Ron Gillespie

I have just completed a major project for one of my clients in the wood products industry. This design is for a fully automated log processing system. It takes tree-length logs onto a log deck, loads them one at a time and optically scans them with four laser heads. These are combined laser and Doppler radar heads. The laser defines the outline shape and the Doppler radar defines the third dimension. There is a 3D optimization program that calculates all the combinations of lumber products that can be made from the log and then issues a solution based on the maximum value of products. This solution is them passed to the process controller and the log is then "bucked" (cut) into short log segments. These segments are then conveyed into the sawmill for final processing. Ron Gillespie

I use colors in to distinguish between various types of items on my drawings, not layers. The primary handling equipment is one set of colors, the waste handling system below in another, and the notes and dimensions are yet different colors. I do this because it makes it easier to read, not harder. The person looking at the drawings can filter out those items (colors) that don't interest him/her for the moment. If the items are all the same color, it tends to get pretty busy. This is especially true of the machinery layout drawings. Ron Gillespie

This is one of many layout drawings for the entire system. These drawings are used as "control drawings" for bid packages and define the size and configuration of the equipment. Vendors get these drawings along with a specification and bid the machines.

These are section drawings of the main layout.

This is a closeup of the log handling machinery.

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