working portion of said blade to set a depth of a cut in said workpiece.