Wood-Mizer cutting systems add productivity and save operating costs

Wood-Mizer cutting systems combine multiple cutting machines into one system to produce lumber in a more controlled and efficient way. These systems are designed and customized for each individual customer and their specific requirements. These can range from the LT70 remote-controlled LT70 log line to the SLP1 / SLP2 Smart Log Processing to the advanced TITAN Log Processing Sawmilling System. Wood-Mizer has an experienced and dedicated team of engineers to develop various chipping systems that produce more lumber and less waste, reduce installation, operation and maintenance costs, and decrease labor requirements.

Watch the online presentation of a LT70 HEAVY DUTY HEAVY DUTY LT70 saw cutting system and EG300 multi-blade circular remote control station and associated material handling equipment, including a log loading ramp, o sorting table and a chain-driven conveyor. The host of the presentation is Adam Kubiak, Wood-Mizer's Industrial Sales Manager, one of Wood-Mizer's top engineers.

Wood-Mizer LT70 HEAVY-DUTY cutting system

The LT70 HEAVY-DUTY HEAVY-DUTY saw combines the best features of the two popular Wood-Mizer machines - cutting head LT70 and industrial saw bed WM4000. By combining these components into one robust unit, Wood-Mizer has developed a saw that is efficient and fast, while maintaining low-cost maintenance and ease of use.

"Wood-Mizer customers can choose between two types of cutting heads - the standard head with a maximum cutting capacity of 95 cm in log diameter and the wide head with a maximum cutting capacity of 105 cm in log diameter"explains Adam Kubiak.

The cutting head is driven by the standard 18.5 kW (25 hp) or optional 22 kW (30 hp) electric motor. The distance between the blade guide rollers is 73 cm on the standard head and 86 cm on the wider one, which means that the maximum prism width can reach 64 cm and 78 cm respectively. Two 24 mm belt wheels (over 600 mm) use saw blades 38 mm wide and 477 cm long. There are two blade guides, the left one is movable (and associated with the LubeMizer cleaning unit) and the right one is fixed. "The standard blade guide has a roller that deflects the blade by about 6 mm and two guide blocks that support it. This solution offers a lot of precision when cutting"adds Adam Kubiak.

"The recommended parameters for tensioning the blade are shown on the label next to the hydraulic hand pump. Sometimes saw operators apply too much tension to the blade when they cannot get a straight cut. We do not recommend this, as it affects the life of the blade, the performance of the cutting head, bearings, etc. Instead, the operator should check that the blade is sharp and properly tensioned, or that the blade guide and handwheels are properly adjustedinforms Adam.

A clear view from the remote control station

The LT70 HEAVY-DUTY HEAVY-DUTY saw has a remote control station conveniently located at the beginning of the line, allowing the operator a clear view of the cutting process. "On the left side of the log, the operator observes the log clamp and log rotator, and on the right side observes the vertical side supports. The control station is installed in a convenient location next to the saw. For better visibility, we recommend installing the control panel at height "reports Adam Kubiak.

The operator panel has the following control functions:

1. A reel switch for power supply
2. A potentiometer to adjust the cutting speed
3. A drum switch for up/down operation of the cutting head
4. Two buttons for starting and controlling the peeler
5. A switch for adjusting the blade guide arm
6. SW10 Setworks control unit for automatic plank thickness adjustments.

Customers can select one of three types of electronic control units - SW10 Setworks, Accuset or a PLC control module.
The cutting head connects with the operator station via electrical cables in a flexible track or curtain. "When you have extra space in the workshop, it's a good idea to have the electrical cables installed on a curtain with steel poles, as in this case the cables remain protected from sawdust. If you decide to use a runway, you will have to make an effort to clean the cables after each shift," explains Adam.

HEAVY-DUTY Patul 

The WM4000 saw bed turns the standard LT70 into an industrial machine. "The steel tube itself is the same on all Wood-Mizer saw models - from the LT20 to the WM4000, but the difference is in the design of the cross-section of the bed"explains Adam. "On this model, the bottom section is very solid, made of thick steel plates. These sections are adjustable. They are roof-shaped, additionally stiffened, and three screws support each bed section. These screws are not only for reinforcement, but also for bed alignment. The construction was designed for industrial operations in very heavy-duty working conditions and is almost impossible to physically damage"assures Adam Kubiak.

The industrial bed is equipped with a set of hydraulic equipment for easier handling of large and heavy logs. There are two standard hydraulic packages - AHSH2 and AHSH4. The simplest, the AHSHH2, consists of 3 vertical side supports, each built on a high carbon steel and chrome coated double rod and the main clamp on a double rod. There is also a log rotator and two power rollers supported by two hydraulic cylinders for controlling and positioning logs on the bed.
"In the AHSH4 hydraulic package, the customer also receives a set of holding clamps which are useful when cutting long logs. After releasing the tension built up in the wood, the prisms can warp. With these clamps, you can keep the material flat on the bed and cut straight"explains Adam.
The LT70 HEAVY-DUTY has a plank removal system with special clamps and chains for automatic removal of the planks processed on the saw and a short conveyor belt for transfer to the next equipment, in our example to the sorting table.

Material handling and woodworking equipment

The LT70 HEAVY-DUTY LT70 HEAVY-DUTY cutting system includes several accessory machines for log processing automation:

• a log loading bridge
• a sorting table
• a chain conveyor
• EG300 Multi-lamella circular plank planer.

The loading deck is available in two lengths - 3.6 m and 6 m, and in two widths - 1.55 m and 3.8 m. "The deck can be equipped with 2 or 3 conveyor chains to feed logs of irregular shape or short material"reports Adam Kubiak.

The sorting table consists of 3 meter long modules with the option to extend up to 9 m. Each module has drive rollers to transport the material forward and cross chains to direct the material left or right. This configuration has a gravity slide on the right side and a chain conveyor that transports the material from the saw to the circular on the left side. It's 2.4 m long with three chains, but Wood-Mizer can redesign it to suit customer needs.

At the end of the line, there's the EG300 edging circular. This machine is available with two types of electric motors - 15 kW (20 hp) and 18 kW (25 hp). It can process planks up to 60 mm thick. The circular has two circular blades; the first operates in a fixed position and the second is movable and equipped with a laser indicator for better visual control of the cutting process. It is possible to add up to 5 blades on the spindle and turn it into a multi-blade machine.

How the LT70 HEAVY-DUTY cutting line LT70 HEAVY-DUTY operates

The process begins by loading the logs onto the saw bed using the log deck. Once the log is on the bed, the operator uses the hydraulic rotator and drive rollers to optimally position it for the initial cut. The operator then activates the blade and peeler. After the initial cut is made, the plank is moved backwards by the grapples and plank removal chains on the short conveyor belt. This automatically passes the plank to the sorting table and from there it is directed to the right-hand side to the gravity slides. The process is repeated for the next cut, but the untrimmed plank is directed to the left side to the EG300 edging circular. The operator can easily make hemmed boards with a defined width because the EG300 has a laser pointer.
Customers can further customize and upgrade their cutting lines by adding more units, for example by adding a chain conveyor that transports boards from the sorting table right to the MR200 Multi-blade double-shaft circular MR200 for an additional productivity boost.

Wood-Mizer's cutting systems allow the production line to be gradually extended, improving its performance and bringing it up to a high industrial level

Wood-Mizer RO S.R.L.
Factory No 6, Sura Mica 
557270 Jud. Sibiu 
Machine info: +40 755 20 20 30
Email: office@woodmizer.ro
www.woodmizer.ro