Posted on January 05, 2015

Among the many challenges facing sawmill managers when installing scanning and optimizing equipment, the lack of available space to properly locate the measuring systems for optimum performance is, without a doubt, one of the most important. This problem often occurs in existing manually operated mills.

In order to resolve this problem and provide a cost-effective solution, Autolog, a specialist in optimization, proposes "transverse snap shot" type scanners that instantly measure 3D log profiles every 5 inches along its length; then, when the logs start moving towards the cutting machine, additional profiles are captured at one inch intervals and transferred to the optimizer computer system. This technique mixing transverse / lineal measurement allows the system to get a complete 3D log profile in a total of 5” of lineal traveling.

With this configuration, the scanners are mounted on each side of a V shape conveyor at an angle of about 600. At this angle, the vision sensors remain free from debris thus reducing the cleaning schedule and maintaining the scan data quality at its best.

Autolog has been proposing custom solutions for 27 years in optimization and controls for both the softwood and the hardwood industry.