SRS4702 Header Log Processing Improvement - Sawing Simulation


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 Abstract. When noninvasive scanning, e.g., computed tomography (CT), comes on-line in sawmills, we need new approaches to log breakdown that can provide the saw operator with useful sawing options. These new approaches must be able to utilize scanned information and integrate that information with downstream processing operations. Software that can simulate log and defect geometry, log breakdown operations, edging/trimming operations, and lumber grading can be a useful tool to understand how log sawing will change. This approach is being taken to develop a suite of software tools that can simulate sawmill processes using realistic 3D logs. With these tools in hand, we are testing various hypotheses regarding log sawing. In particular: Can we simply and effectively modify traditional sawing heuristics to incorporate internal defect information? How coarse can scan information be and still allow us improve sawing decisions? Can we develop log breakdown procedure that is guaranteed to be optimal or near optimal? The answers to these questions will determine what level of scanned information is provided to the sawyer and how scanned information is presented and used.

Luis G. Occeña (Univ. of Missouri) and Daniel L. Schmoldt

 


Accomplishments

  • A 3-D log modeling and sawing simulator was developed to serve as a research tool to aid in the development of better log breakdown methods.
  • The simulator also applies an edging operation to each board "cut" and grades each board.
  • Recent results indicate that traditional sawing heuristics, if modified to incorporate internal defect information, always perform better than those same heuristics using only surface defect information.
  • Preliminary results suggest that once a sawing pattern is selected-based on internal defect information-applying that same geometric sawing pattern with a different opening face will produce lower lumber value.
  • One peer-reviewed journal article has been published and a second is in press.

Current and Future Work

  • Simulate the impact of CT slice pitch and within-slice CT resolution on log breakdown and lumber value.
  • Provide improved log breakdown heuristics based on internal defect information.

VCHIP - A Virtual Center for Hardwood Integrated Processing

 

 

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Last Modified: 06/13/07
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