Today, linear saw technology provides unmatched efficiency with profound differences to productivity, service, and reliability. An automated linear saw can also reduce the lumber cut waste by batching and combining different cuts of various pieces known as lumber optimization. So what is the one question that’s seldom asked but has the biggest impact on a business when choosing a linear saw: how efficient and flexible are the optimization algorithms of your system?
Optimizing seems relatively straightforward – it’s largely based on the software looking at your components, mixing and matching them to work out what length of timber would be best to cut from them. Cut files can have hundreds of components, but without meaningful and efficient ways of sorting the components after cutting, the order of the cutting becomes critical and a significant optimizing constraint.
My Top Five Questions You Should Ask When Considering Optimization
Obviously, if you’re thinking of investing in a new linear saw to improve your optimization, you’ll have lots of questions. My advice: make sure these five are on your list.
- Is there flexibility in the cutting order? You may want to cut in a certain way now, but a good algorithm will give you efficient options to cut in a variety of manners. A good optimizing algorithm must be extremely flexible in how it can be configured if you want to get optimal results
- How mature is the algorithm? Optimizing algorithms are a far less obvious element of a linear saw, but they have one of the single biggest impacts on the financial benefits. Look for long-standing, constantly improved and improving algorithms.
- Are there tools to help refine your settings? Every plant will want and need to optimize differently. This means a flexible system must be configured in a custom way to best fit your business. A good software package should have specific tools that will help you work out things such as what lengths of timber you should stock and the impact of the cutting order on timber efficiency.
- Where and how can optimizing be performed? Some businesses prefer to optimize at the saw. Others prefer for someone in the office to be responsible for minimizing waste. A good optimizing solution will provide efficient means of doing both, including the ability to lock files that have been pre-optimized. The software should also make it easy to optimize several files at once and automatically print off and/or save necessary files and documents, such as pick lists.
- Can I run sample files and see the results? If you are looking at a new saw, it is a great idea to ask the suppliers you’re considering to run some sample files for you and analyze the results – the more, the better! It’s amazing how rarely this happens for such a crucial element of a very expensive piece of equipment.
If you have a linear saw, take the time to evaluate your optimizing systems and settings. If you are looking at purchasing a linear saw, ask the questions and take the time to ensure the optimizing system stacks up to today’s standards and your expectations. Don’t be afraid to evaluate your options against the optimizing software of the Vekta Razer Saw.
We’ve developed and continually improved our optimizing software over the past 20+ years with the focus on enhancing optimizing for both flexibility and efficiency. We’ve engaged and collaborated with Curtin University Mathematics Department to develop ground-breaking mathematically guaranteed optimizing algorithms – making a significant investment in the R&D on this endeavor alone. With the ability to do a variety of cuts between 0° to 67° at a throughput rate of 300 – 500 components per hour, it’s no wonder the Vekta Razer V5 Linear Saw is the choice of large and small plants today.
Optimization is not a trivial element in today’s linear saws, and it isn’t something that can be developed properly in just a few years. Good, proper, and efficient optimization is an extremely complicated process that can’t be rushed. Go ahead and prepare some sample results – they’ll be worth it.