Thickness Accuracy of Sash Gang Sawing

Thin lamellae, corresponding to the layer components of structural glued members, i.e. 2-ply or 3-ply glued parquet, can be manufactured in re-sawing operations of kiln-dried wood blocks. These must be prepared with high dimensional accuracy and adequate surface quality following specific technical requirements for lamellae thickness variations, especially in the upper layers of the glued composite parquet. The accuracy of oak lamellae thickness was examined here for a re-sawing process performed on the sash gang saw. A series of cutting tests were carried out in sawmill production conditions. The overall objective for these observations was to determine an effect of both the cumulative time of sawing (progress of the tool wear) and the lamella position (distribution of lateral forces) on the dimensional accuracy of production. Lamellae size control was conducted following the Brown methodology. Detailed within-board, between-board, and total sawing standard deviations for the examined lamellae positions in the gang were determined. The obtained results revealed that outermost lamellae are more subjected to dimensional inaccuracy than lamellae from the centre of the sawn block or frieze.