Powermatic PM3000 User manual

POWERMATIC PM3000 14” Table Saw
The PM3000 embodies the power, capacity
and legendary POWERMATIC reliability to
make your shop more efficient and
productive.
POWERMATIC has long enjoyed a reputation for quality,
function and innovation in woodworking machines. The
POWERMATIC PM3000 is our latest high capacity table
saw offering where quality, function and long-term
durability were at the top of the design criteria list.
Incorporating many of the innovative features of our
renowned PM2000 10” saw, the POWERMATIC PM3000
sets a new standard in the 14” cabinet saw class.
Trunnion Evolution
Though long regarded as the best in the industry, the POWERMATIC
designers refined our heavy-duty trunnion mechanism even more. The super
rigid box-style cast iron construction, high end bearings and conical-shaped
worm gear drive with increased contact area enhance the smooth, solid feel
of the tilt and height adjustments. Adjustable backlash means that should
years of use produce a small amount of play, the user can easily adjust the
mechanism back to factory-fresh clearances and feel.
Most table saw mechanisms feel smooth in the showroom but it is how they
function when the inevitable dust contamination sets in that really matters.
The POWERMATIC PM3000 mechanism uses specially designed threads
that allow it to function smoothly and accurately in the real world conditions
found within a table saw cabinet.
A pair of oversized 8”-diameter cast iron hand wheels, each with large
spinner handles makes blade height and bevel adjustments virtually
effortless. The hand wheels are as attractive as they are comfortable with painted centers and
The trunnion and
motor mount assembly
is big and tough to
keep the PM3000
running and cutting
smoothly.
chrome plated rims. Even the center locking pins and knobs are made from steel, spin freely and
lock the adjustment without changing the setting. To prevent long-term use from loosening the
hand wheels on their shafts, they are locked in place with machined grooves and keys rather than
setscrews that are so common throughout the industry.
The POWERMATIC PM3000
cabinet is fabricated from heavy
gauge steel and provides exceptional
stability and virtually eliminates
vibration. The cabinet puts the cast
iron table surface at a comfortable
35” above the floor.
The large, cast iron handwheels (left) make adjustments easy and very
accurate. The steel locking pins do not change the setting when locked
down. The specially designed, sloped cabinet floor (right) directs the dust to
a 4”-diameter port on the rear of the cabinet.
To maximize dust evacuation from
within the POWERMATIC PM3000
we designed a special floor pan that

slopes down to the 4”-diameter external port at the lower rear of
the cabinet. This floor configuration does a very good job of
directing the dust to the port and keeps the interior of the cabinet
surprisingly clean. This standard-diameter port makes connecting
your 4” dust collector hose quick and adapter free.
The large cabinet door enhances
dust collection when closed but
affords plenty of access to the
cabinet interior when needed.
The bevel scale on the front of the cabinet has large, easy to read
numerals and an adjustable pointer. We also added a pair of
markers that can be placed as needed to make returning to often-
used bevel angles fast and accurate.
A large, hinged motor cover provides easy access to the cabinet interior when needed. When
closed, this cover enhances dust collection.
The full-length 1”-diameter arbor is precision machined from stress-proof steel to exceptionally
high tolerances for accuracy. The arbor threads are specially designed to eliminate the frustrating
dip between them and the shaft that can allow thin dado chippers to hang out of alignment with
the rest of the stack. The arbor
length was designed to handle
stacked dado sets up to 12”-
diameter at their full 13/16”
width. The arbor rides in high
end, pre-loaded bearings that
insure super-smooth operation
for decades to come.
A high quality poly-v belt drives
the arbor through precisely
machined pulleys that guarantee
the ultimate in concentricity.
Poly-v belts are far superior to regular v-belts, especially multiple v-belt configurations because
they produce far less vibration. The poly-v belt also transmits more power without slippage and
that translates to considerably less heat generated that could compromise the bearings. This
efficiency of operation means that poly-v belts last far longer and require less maintenance.
The 1”-diameter arbor (left) is runs in large, high-quality ball bearings to insure
long-lasting, smooth operation. We use a serpentine belt (right) to drive the arbor
because of its smooth operation, low slippage and drastically reduced heat
generation as compared to typical V-belt styles.
A pushbutton arbor lock and the included full-sized, forged steel 32mm combination wrench
make blade changing easy and safer by keeping your hands farther from the blade. The 15”
length of the wrench provides tremendous leverage to make loosening or tightening the blade nut
a virtual no-strain task. We do ask that you apply that leverage wisely when tightening the blade
nut. The blade rotation and cutting force work to tighten the blade-retaining nut, not loosen it.
You need only tighten it firmly.
The arbor system, combined with the 14”-diameter blade give the PM3000 large cut capacities.
With the blade 90-degrees to the table the maximum cut depth is 5 1/8”. With the blade set at 45-
degrees, maximum cut depth is 3 ½”!

