All about sawmills

The woodworking industry in Russia is very developed, since the country is rich in deciduous and coniferous plantations. Various types of sawmills are designed for complete and high-quality processing of raw materials. We will consider their device, varieties and principle of operation in this article.

The sawmill is a special woodworking machine that can be used for longitudinal sawing of beams of different types of wood. The first such device for sawing logs appeared in the Bronze Age. It was a two-handed saw, thanks to which it was possible to saw the timber with your own hands for shipbuilding. In Russia, the first sawmill appeared in 1690. Currently, this device is very diverse, it is distinguished by its design, power and size. It is used for both logging and woodworking.

An indispensable assistant for any builder is a chain sawmill. With its help, you can make serious repairs in the private sector. The principle of operation of this device is that during sawing the log is firmly fixed, and the sawing is carried out using a saw attached to a special moving carriage. This mechanism has its drawbacks, the main one being low performance.

Tape options for sawmills are very popular. They are distinguished by good technical characteristics, mobility and operational reliability. They do not make noise during operation, have a long resource, and they can be used in any weather conditions. This type of sawmill is based on a thin strip of metal with sharp teeth, which is welded in the form of an endless tape.

Such devices are universal, so they can be used as a mobile option even for work in the forest. The design of such devices provides a number of broad possibilities.

You can also use lumber of any size, even logs with a diameter of 120 cm. Compared to other types, such sawmills are very easy to operate and do not require special skills. For work, a small instruction is given to the operator on how to set up the device.

The sawmill band machine comes in different sizes, therefore it is designed for different types of wood. This can be sawing logs, a table model for processing edged and unedged boards, making timber, sleepers and bars. The main advantage of this type of equipment is the minimum number of operations associated with timber dissolution. In the process of work, the emission of sawdust is reduced by up to 20%.

Depending on the quality and type of the blade, the setting of the teeth and other parameters, the band-type sawmill can produce a perfectly even cut along the entire length of the log. It is easily customizable and makes it possible to obtain products according to customer requirements.Despite the fact that the design of this type is similar to other sawmills, there is one difference, which is that it is not a log that moves here, but a working carriage that loosens the wood.

The log is placed on the rail and secured with clamps. The required height and length of the saw band is set by the log cutting markings. After turning on the engine, the automated saw begins to move and cut into the solid wood, making a cut.

After the end, the board is removed, and the canvas rises 5 mm above the array. Ostanina returns to its original position. Setting the cutting height is repeated again for each log. Band sawmills differ in the type of use - it can be a diesel and gasoline model or powered by a network with a voltage of 220 or 380 V. Sawmills can differ in the dimensions of the machine itself and the wood being processed, can be mobile or stationary devices, have a different position of the saw frame, horizontal or vertical blade with replaceable location.

Circular sawmills are designed not only for private use, but also for large-scale use in modern sawmills. The design is a special table with a built-in shaft with a disk. Enterprises use slightly different options that work simultaneously on several electric motors.

In work with this type of sawmill, the discs rotate along the log along the guides, thereby the structure being processed is distinguished by accuracy and productivity. In such a sawmill, the log lies motionless, only the discs move. The main advantage is the small thickness and accuracy of the cut, work productivity. Such sawmills are easy to operate and maintain.

Very rarely, a frame sawmill is used for cutting, in which only the log moves. It is popular mainly in factories where there is a lot of material processing. To install such a model, a special reinforced foundation is required. The slice thickness is more than 5 cm, which implies a large waste consumption.

One of the latest technologies in the field of log processing is a cantilever sawmill, with the help of which lumber and technological chips can be obtained from a log. Such a development allows to obtain a useful use of the volume of raw materials up to 80% and to increase labor productivity during the cutting of sawn timber by 2 times, depending on the scale of production. These are through-type machines that process a log into a two-roller bar by milling.

The main disadvantage of such processing is a decrease in the volumetric yield of products in comparison with sawing raw materials on other sawmills. The cost of such devices is very high. Not every raw material is processed, only with certain characteristics and with preliminary sorting. Among the advantages, one can note high productivity, so the equipment is used only in medium and large enterprises in order to reduce the cost of work and the level of operating costs.

Among the large assortment of different sawmills, you can choose a suitable model for both home use and professional work. Based on the types of portal construction, the best option is the equipment model, where the portal is made of a profile pipe, especially reinforced with special elements. Such a device is distinguished by good strength and stability, and most importantly, it does not create vibrations during operation.Sawmills with such mechanisms are distinguished by high cost, but have a significant tool life.

The service life of the sawmill also depends on the type of tension unit. If a flexible tensioning system is used in the sawmill, then during work the moving element is absorbed, the impact is softened, and the saw is not damaged. If a firm tension is used, the saw will be subject to constant jolting. Such manipulations will lead to its rapid damage and exit from the working process, and replacing the cutting element during operation significantly increases costs.

An important indicator for choosing a sawmill is the way the carriage moves. Often it has an impressive weight, and large chains are used to move it, which are constantly stretched. As a result, the shape of the final wood may be distorted. This can be avoided by purchasing models of sawmills with manually moving carriages or using an electric motion system.

As for the pulley, it should be made of a solid sheet of metal, without a layer of paint that can hide defects. The diameter of the pulley does not matter in this case, since this indicator depends only on the use of the corresponding saw length. Idler rollers should be equipped with the largest number of adjusting mechanisms, which are located on both vertical and horizontal planes. In addition, they should be positioned at an angle of 30 degrees in relation to the moving elements. This minimizes the number of cracks and extends the service life of the saw unit.

As for the type of wood used, this is the last indicator for choosing a sawmill, but it still needs to be considered. If you want to work with a thin meter on a container board, then it is better to purchase a band-type sawmill. If your work is carried out with large workpieces, then only automatic disc models will cope with them. A frame hand-held sawmill is suitable for sawing wooden blanks with a diameter of 50 cm or more.

The correct operation of the sawmill depends on the appropriate setting. First you need to install it strictly in a horizontal position in order to avoid skewing and breakage of the mechanisms for fixing the log on the frame. To facilitate horizontal installation, the kit includes hydraulic levels that determine the appropriate horizontal and vertical positioning of the saw. If there is slight slack in the saw, depending on the material of the saw blade, the speed is adjusted. The smaller the tooth on the saw blade, the slower the movement of the belt and the feed of the frame itself should be.

During operation, it is calibrated in the vertical feed of the tape. To do this, the graduated rulers on the sawmill body are checked with the actual characteristics of the cut size. To check the correct operation of the equipment, special instruments and equipment are used.

Working with a multi-blade, circular, portable or other household sawmill requires the operator to take responsible actions that not only affect the quality of the resulting product, but also ensure safety during operation. The main such operations are loading the tree trunk onto the frame, turning over the logs, installing and fixing them, as well as the efforts associated with moving along the sawmill.

The experience and knowledge of employees, coordination of actions and a competent approach play an important role in the correct organization of work. To obtain a minimum of waste and a maximum finished product, you need to know the cutting tables and work techniques. The calculation of the cutting will reduce the amount of waste by a few percent and save energy.

A successful workflow largely depends on the correct setting of the machine for the type or type of wood.When working with deciduous trees, the density of the wood, its quality and moisture must be taken into account. Some use a multi-purpose saw, while others need a wave-type saw.

Softwoods are sawn using a wide-set saw and a special lubricant. When working, it is necessary to adhere to safety rules: the protective cover must be lowered, and only a sharpened tool must be used. It is necessary to scrupulously follow all the rules and observe the work process.