Maintaining Linear Edger Performance

The key to linear edger performance can be taken right from the machines name - everything needs to run on a straight line, or in a 'linear' fashion. While this is arguably the simplest way to handle the optimized edging process, eliminating all of the starting/stopping, grabbing and positioning that takes place between the scanning and sawing operations of a transverse edger system, linear edger users still need to keep a close eye on their edger system in order to keep things working properly. This is, of course, in an effort to realize the highest possible recovery of yield and value that their edging system can provide.

In particular, mills should pay very close attention to:

• Edger infeed belt tracking, making sure that the belt tracks perfectly parallel to the edger system centerline.
• There are no humps or twists in the belt path that will cause the board to 'walk' or 'spin' on the surface of the belt.
• Transition areas need to be smooth and level, in particular those through the scan zone and between the infeed belt and the edger feed system.

Saw calibration to the transfer system

After transfer systems are aligned, saw entry points that are consistent with those planned by the optimizer are established by:

• Calibrating one saw (usually the center saw) to the entry points desired by the optimizer.
• Each of the remaining saws are then calibrated by sawing more lumber and comparing the sawn piece width to the target piece width.