Eau Claire, WI— In the late 1890s, Frank McDonough invented the Travelling Bed Feed, now known as the Linebar Resaw, that revolutionized the sawmill industry. More than 120 years later, McDonough Manufacturing Co., headquartered here, is once again re-imagining what the Resaw can be.
Available as a new installation or as an upgrade to any existing resaw, the McDonough AutoMAXX resaw system combines physical controls with a visual operator interface, high-quality digital imaging and vision optimization to maximize yield of grade and throughput. Using vision optimization to suggest the best face to the operator, the AutoMAXX AI framework will build a database of decision-making processes based on operator decisions that will decrease dependency on the operator and allow the machine to run in “auto-mode” without pause, in turn improving operator decisions and reducing responsibility on the operator for productivity.
Allowing the operator to see four faces simultaneously, and identifying white spots, blond knots, low contrast color variation, etc., system overrides will be rare, according to a company statement. As the AI framework processes and stores information over time, the AutoMAXX will begin to utilize max available grade estimates to influence cutting solutions several cuts ahead.
Providing a significant increase in grade/value recovery, as well as reducing operator responsibility, error, injury and fatigue, the AutoMAXX optimizer provides estimated ‘max grade’, SM and value of each face with high accuracy.
Also, Matt Tietz, vice president/owner of McDonough, recently announced the following equipment installations. McDonough is a family-owned and operated manufacturer of custom sawmill machinery.
Recent installations include:
• Norton Lumber, Spooner, WI: a complete McDonough horizontal resaw system to renovate their sawmill.
• Robinson Stave, East Bernstadt, KY: a McDonough 54-inch custom stave resaw system.
• RJ Lumber Co., Drakesville, IA: a McDonough 7-foot slant band mill.
McDonough Manufacturing also operates a manufacturing facility in Mactaquac, NB. Learn more at www.mcdonough-mfg.com.
