Economics of cutting wood parts with a laser under optical image analyzer control

Abstract

A financial analysis using discounted cash-flow techniques was used to determine the economic feasibility of a new laser lumber processing system for use in a furniture rough mill. The projected cost of the system was $790,000 which would replace conventional crosscut and ripsaws costing $256,856. A financial analysis was made assuming only a 5 percent yield increase resulting from saw kerf elimination in a mill cutting 32 MBF (thousand board feet) per day.

Citation

Huber, Henry E.; McMillin, Charles W.; Rasher, Arthur. 1982. Economics of cutting wood parts with a laser under optical image analyzer control. Forest Products Journal 32(3):16-21