Trimmer Optimizer


The physical properties of the lumber are scanned and the data fed to a computer. Based on such factors as lumber price and the customer order file, the computer program makes a decision as to the optimum use for a particular piece of lumber. The piece can be trimmed, cut to specific length and then sent out to the green chain or it can be sent back through the sawmill to be resawn into a different product. A lumber grader can override the optimizer by placing a mark on a board which is scanned by a grade mark reader which then rekeys the grader's instructions to the computer.



This is the infeed from the sawmill to the trimmer optimizer. Lumber arrives here from the edgers, twinband, headrig or resaw.



Pictured at right is computer control interface between the computer and the machinery.



At left is the computer room where the various optimizing factors are entered and updated.