SCANNER/OPTIMIZERS

A Lucidyne scanner/optimizer is an integrated system of multiple sensors that scans lumber lineally, identifying and mapping knots, pitch pockets, wane, cracks, grain, stain, rot and other board features. Once these elements are located and classified, grading rules are applied and either additional processing is scheduled or the board is assigned a final grade category.

Scanner/optimizers are appropriate additions to automated crosscut operations, moveable or fixed arbor ripsaws, sawmill work centers such as edgers and trimmers, and planer mill trim and grade line operations.  Lucidyne scanners see the lumber as it passes lengthwise through the scan zone. The cross section (width and thickness dimensions) varies with the application.  RipScan^® scans lumber up to 25 inches wide for ripping and edging while ChopScan^® handles narrow lumber processed for crosscutting.  GradeScan^® is targeted for the grading market, completely taking over the lumber grading task so that no human grading is required. All these products are available for purchase.

These systems are problem solvers! They replace human operators that are tasked with trying to locate defects on all four sides of lumber, remembering and applying current mill product requirements while at the same time maintaining production rates by doing all this in a few seconds. The combination of these tasks is impossible for human operators to accomplish.  When you replace these operators, these are the results:

• Productivity Increases – fewer operators and steadier production rates immediately translates into lower unit costs per product produced.

• Value Recovery Improvement – Automating the saw set selection process means increasing the probability that better choices are made more often. This profit improvement falls direct to the bottom line.

• Volume Loss Reduction – precise defect location translates into precision cutting. Mistakes are eliminated and raw material waste is reduced. For example, in a RipScan operation in Northern California, mill waste was reduced 5%.

• Production Efficiency Improvement -- combining the scanner process control with the material handling and machinery control can significantly reduce the complexity of the overall system.