Workpiece supporting apparatus for power tools with high speed cutting members

Claim 1

A workpiece supporting apparatus guided by a guideway for translating a workpiece parallel to the guideway past the cutting member of a power tool to produce a straight precision cut in the workpiece, said apparatus comprising in combination: (a) an elongated keying member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said keying member being translatable along the guideway; (b) vertical slot means disposed in said keying member and extending intermediate the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said slot means including a laterally expanded portion having sidewalls and a shoulder; and (c) first and second workpiece engaging means oriented upon said keying member in opposed relationship to one another for engaging opposed end surfaces of the workpiece, each of said first and second workpiece engaging means comprising: i. means for retaining an end surface of the workpiece; ii. a body for supporting said retaining means; iii. post means extending upwardly through said slot means for securing said body to said keying member, said post means being slidable along said slot means to accommodate different length workpieces and including head means for engaging said side walls to prevent rotation of said post means and for engaging said shoulder to limit upward travel of said post means; and iv. means for maintaining said body upon said post means and frictionally locking said head against said shoulder; whereby, the end surfaces of the workpiece are secured to said keying member intermediate said first and second workpiece engaging means and the workpiece is translatable past the cutting member on movement of said keying member along the guideway.