100% AUTOMATIC LUMBER GRADING

Lucidyne developed a biological scanner 14 years ago that integrated multiple sensors to identify board fiber characteristics.  Geometric profiling was added to this and used in secondary manufacturing plants for ripping and crosscutting applications. This same technology has now been applied to grade lumber in planer mills!

Biological grading requires in-depth knowledge of wood fiber - density variations, stains, pitch and crack analysis, as well as a thorough understanding of distorted grain around knots and strength-reducing effects of slope-of-grain.  To that add the precise measurement of wane, skip, and warp, and you have a formidable scanning system.  For the last 18 years, Lucidyne's Grade Mark Reader has kept our staff busy supporting grading operations in over 650 planer mills.  We are now putting that experience to work by providing the industry with the next generation of grading system: GradeScan!

Lucidyne installed its first GradeScan system in the planer at Seneca Sawmill in Eugene, Oregon.  The scanner was mounted on an overhead carriage and connected to its computer system with a fiber optic network.  The infeed and outfeed transport rolls were already in place when the scanner was installed.

GradeScan is shown being hung from the carriage in its "out" position.  The scanner will be moved to this position for maintenance and calibration. If there is sufficient clearance, the scanner is designed to be mounted on rails.  The bottom of the scanner is 36 inches from the bottom of the wood surface - an additional 13 inches is needed under the scanner to allow for a bottom rail system.

GradeScan uses multiple light sources to illuminate the board surface.  Laser energy is one of the sources used because it provides a precise target for surface geometric measurements and other functions.

In making the jump to Dimension lumber grading from biological defecting in cutup plants, Lucidyne spent several weeks working with West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau inspectors.  Many times a board would have enough interesting characteristics to require several minutes of measurement and discussion!

Seneca processes green Douglas-Fir ranging from 2x4s to 2x14, up to 28 feet long.  This is more challenging than dry lumber because many times there is standing moisture on the surface making it tougher for the sensors to see the actual fiber.  Artificial Intelligence techniques help in this effort. It has taken many man-years to get to the point where computers can begin to simulate the functions performed by the human brain!

Some applications have required that GradeScan solutions incorporate other input from devices such as moisture sensors, continuous lumber stress testers, and xray sensors.  Lucidyne has designed the system to allow integration to external devices for special applications.  This is especially valuable for adding new technologies, which is key to the effort to continuously improve the scanner's output decision.  This picture shows GradeScan being followed by both an NMI moisture sensor and a Metrigaurd CLT at a Weyerhaeuser installation.

A complex system like GradeScan needs to have an interface that provides the user with a clear understanding of what is happening.   This is essential for operators, technicians, and managers, especially in the high-pressure production environment of a typical planermill.  Lucidyne's system satisfies this need by providing color displays at multiple locations.  This touchscreen monitor is mounted on the scanner itself, and shows the system status as well as actual board images from each sensor.