Combined blade clamp and tensioner for scroll saw

A scroll saw having a cutting blade, the scroll saw comprising:

• a base supporting a worktable and a motor that is configured to move the cutting blade along a first axis;
• a blade clamp including:
• a clamp having first and second gripping members configured to hold a first end of the cutting blade between the first and the second gripping members;
• a connection member connected to the clamp;
• a lever connected to the clamp by the connection member, the lever being configured to move between first and second lever positions;
• and
• a head that receives the connection member that extends through an aperture of the head, the connection member being configured to move along the first axis through the aperture of the head and move the clamp along the first axis as the lever is moved from the first lever position to the second lever position,
• wherein the first and the second gripping members of the clamp are configured to clamp the cutting blade along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and to apply tension to the cutting blade along the first axis as the lever is moved from the first lever position to the second lever position;
• and
• a lower clamp configured to hold a second end of the cutting blade opposite the first end.

A blade clamp of a saw operable to secure a cutting blade in the saw, the blade clamp comprising:

• a clamp having first and second gripping members configured to hold the cutting blade between the first and the second gripping members;
• a lever including an eccentric cam surface, the lever being connected to the clamp by a connection member and configured to move between first and second lever positions;
• a head having a cam follower that is configured to engage the eccentric cam surface, the head receiving the connection member that extends through an aperture of the head, wherein the connection member is configured to move along the first axis through the aperture of the head and move the clamp along the first axis based on the engagement of the eccentric cam surface with the cam follower as the lever is moved from the first lever position to the second lever position;
• and
• first and second compression members disposed on the head that are configured to apply respective forces on the first and second gripping members of the clamp as the clamp moves along the first axis to cause the first and the second gripping members of the clamp to clamp the cutting blade, the first and second gripping members of the clamp having respective ramped surfaces that engage the first and the second compression members,
• wherein the respective ramped surfaces cause the respective forces on the first and the second gripping members to increase as the clamp moves along the first axis in response to the lever being moved from the first lever position to the second lever position, and, as the lever is moved from the first lever position to the second lever position, the first and the second gripping members of the clamp are configured to:
• clamp the cutting blade along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis based on the increasing respective forces on the first and the second gripping members, and apply tension to the cutting blade based on the movement of the clamp along the first axis.