Automation for Primary Processing of Hardwoods

Abstract

Hardwood sawmills critically need to incorporate automation and computer technology into their operations. Social constraints, forest biology constraints, forest product market changes, and financial necessity are forcing primary processors to boost their productivity and efficiency to higher levels. The locations, extent, and types of defects found in logs and on boards determines how these materials should be processed for maximum value and to maximize mill recovery. However, current sawmill machinery and manual techniques are not able to make full use of defect information. Machine vision systems that can automatically locate, size, and identify defects provide valuable information for subsequent computer-integrated manufacturing operations. Computerized manufacturing can then maximize the value of each piece of wood processed. By combining vision systems with computer-integrated manufacturing software hardwood processors can automate their operations to utilize the hardwood resource completely and efficiently.

Citation

Schmoldt, Daniel L. 1992. Automation for Primary Processing of Hardwoods. Proceedings, Statistical Methods, Mathematics and Computers IUFRO. pp. 103-111.