HEURISTIC TO FIND THE BEST RECTANGULAR REGION IN IRREGULAR PIECES AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN WOOD SAWS

Abstract

This paper presents a heuristic for finding

parallel cutting lines on an irregular piece of

lumber so as to eliminate the bark or wane

and obtain the largest possible rectangle of

usable wood. The algorithm is translated into

“C” programming language & implemented on

a microprocessor built into a power saw so that

the machine is regulated automatically. The

production line, comprising conveyor chains,

positioning arms and saw blades, is completed

with the incorporation of a number of scanners

to detect and approach the edges of planks and

the frontier between wane and useful wood by

polygonal lines. The algorithm designed uses

a small number of variables and arithmetical

operations, so as to optimise microprocessor

memory performance and minimise computation

costs.Automating the saw improves the

processing times for sawing planks and makes

better use of useful wood.