Apparatus and process for manufacturing a valance

Apparatus for cutting mitered surfaces in an elongated member having end surfaces perpendicular to its length to form a structure including a central member and a pair of end members of equal length extending in a common direction from ends of said central member, with a first side of said elongated member forming intersecting surfaces of said structure, and with said first side of said elongated member including longitudinally-extending fixture engaging features, wherein said apparatus comprises:

• a power saw moving a saw blade within a sawing plane;
• saw mounting means mounting said power saw to be slidable in a first direction parallel to said sawing plane;
• a fixture holding said elongated member to extend in a second direction within a fixture plane, wherein said fixture plane and said sawing plane intersect at a 45-degree angle, wherein said sawing plane is inclined to extend in said second direction away from an intersection of said sawing plane and said fixture plane, and wherein said fixture includes longitudinally-extending guiding features engaging said fixture engaging features of said elongated member;
• a first workpiece locating feature in said fixture, offset through a first distance from said intersection of said sawing plane and said fixture plane opposite said second direction, wherein holding said elongated member within said fixture with said longitudinally-extending guiding features engaging said fixture engaging features of said elongated member, with said elongated member extending past said intersection of said sawing plane and said fixture plane, and with either of said end surfaces of said elongated member held against said first workpiece locating fixture, locates said elongated member within said fixture to cut an end member within said pair of end members from said elongated member by sliding said saw blade in said first direction within said sawing plane;
• and
• a second workpiece locating feature in said fixture, offset through a second distance from said intersection of said sawing plane and said fixture plane in said second direction, wherein holding said elongated member within said fixture with said longitudinally-extending guiding features engaging said fixture engaging features of said elongated member, with said elongated member extending past said intersection of said sawing plane and said fixture plane, and with a previously-cut mitered surface of said elongated member, inclined to extend away from said fixture plane at a 45-degree angle opposite said second direction, held against said second workpiece locating feature, locates said elongated member within said fixture to cut a scrap portion from said elongated member and to leave said elongated member with a mitered surface inclined to extend away from said fixture plane at a 45-degree angle in said second direction.