United Kingdom 2011 - 2 | Page 10

I N N O V A T I O N S halving or quartering a log or producing slabs for further processing, or using the ‘Setworks’ control to produce finished boards of consistent thickness. After more than a year in development, the new sawmill is now available in two versions. The headrig, which is a completely new twin rail design, can be purchased on its own for mounting on standard 'I-beam' tracks (which the customer can buy from Wood-Mizer or from local sources). The head has four driven wheels for travelling along the track – which can be as long as required – under the control of the operator. A benefit of this option is that logs can be laid directly on the ground between the two beams, and the WM1000 can then cut logs with diameters of up to 1.7m (the maximum throat capacity of the head). Alternatively, the head can be bought as a complete package together with a modular log bed, for cutting logs up to 1.5m diameter. The bed can be laid in sections to achieve the desired length, and is fitted with manually-operated side supports and log clamp. Additional bed sections can be added at a later date if required. The control panel is mounted on the head and the operator rides on a platform during cutting operations. This means the operator is able to closely observe the cutting process even when 8 WOOD-MIZER TODAY SPRING 2011