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Topics
Introduction
The bolt is electronically scanned to reveal the cross-section profile. Then based on the profile scan, the optimum spindle centre is computed to arrive at the largest possible cylinder. The bolt is then mechanically re-positioned along the X axis, and the Y axis, so that the block spins on the true centre of the calculated cylinder. The use of the X-Y charger results in a increase in wide sheets. With a corresponding decrease in random widths, fishtails, and green clipper waste giving a substantially higher yield of useable veneer.
Rotational X-Y charger
The peeler block is transferred into the charger, chucked by the charger spindle, and rotated and scanned at three to five points along the length. The computer then calculates the optimal points for centering the block in the veneer lathe. The charger hardware then rotates the block to the proper altitude, clamps it, and either pre-spots or cycles directly into the lathe.
Non-rotational X-Y charger
This system utilises helium neon lasers to scan blocks. Two pairs of scanners, one on each end of the block, sweep scan the rigidly held bolt. The scanners are mechanically linked together, an air cylinder directs the scanners across successive segments of the log. The actual mechanical hardware, supplied by a second vendor, is similar in a number of features with the rotational scanner type hardware.