Wood-Mizer cutting systems add productivity and save operating costs

Wood-Mizer's cutting systems combine multiple saws into one system to produce lumber in a more controlled and efficient manner. These systems are designed and customized for each individual customer and their specific requirements. These can range from the LT70 remote control logging 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 logging systems that produce more lumber and less waste, reduce installation, operation and maintenance costs and lower labor requirements.

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

Wood-Mizer LT70 HEAVY-DUTY cutting system

The LT70 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 an efficient and fast saw, while keeping maintenance low cost 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 powered 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 widest head, which means that the maximum width of the prism can reach 64 cm and 78 cm respectively. Two 24 mm belted flywheels (over 600 mm) use saw blades 38 mm wide and 477 cm long. There are two blade guides, the left one is mobile (and associated with the LubeMizer cleaning unit) and the right one is fixed. "The standard web guide has a roller that deflects the web by about 6 mm and two guide blocks support it. This solution provides a lot of precision during cutting"Adam Kubiak adds.

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

A clear view from the remote control station

The LT70 HEAVY-DUTY saw has a remote control station conveniently located at the start of the line, allowing the operator a clear view of the cutting process. "On the left side of the log, the operator observes the clamp and the log rotator, and on the right he observes the vertical side supports. The control station is installed in a convenient place 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:

A reel switch for power supply
A potentiometer for adjusting the cutting speed
A reel switch for up/down operation of the cutting head
Two buttons for starting and controlling the peeler
A switch for adjusting the sail guide arm
Setworks SW10 control unit for automatic board 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 to 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 stay clear of the sawdust. If you decide to use a track, you'll have to make an effort to clean the cables after each shift," Adam explains.

HEAVY-DUTY Patul

The WM4000 saw blade turns the standard LT70 into an industrial machine. "The steel tube itself is the same in all Wood-Mizer saw models - from the LT20 to the WM4000, but the difference is in the design of the bed cross-section"explains Adam. "On this model, the bottom of the 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 bracing, but also for aligning the bed. The construction has been designed for industrial operations carried out under very heavy working conditions and is almost impossible to physically damage.", Adam Kubiak assures us.

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 simpler, AHSH2, consists of 3 vertical side supports, each built on a high carbon steel double rod with chrome coating 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 the logs on the bed.
"In the AHSH4 hydraulic package, the customer also receives a set of clamping clamps which are useful when cutting long logs. After releasing the accumulated tensions in the wood, the prisms can deform. 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 planks processed on the saw and a short conveyor belt for transferring them to the next equipment, in our example to the sorting table.

Material handling and woodworking equipment

The LT70 HEAVY-DUTY cutting system includes several accessory machines to automate log processing:

a log loading bridge
a sorting table
a chain conveyor
EG300 Multi-lamp circular 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 irregular shaped logs or short material", reports Adam Kubiak.

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

At the end of the line, there is the EG300 hemming 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 mobile and equipped with a laser indicator for better visual control of the cutting process. It is possible to add up to 5 blades per shaft and thus turn it into a multi-blade machine.

How the LT70 HEAVY-DUTY cutting line operates

The process starts with 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 back by the clamping systems 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 side to the gravity conveyors. The process is repeated for the next cut, but the un-graded plank is directed to the left side, to the EG300 edging circular. The operator can easily make hemmed planks of 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 planks from the sorting table right to the circular MR200 Multi-blade double-shaft for an additional increase in productivity.