Method and Apparatus for Cutting True with a Round Saw
First Claim
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1. A circular-saw control system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor to measure a sawing force near an end of a saw arbor carrying a plurality of saw blades, the sensors to measure forces in at least two different directions;
a workpiece drive system to hold a workpiece through the plurality of saw blades at a feed speed; and
a motion control system to receive measurements of the forces from the plurality of sensors and adjust the feed speed to improve process results.
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Abstract
Process accuracy and throughput in a system for processing timber and lumber with a circular gang saw can be improved by measuring a sawing force and a guide friction force near an end of one or more saw arbors and incorporating the force measurement into a process control system to adjust the workpiece feed speed (or other process parameters) to achieve better results.
2 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A circular-saw control system comprising:
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a plurality of sensors, each sensor to measure a sawing force near an end of a saw arbor carrying a plurality of saw blades, the sensors to measure forces in at least two different directions; a workpiece drive system to hold a workpiece through the plurality of saw blades at a feed speed; and a motion control system to receive measurements of the forces from the plurality of sensors and adjust the feed speed to improve process results. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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13. A method of instrumenting a multi-blade circular saw to obtain a process-control signal, comprising:
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identifying a sawing force vector corresponding to a radial force on a tooth of a saw blade traveling through a workpiece; identifying a deviation friction force vector corresponding to a radial force felt by the saw blade from friction against a saw guide; translating the sawing force vector and the deviation friction force vector through a saw arbor to determine a sawing reaction force vector and a deviation friction reaction force vector, each reaction force vector near an end of the saw arbor; identifying two locations and directions to measure the reaction force vectors outside an active sawing area; coupling a force sensor at each of the two identified locations to measure the reaction forces so that one force sensor produces a signal proportional in part to the sawing force vector, and another force sensor produces a signal proportional in part to the deviation friction force vector; and communicating the sensor signals to a workpiece feed control system.
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Specification