Precision metal cutting saw and assembly

A power saw and table assembly of the type utilizing a rotating circular saw blade to effectuate the precision cut of a work piece, comprising:

• a support frame generally having two mating portions which support a work piece support surface, the work piece support surface defining a slot for translation of the saw blade therethrough during the cut, the support frame and work piece support surface defining a carriage way assembly area within the interior of the frame, two elongated carriage ways each supported on a single portion of the support frame and extending longitudinally on the table and substantially parallel at all points to the slot defined by the work piece support surface, a saw blade arbor and a carriage supported on the carriage ways for translation through said carriage way assembly area, the first carriage way positioned substantially vertically below said arbor and carriage during translation thereof to support substantially all the weight of the arbor and carriage and the second said carriage way positioned substantially horizontally adjacent said arbor and carriage to stabilize the arbor and carriage on the first carriage way, a constant speed saw blade drive motor, a clutch mechanism, a variable speed transmission means and a right angle gear box, each supported on said carriage and adapted for selective control of the rotational speed of the saw blade mounted on said arbor during the cutting operation, chip collection assembly adapted to remove chips and the like from one of the work piece support surface during the cutting operation, the collection assembly being selectably controllable to remove chips by either a vacuum or a mechanical removal means and adapted to move with said arbor and a carriage during translation thereof, a carriage feed assembly having a variable speed motor and means for precision control of the output of said motor, said feed motor driving a ball screw extending parallel to said carriage ways and being engaged by said carriage and arbor to effectuate horizontal translation thereof substantially without backlash, work piece clamping means adapted to engage a work piece during the cutting operation and opposite sides of the cut, and means to position a work piece on a work piece support surface prior to and during the cutting operation.