Fence adjustment mechanism

A fence adjustment mechanism for a tablesaw having a fence assembly releasably shiftable linearly along a guide rail at various positions relative to a saw blade, said adjustment mechanism comprising:

• a body member having a guide way portion for retaining the body member to the guide rail while permitting sliding movement along a linear path, said body member having formed therein a bore aligned along an axis spaced from and parallel to said linear path;
• an attachment member affixed to said fence assembly, said attachment member having an elongated screw portion aligned along said axis;
• an elongated barrel aligned along said axis and having a cylindrical section for freely rotating relative to and cooperating with said bore of said body member, a knob region to be rotated by a user, a shoulder for abutting an end of said body member to limit relative rotation of the elongated barrel and the body member in a first axial direction, and a central axial hole formed therein having a helically threaded region cooperating with said screw portion of the attachment member to cause the attachment member to move relative to the body member as a result of the rotation of the barrel relative to the body member;
• a retainer affixed to said elongated barrel and abutting said body member for limiting the relative axial movement therebetween in a second axial direction;
• and
• a locking mechanism for releasably securing said body member to said guide rail at the various positions.