Power tool angle assist

• Main Authors: Gasteiner, Jonathon R, Abbott, Jonathan E, Lamont, Lance D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.11.2022
• Subjects: BROACHING; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOTDIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT; DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g.ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING; FILING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MACHINE TOOLS; MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OFPARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PLANING; SAWING; SCRAPING; SHEARING; SLOTTING; TRANSPORTING

Power tool methods and systems are provided for aligning a power tool to implement an angled cut in a workpiece. The power tool includes a first distance sensor and a second distance sensor. The power tool measures a first distance to the workpiece with the first distance sensor and a second distance to the workpiece with the second distance sensor. The power tool calculates an angle between the power tool and the workpiece based on the first and second distances, and indicates the angle via an angle output indicator of the power tool. The power tool may measure an angle between the power tool and the workpiece using a proximate edge and a distal edge of the workpiece, and indicate whether the power tool maintains a correct angle as it traverses a cut through the workpiece from the proximate edge to the distal edge.