a miter saw design with a cutting arm pivot mechanism that allows the pivot point of the cutting arc to move in a predetermined path in the plane described by the rotating cutting surface . the “ floating pivot ” enables the tool to accommodate larger pieces of material than conventional miter saws with the same diameter cutting blade . this design also allows the saw to be more compact , lighter in weight , and less complex in comparison to the sliding miter saw . thus , a miter saw can be provided that provides the cutting capacity of a larger saw with less weight , bulk , and cost than the current alternatives .