Table Surface
The 26”-wide (left-to-right) by
38”-deep primary cast iron table
surface expands to 48”-wide
when the included 11”-wide by
38”-deep cast iron extension
wings are bolted up.
A tough, 38” by 33” laminate-
covered extension table is also
included with the PM3000.
Added to the cast iron table surface overall support grows to a whopping 81”! The extension
table includes a pair of steel support legs, equipped with fully adjustable rubber-tipped feet for
added stability and support.
The included extension table expands the total supported area (left) to 81”! We
even bevel the back edge of the cast iron table (right) to eliminate the sharp corner
other leave that can damage the wood or our fingers.
All cast iron surfaces are finely ground to insure a smooth, mar-free work surface that provides
plenty of support for the
big jobs. We bevel the
front and rear edge of the
primary table and the
extension wings to
eliminate the sharp corner
commonly found on many
table saws where it meets
the extension wings.
Eliminating that corner
may sound insignificant
but it can easily gouge the
wood or an errant hand.
The t-shaped 3/8”-deep by ¾”-wide miter slots are precision machined for consistent width,
depth and parallelism. Standard sizing of the miter slots means they are compatible with all
popular accessories.
The finely polished cast iron table (left) has standard sized miter slots precisely machined
to be parallel to each other. We also include a full-featured miter gauge (right) with a fully
adjustable, extruded aluminum fence.
Removing the 21 5/8”-long by 4 ¼”-wide throat plate provides expansive access for blade
changing and working with our unique guard and splitter system. The standard and zero-
clearance (accessory #1791080) POWERMATIC PM3000 throat plates are slotted for use with
the splitter installed for
maximum performance and
safety. Placement of the
throat opening provides a
full 15 ½” of table surface
in front of the blade!
Our large throat plate (left) provide plenty of access for changing blades. The spring-
loaded balls (right) automatically keep the plates tightly in place.
POWERMATIC PM3000
standard throat plate

features a pair of spring-loaded balls that prevent vibration, locate the plate in its cavity and
prevent movement during use. The accessory zero-clearance insert has adjusting screws that
allow precise fitting to the cavity.
Power and Control
The PM3000 uses our
strong, long life motors.
Our motors are big
because they are built to
provide years of trouble-
free use.
The POWERMATIC PM3000 is available with a 5HP, 1 phase, 230V
motor (#1720304K) or with a 7.5HP 3 phase, 230/460V motor
(#1720305K, pre-wired 230V). All POWERMATIC motors are high
quality, high output and rated using a continuous duty cycle for the truest
representation of their power – not the “peak” or “maximum developed”
figures some other manufacturers continue to advertise.
The POWERMATIC PM3000 is equipped with an industrial style
magnetic ON/OFF switch. A green pilot light within the start button
indicates that the POWERMATIC PM3000 is connected to electrical
power. Depressing that illuminated button starts the POWERMATIC
PM3000. A large red “quick off” ring surrounds the ON button and
makes shutting the POWERMATIC PM3000 down a matter of pressing
the OFF ring by hand or bumping it with your leg.
To safeguard against accidental startups when you are not around we added
a removable magnetic “Key” that disables the Start/Stop switch when it is
not in place. When you leave the shop you can drop the key in your pocket
or stick it on a handy metal surface in the shop.
This magnetic switch also protects against under and over voltage
conditions. If the electrical power being delivered to the POWERMATIC
PM3000 strays below or above safe levels, the switch automatically shuts
the saw down.
We also built in power outage protection that prevents the POWERMATIC
PM3000 from starting unexpectedly should the electrical power be
interrupted and then come
back on. Once the power goes out, the POWERMATIC PM3000 will not
restart until the OFF ring is depressed and then the ON button pressed to
restart the saw. The safety implications here are obvious – the saw starts when you tell it to, not
whenever the power comes back on.
The magnetic switch
protects the motor from
harmful power
fluctuations. It also
prevents unexpected
startups should the
power go out and then
come back on again.
High-Tech Guard System
Even the blade guard and splitter system has been given extensive engineering attention.
Designed to be totally tool-free, this modular system makes it easy to configure the
POWERMATIC PM3000 blade guard/splitter system for the job at hand.

