Linear Planer Optimizer - ProGrader

Our ProGrader is a linear optimizer designed to fully automate the grading process of dressed lumber at the planer.

ProGrader ProGrader ProGrader Design Press Rolls Hermary Laser Scanner 3D Tracheid Sensors User Interface Dynamic Grading Zone Dynamic Grading Zone
Contact the sales department

The ProGrader is a complete optimization system for automated lumber grading. It is positioned just after the planer and allows replacing a part or all of the positions of the traditional graders. This equipment is reliable, constant and fast, allowing many of our clients to benefit from a return on investment in less than a year.

  • Operating speed up to 3,000 ft/min
  • Linear system: compact, reliable, tried and tested
  • 3D geometric sensors measure dimensions, skip, wane, holes and warp
  • 2D vision sensors measure knots, rot, splits and shakes, bark, etc.
  • Tracheid sensors measure slope of grain
  • Pneumatic board stabilization system allows for unmatched reading precision
  • Can be linked to a stress rating machine (MSR) and/or a moisture meter

Download product sheet (PDF)
Characteristics
  • Automatic positioning of all the sensors with a production change
  • A control module called LTS (Linear Tracking System) provides detailed and precise information on the monitoring and synchronization of the boards according to their position, the space between them and the speed of the production line
  • An integrated oscilloscope improves calibration precision and reduces maintenance intervention delays
  • Not affected by temperature variations (auto calibration)
  • Classifies appearance decking patio lumbers (Best face vs Reverse Face)
  • Cut-in-two can be achieved with appearance grade products with one piece upside down from the other
  • New generation hardware allows reducing the number of computers by 30%
  • Board tracking system for analysis and quality control went from 150,000 to 25,000,000 boards (option)
  • Remote user interface tablet available
  • 2D vision sensors using tri-linear CCD technology (100% color resolution) at 27,000 images/second
  • High power white LED lighting (100,000 hours life expectancy)
  • Able to process all dimensions between 1” x 3” to 6” x 12” in all lengths
  • Controls the amount of below grade per package
  • Reduces your above grade
  • Improves your high grades ratio
  • Reduces trim loss
  • UV printing code and UV reading code on a simplified interface
  • Increases profits per MBF produced
3D / Geometric Sensors
  • Width precision: 0.003” (0.08 mm)
  • Thickness precision: 0.003” (0.08 mm)
  • Length precision: better than 0.062” (1/16”) (1.59 mm)
  • Warp measurement: as good as 0.125” (1/8”) (3.18 mm)
  • Laser measurement: Co-Planar: 4 faces are scanned at the same time and at the same position
  • Scan Density: as low as 0.250” (6.35 mm)
  • Speed: up to 3000’/min or 55 km/h
  • Reliable technology
  • Detections: Wane, Mismatch, Skip, Hole, Twist, Crook and Bow
Tracheid Sensors
  • Width resolution: 0.250” (6.35 mm)
  • Scan density: 0.250” (6.35 mm)
  • Angles measurement: better than 5 degrees
Tracheid Sensor Double Laser - TBS-2
  • New knot identification technology based on the detection of the wood fiber orientation
  • New TBS-2 sensor uses a dual laser technology to maximize tracheid data collection for high accuracy knot detection
  • The first laser emits a series of dots which are spaced at ¼"
  • The second laser emits a solid line spaced at ½" from the dotted line
  • The first laser line provides information on the direction of the fiber
  • The second laser line provides information on the tracheid effect in the fiber
  • By combining this data,  we are able to identify knots with a very high level of accuracy and with virtually no false detection
  • This new sensor is the first in our new series that can operate up to 4000 ft./min.
  • The operating speed of our sensor allows us to take readings at 1/8" (0.125") at 4000 ft./min.
  • We can also operate at a speed of 1/10" (0.100") at 3000 ft./min.
2D / Vision Sensors
  • Width resolution: 0.012” (0.31 mm)
  • Length resolution: 0.025” (0.63 mm)
  • Tri-linear CCD technology (100% color resolution)
  • Line rate: 24,000 images / second
  • High power white LED lighting (100,000 hours life expectancy)
  • Color calibrated at the factory
  • Low maintenance
  • Low white balance calibration cycle
UV
  • Same technology as our previous version, using the same micro valves for the print nozzles
  • Each triple-nozzle high-speed head, prints 3 identical codes to ensure accurate reading at the UV code reader
  • Same shape and dimensions as our previous version so no modification required for installation
  • Assembled in 2 parts making it easier and faster to replace:
    • fixed part connected to the printer
    • mobile part can be removed and sent to Autolog for service

New UV quick connect printer head

Board Tracking System
  • The Autolog ProGSP prints a unique ID number on every single board
  • Up to 150,000 boards can be stored in a Microsoft SQL Server database which makes possible and easy to retrieve all optimizer data, board pictures, analysis and more
  • Powerful tool when inspecting boards for QC purposes
Remote Interface Tablet Option
  • The remote wireless interface tablet lets your QC personnel take control of the optimizer interface and allows getting direct info on each of the boards
  • A Wi-Fi network and a protective case are included
  • Autolog supplies an interface tablet (iPad or others)
Check Grader for QC Analysis (Option)
  • The Check Grader Dynamic Grading Zone system consists of an industrial light bar made of powerful LEDs at 1” spacing which light up and travel with the boards for the length of the bar
  • The light bar replaces the optimizer spraying system by showing the optimizer grade solution to the Check Grader by means of different colors; each color representing a specific grade. The light bar can be installed on a flat chain thus allowing more time to change a grading decision.
  • The LEDs are connected 2 by 2 to increase system reliability
  • The Check Grader Dynamic Grading Zone system can display near and/or far end info
Bow Detection System (Option)

To measure the extreme bow of a board with better accuracy:

  • Industrial sensors
  • Industrial computer system
  • Measures surface deviation (bow) of a board
  • Sends data to the optimizer
  • Reading every 0.250" along the length
  • Static precision of 0.150"
  • Presently tested up to 180 lugs/min.

Visual Defects

Testimonial

Under these conditions, a human grader is not as accurate as the machinery that never gets tired and works in fractions of a second. The Autolog tracheid system reads the actual pores of the wood and records up to 27,000 frames per second. For us, it combines to make the difference between a mill that will turn a profit or post a loss.

Robert St-Martin, Forex Inc.