HewSaw’s SL250 2.2 saw line

Saw Line Handles Unique Workpieces

Dec. 11, 2019
Smart hydraulics are taking performance levels in the timber processing and handling industry to new levels never seen before.

The need for high reliability, repeatability, and efficiency are common to most industrial processes. But what’s different about lumber processing is that every workpiece is unique, because no two logs have the same physical properties. Yet, finished products must be extremely consistent. Woodgrain Millwork, a family-owned millwork company based in Fruitland, Id., has been dealing with these issues for more than 60 years. It’s one of North America’s largest producers of moldings, millwork, windows, and doors.

In 2016, the company acquired a sawmill in Emmett, not far from its Fruitland headquarters. In a bid to modernize the operation and increase the versatility of its offering, Woodgrain made a strategic decision to purchase a HewSaw SL250 2.2 multiple breakdown saw line from HewSaw Inc.’s US facility in Savannah, Ga. HewSaw US Inc., a division of Veisto Oy of Finland, is a leading supplier of state-of-the-art primary breakdown lines found in all major sawmill markets around the world. Woodgrain could then incorporate two breakdown lines—one for larger logs, and the new HewSaw machine for logs less than15-in. diameter.

The HewSaw line can run up to 20 logs per minute on a scan-then-set basis. That is, each log is scanned, and a sawing layout is developed that will yield the most lumber. No two consecutive logs require the same solution. The saw line has to adjust tooling for every log, which, in turn, requires up to 75 linear axes—all hydraulically actuated—to be shifted for each log. The time allowed for movement is typically less than 500 msec, and the precision required is measured in less than 0.001 in.

The engineering that makes this happen is, of course, crucial to the process. The hydraulic system, from power development through to motion control, must drive these axes to carry the tooling into position with great speed and with great accuracy. This process also needs to be reliable and repeatable throughout the life of the equipment.

The Intelligent Solution

To meet its demanding engineering requirements, the HewSaw selected Bosch Rexroth Canada to provide the main hydraulic power unit (HPU), which is equipped with the latest generation of Sytronix hydraulic drives and control units. Because of the rugged hydraulics and efficient electronics in the Sytronix HPU, it’s regarded as the intelligent solution for many of the sawmill industry’s hydraulic power requirements today. This system, with its energy-conserving capabilities, is being sought out more frequently in an era of rising energy costs.

The HPU system uses Rexroth’s Simster multi-domain simulation platform for modeling and optimizing control of drive systems. PLC supply and programming development was used for seamless integration with the upper level PLC system. The Sytronix HPU system was also integrated into the Industry 4.0 environment for real-time efficiency and multi-protocol capability.

The Sytronix implementation for HewSaw is the most groundbreaking system Bosch Rexroth Canada has developed for the industry, with self-diagnostics that communicate any faults automatically to operators. The HPU is smart, not just in this respect, nor just in the accurate positioning of tools, but in how it supports log flow into the line. There’s higher potential velocity and capacity for improved gap control.

High Performance, Low Energy, and Quiet

That’s not all. System benefits include energy savings that decrease operating costs. Sytronix drives can also reduce the noise emission of the hydraulic power unit. Shorter installation and commissioning times are achieved by using pre-configured Sytronix hydraulic pump drives and assemblies. Advantages for the user include the connectivity with the main machine, enhanced safety features, and a design that lends itself to simplicity for service and support.

After efficient and successful commissioning, the new HewSaw SL250 2.2 Multi Breakdown Line was put into production in Feb. 2018. We believe its success could not have been achieved without the great teamwork between Bosch Rexroth Canada’s Systems Engineering group, Sytronix System Specialist, and the Port Coquitlam, B.C. service team.

The good news doesn’t stop there. The performance and versatility of the systems developed for HewSaw US Inc. are suitable not only for application at the Woodgrain plant in Emmett, but also for a variety of other markets, including wood processing, pulp and paper, presses, plastics, die casting and machine tools.

This information was submitted by Rodney Trail, who works in business development with Bosch Rexroth’s IPM Group. Click here for more information on Rexroth’s Sytronix HPUs.

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