Patent ID: 7226179

Claim:
An optical alignment system for providing a line-of-cut indicator onto a workpiece surface area, comprising: an optical emitting device for projecting an optical indicator onto the workpiece surface area; a lateral arm operationally coupled to the optical emitting device for supporting the optical emitting device; a vertical support constructed to receive the lateral arm for allowing the lateral arm and optical emitting device to cantilever over the workpiece surface area; means for securing the vertical support to the workpiece surface area, the securing means comprising a horizontal platform being configured to be positioned within a slot defined within the workpiece surface area and including a recess which houses a fastener for allowing the tension between the horizontal platform and the slot defined within the workpiece surface area to be adjusted; and at least one optical emitting device housing substantially enclosing the optical emitting device for operationally coupling the optical emitting device to the lateral arm, wherein the at least one optical emitting device housing is configured so that the optical emitting device may cantilever above the workplace surface area and project a line-of-cut indicator onto the workpiece surface area.