Independent side leaves
allow the blade guard to
follow the stock being
cut closely and leave one
side flat on the table
when making narrow
cuts. This increases
safety and enhances dust
collection by keeping more of the blade area enclosed. Both side leaves can be rotated up out of
The high-tech blade guard system features individual side plates (left) that can be rotated
up out of the way individually or together. The entire guard system is modular (right) and
can be removed or reconfigured in seconds for changing blades or other operations.
the way independently to make measuring cut widths easy and more accurate. The entire side
leaf assembly can be removed from the splitter by depressing a button at the hinge point to
increase access for blade changes without having to remove the
splitter assembly.
The splitter plate is mounted
directly to the arbor housing so that
the gap between it and the blade
remains constant through height
and bevel settings.
When necessary for procedures like cutting dados, the splitter
assembly can be removed by simply flipping its locking lever
within the throat opening and lifting it out.
Because the splitter is mounted directly to the blade mechanism,
the gap between it and the blade never changes during height or
angle adjustments. This maintains the safety a splitter affords in
virtually all cutting situations.
Accu-Fence
A key feature of any table saw is the fence system. To maximize accuracy
and safety, the POWERMATIC PM3000 comes with the POWERMATIC
exclusive Accu-Fence. Based on the venerable T-square design, the
POWERMATIC Accu-Fence takes this concept to new levels.
The Accu-Fence on the PM3000 has a maximum rip capacity of 50” to the
right of the blade. It also affords 14” of rip capacity to the left of the blade.
Even high-end fence systems are based on a
length of square or rectangular steel with
laminate-covered wooden faces. Manufacturing tolerances in the
tubing itself require shimming to straighten the face material
mated to it. POWERMATIC takes the extra step of milling the
square tubing to be sure that it and the face it supports are straight
without having to be shimmed.
The included 50”
Accu-Fence system is
tough, accurate and
easy to use.
We use tough, high-lubricity slabs of
HDPE to make the Accu-Fence
faces. These faces are easy to adjust
up and down when necessary.

In place of the common laminate-covered wood, the
POWERMATIC Accu-Fence has a pair of ¾”-thick HDPE (high
density polyethylene) slabs that are both very rigid and have
exceptional lubricity properties that allows wood to slide along
them easily and predictably. The faces can be adjusted vertically
to either ride just above the table or flush with the surface,
whichever is safest for the material being cut. Oversized access
holes along the underside of the Accu-Fence make reaching the
fasteners to remove or reposition the HDPE faces much easier. The T-square portion of the Accu-
Fence is precisely welded for
accuracy. The cursor is easy to adjust
to perfect the fence-to-blade
indication. We make the locking
mechanism using powdered metal
technology that results in tough,
accurate components.
The T-square portion of the Accu-Fence is made from heavy-
gauge steel and is precisely welded to the main tube. Easy to use
adjuster screws allow fine-tuning Accu-Fence square to be
parallel to the miter slots.
The single handle locking mechanism is made using high-tech powdered metal technology that
allows forming extremely precise parts. The powdered metal process also produces exceptionally
tough parts that resist wear and retain their effectiveness indefinitely.
The Accu-Fence rides on a heavy gauge steel support tube and rail system that insures precision
and durability. A high-tech powder coating process keeps the guide tube and rails protected and
looking great. To provide clean metal-to-metal contact areas for the fence locking mechanism to
grip along the guide tube, strips of bare metal are left and given a rust inhibitor treatment.
Advanced Miter Gauge
The standard miter gauge
supplied with the
POWERMATIC PM3000 pivots
60-degrees to either side and
locks with a twist of the push
handle. However, that is where
the similarities with other
standard models end.
The guide bar has a disk follower
that engages the T-groove miter
slots and prevents it from lifting during a cut. A pair of expander mechanisms allows fitting the
guide bar precisely to the miter slot to eliminate side play. This enhances both safety and precise
cuts in crosscut and miter modes.
The miter gauge supplied with the PM3000 (left) has all of the features you
need, including guide bar adjusters and a gear drive for setting precise angles up
to 60-degrees to the left or right. The extruded aluminum fence (right) has
grooves on the face and top edge that make attaching wooden faces or shop-
built jigs easy.
The miter head has precisely located detents at 0, 30 and 45-degrees to the left and right. To
make setting any required angle more precise, a special gear drive is built into the detent knob.
Loosen the locking handle, pull the detent knob out to engage the gear drive and turn it to move
the miter head to the exact angle needed. It simply cannot be easier or more accurate!

The large 12 ¾”-long by 2 ¾”-tall extruded fence can be positioned closer to or farther from the
blade by releasing the two finger-operated levers. This allows setting the miter fence at the
optimum distance from the blade at all cutting angles for maximum accuracy and safety.
Slots in the face and top edge of the miter gauge fence accept hex head fasteners to make
attaching your custom auxiliary faces or shop-made jigs easy and very secure.
Accessories
Throat Inserts
Zero-clearance and dado inserts (left)
are available as options. Note that the
zero-clearance insert is pre-cut for the
splitter assembly. The user simply cuts
the blade slot before use.
In addition to the standard throat insert shipped with the
POWERMATIC PM3000, we offer a composite zero clearance
insert (#1791080) and a metal dado insert (#1791081). The
dado insert is sized to accept up to 12”-diameter multi-plate
stacked dado sets at their full 13/16” width.
Like the standard insert, the dado version also features the
spring-loaded balls that keep it snug in the opening. The zero
clearance insert has adjuster screws that allow you to fine-tune
its fit in the opening.
The standard and zero clearance inserts are slotted for use with the splitter and guard assembly
installed.