Cut line indicator for power cutting material

A power saw for selectively cutting a workpiece, the workpiece being positioned relative to the saw for cutting, the power saw comprising:

• (a) a blade positioned within a plane and having a cutting edge, the cutting edge having a thickness, the blade being movable so that the workpiece is cut as the blade engages the workpiece;
• (b) a shroud covering a portion of the blade, the shroud having an enlarged slot extending therethrough in alignment with the plane of the blade;
• (c) a housing mounted on the shroud over the slot extending therethrough, the housing bounding a compartment, the compartment being in open communication with the slot on the shroud;
• (d) a light source positioned within the housing in alignment with the plane of the blade such that light from the light source shines on the blade to produce a shadow on the workpiece indicative of where the blade will engage the workpiece;
• and
• (e) opaque barrier means positioned between the light source and the blade for substantially planarizing the light that shines on the blade, the barrier means comprising
• (i) a first plate disposed within the compartment of the housing between the light source and the shroud, the first plate having an elongated first slot extending therethrough, the first slot having a width corresponding to the thickness of the cutting edge of the blade plus an additional width in a range between about 0.07 inches to about 0.01 inches;
• and
• (ii) a second plate disposed within the compartment of the housing between the first plate and the shroud, the second plate having an elongated second slot extending therethrough, the second slot having a width corresponding to the thickness of the cutting edge of the blade plus an additional width in a range between about 0.07 inches to about 0.01 inches, the first slot and the second slot being in alignment with the plane of the blade.