A New Approach to Automated Labeling of Internal Features of Hardwood Logs Using CT Images

In a typical sawmill, logs enter the mill and go through a de-barking process. Following this operation they go to the headrig where a sawyer moves the log repeatedly past a saw to remove boards one at a time. As more of the log interior is exposed with each board removed, the sawyer may re-orient the log periodically to cut from the best side. Sawn boards go through subsequent operations of edging and trimming, where defects near the edges and/or ends of the boards are removed to increase each board’s grade, and therefore its value. The cant (the cubical center section of the log) remaining from initial breakdown enters a resawing operation where additional boards are cut. These are also edged and trimmed.