Patent ID: 8375836

Claim:
A cutting device comprising: a table configured to be able to place a workpiece thereon; a cutting unit disposed on an upper side of the table and vertically movably supported by the table via a slide mechanism; and a slide lock mechanism configured to lock and unlock the sliding movement of the cutting unit and including an operation member operable to slide in parallel to a sliding direction without being rotated for locking and unlocking the sliding movement, wherein: the slide mechanism is configured to enable the cutting unit to slide in the sliding direction relative to the table within a plane substantially parallel to a surface of the table; the slide mechanism comprises a slide bar slidably disposed along a lower surface of the table, so that the cutting unit can slide in the sliding direction relative to the table via the slide bar; the slide lock mechanism further includes a stopper member and a stopper moving mechanism operable to move the stopper member between a lock position and an unlock position; when the stopper member is in the lock position, the stopper member engages the slide bar for preventing the sliding movement of the slide bar; when the stopper member is in the unlock position, the stopper member permits the sliding movement of the slide bar; the stopper member comprises a stopper screw; the stopper moving mechanism comprises a pinion gear mounted to the stopper screw and a rack engaging with the pinion gear and coupled to the operation member; when the operation member is slid to move into a first position, the rack moves to cause the stopper screw to move to the lock position where the stopper screw abuts to the slide bar; and when the operation member is slid to move into a second position which is a position opposite in direction to a first position, the rack moves to cause the stopper screw to move to the unlock position where the stopper screw permits the sliding movement of the slide bar.