Automated setworks for a twin blade wish list for either mode of cutting

[CaseyK]

Im designing an automated setworks for my twin blade and was hoping that someone with a twin blade could give me a few wish list items that would improve the speed and ease of cutting in either dimensional mode or quarter sawing mode.

Given:
1. That the system will be able to position the twin blade intersection (x,y) postion with 500:1 encoders connected to acme rods with 5:1 ratio for height and 8:1 for left to right position.
2.  The feedworks will also have encoder feedback so that fwd and reverse speed can be controlled and position monitored so that a blade movement is not allowed while in a log.
3. Visible laser photo eyes will be installed in front of the horizontal blade at cutting height and rear of the vertical blade at cutting height to detect the presence of a log and not allow blade movement while in a log.
4. A photo eye on the saw frame lower than the cut height to detect the height of the log which given the deck height will calculate the diameter of the log.
5. The point that the horizontal and vertical blade cuts meet is called the cutting axis. 

The system will have 2 modes of operation, dimensional mode and quarter saw mode.
Each mode will have the ability to select a center cant size or multiple cant sizes ex 2x2, or 3x3 or 4x4= 16 cants that are a specific size ex 4.5" square.
So with the log in place and centered the system will be initiated and the log scanned and its diameter at each in calculated along with its length position (called the feedworks position: z).

Below is the description of what will happen in Quarter saw mode, once i solve for it the dimensional mode will be easy to solve.

The operator then will position the saw blades cutting position at the center of the small end of the log and adjust its height to the level of the first cut on the log to take off the finch of the log and get down to good wood. due to having to find center manually i thought this would be best so that the first cut height will need to be determined by the operator instead of just the diameter calculation. ( i call this the top cut)

Once positioned a saw fwd cut will be initiated making the cut fwd through the log and recording the top cut for future calculations, note another pass will be required since the first cut only cut to centerline of the log.

Once the top cuts are completed the saw will move to the quarter saw pie starting position which willl be at the 10:30 position from calculated center of the log a distance from the bark = to the distance from the top of the log to the top cut. From this calculated position the operator can adjust the cutting axis position until happy then initiate a saw forward cut command making the cut fwd through the log and recording the pie (x,y) position.

From here depending on log diameter and horizontal blade limitations another additional pie cut (2nd pie) will need to be made at the 11:15 position in reference to the center of the log but only on very large logs. If no 2nd pie cut required then the saw cut axis position will move to the left side of the log to make the (left cut) to remove the bark depending upon the depth of the cutting axis in reference to the top cut position which will be limited to the cutting dept limit of the vertical saw and/or the saw frame.

Thus far the program is pretty much just math with the operator correcting calculated positions just like he would have to do if cutting manually. From here it will get slightly more complicated to maximize for boards cut horizontally on the left side of log center and boards cut vertically from the top of the log center. The operator will control the movements but have the ability to push a button and move the axis down one board height such as cutting on the left side or pus another button and go to a position of the right of the pie the thickens of one board.

Given that starting point, does anyone have any suggestions or wish list items that i can incorporate into the logic to help the operator cut quarter sawn lumber with automatically calculated positions  and the ability to select specific board dimensions or max board size depending upon size of log and size of blades.

Thanks
 

[backwoods sawyer]

When running the Mighty Might A good portion of the time was spent recovering CVG from logs with heavy ring shake.

Having the ability to pick a set of dementions and a starting point, make a couple cuts, reposition one or both ends either up and down or left to right and continue with the patteren would be very helpful in grain orientation.

With CVG it was not any set size just maximum size availible, it was resawn later as saws were taking a 3/8 kerf + wobble, You will like the thinner kerf saws. ;)