System 6 is a new technology 

used to convert low-grade, smalldiameter hardwood timber to edgeglued panels for use by the furniture 

and kitchen cabinet industries, In 

System 6 (Fig. l), trees are made to 

bolts, bolts are sawed to cants, cants 

are resawed to boards, boards are air 

dried and then kiln dried, the kilndried boards are cut up to defect-free 

pieces, and the pieces are edge-glued 

to make standard-size panels (blanks). 

The marketing aspects of System 6 were outlined by Reynolds and 

Gatchell (1979). The technology was 

explained by Reynolds and Gatchell 

(1982). The use of System 6 to make 

upholstered frame parts for the furniture industry (Reynolds and Araman 

1983) and to make parts for the kitchen 

cabinet industry also has been studied 

(Reynolds et al. 1983). 

The output of a System 6 plant is 

edge-glued panels. These panels are 

called standard-size blanks (Araman 

et al. 1982). Blanks are made or purchased by furniture and cabinet makers and are ripped and trimmed to the 

required part sizes. Parts made from 

blanks cost no more than parts made 

in the conventional manner from lumber. However, buying green lumber 

and making parts requires facilities 

for air and kiln drying, rough milling, 

and edge gluing; using blanks to 

make parts requires just a ripsaw and 

a trimsaw. 

In this paper I explain how the 

System 6 rough mill-where the kilndried boards are made to standardsize pieces free of objectionable 

defects-is operated. Blanks of only 

one quality, width, and thickness are 

made in each run. To set up the rough 

I 

Cants 

Green Boards 

1 20% MC Boards 

Kiln 

I 

6% MC Boards 

I 

Pieces 

i 

Blanks Output 

mill for a run, the quality, width, and 

thickness must be specified. The 

heart of the System 6 rough mill is the 

gang crosscut saw. The spacings of 

the gang crosscut saw (GCL's) are set 

to obtain the lengths of blanks required. I explain how this information 

on blanks and GCL is used to operate 

the rough mill to obtain the desired Parts 

blanks in the required lengths. Figure f .-flowchart of System 6. 
Blanks 

Standard-size blanks are pieces 

of solid wood, free of objectionable 

defects, of standard lengths, edgeglued to standard-width panels. The 

standard sizes were derived by Araman 

et al. (1982). Btanks are made in four 

qualities, two widths, and six thicknesses. Not all qualities of blanks are 

made in both widths and in all thhicknesses. There are only 13 blank quality1 

widthlthickness combinations: 

Clear (GI F and C2F)"blanks: 26- 

inch width only; 518-, 314, 414-, 514, 

614, 814-inch thickness (six qualityl 

widt hlt hickness combinations). 

Frame2 blanks: 20-inch width only; 

414-, 514, 614-, 8/44 nch t kickness 

(four quality/wid"rlthickness cornbinations). 

Gore3 blanks: 26-inch width only; 

414-, 514-inch thickness (two quality/ 

width1"iickrtess combinations). 

s InterioP blanks: 20-inch width only; 

414-inch thickness only (one quality/ 

widthlthickness combiination). 

There are 148 qualitylwidthlthicknessIIength combinations. 

The following tabulation shows the lengths of standard-size blanks, 

by quality, width, and thickness: 

Thickness Clear (1 and 2 face) Quality (26-inch width) 

Thickness Core Quality (26-inch width) 

"Tickness Frame Quality (20-inch width) 

Thickness Interior Quality (20-inch width) 

"1 F (clear-one-face): This material shall 

be clear on one face, both edges, and both 

ends, and shall otherwise comply with 

clear-two-face quality except that the 

reverse face may contain defects of sound 

quality (from Hardwood Dimension Manufacturers Association 1961). C2F (cleartwo-face): This material shall be clear on 

both faces, the edges, and the ends except 

that sapwood, slight streaks, and small 

buris or swirls and light stain are permitted 

(HDMA 1961). 

ZFrame quality: No defects within 1 inch 

of either end. Defects within each piece 

are limited to one-half the piece width with 

no more than one such defect per fool sf 

piece [ength. Wane may not be on more 

"ean one edge, may not be rnore than half 

the piece thickness, and may not extend 

rnore than half the piece length. No shake 

or split longer than 1 inch permitted. Rot 

and unsound wood not permitted (HBRAA 

1961). 

alnterior qualily: No defects within I 

inch of either end. Defects within each 

piece are iirnited to one-half the piece 

width with no more than one such defect 

per foot of piece length. No shake or split 

longer than 1 inch permitted. Rot and 

unsound wood not permitted (HDMA 1961). 

In operating the System 6 rough 

mill, only 1 of the I3 qqualitylthickness/ 

width eombi~ations is made at a time 

and all of the standard leng"rs are 

made. As an example, clear-quality 

blanks that are 26 inches wide and 

414 inches thick would be made in 

all "1 2tengths in one rough rnilD run. 

The same 12 lengths are used when 

changing to the production of clearquality blanks tl-ramare 26 inches wide 

and 514 inches thick. The rough-mill 

setup would not have to be changed 

when switching from 464 to 514 clear 

blank production. The only change 

woutd be to substitute 514 for 414 

input boards. 

Of the "1 standard qualitylwidth1 

thickness combinaliisns, 2 combinations, 414 and 514 clear blanks, have %he 

same 12 lengths. The 614 and 814 clearblank combinations have the same 

lengths except for the iongest length. 

This is true for the two core quality 

combinations. These sirni larities at low 

us Bs combine the "0 3bl& qqualivyl 

wid"t1thickness combinations into 10 

qaraiiitylwidthllength combinations. 

"Tese 10 combinations are designated A through J tor convenience, 

"he rough mi!/ wiEI be operated with 

only one sf these combinations at a 

time, Nine such rough-mil/ operaling 

combinations are needed to provide 

all of the blanks required by the furniilure industry; three combinations are 

needed for the kitchen cabinet blanks 

(Tables "12). 

460re quality: This material shall be 

sound on both faces admi"rling tight sound 

knots, small worm holes, slight surface 

checks, or their equivalent (WBMA "r61). 
Table I.-Rough-mill operating blank qualitylwidth/iengeh combinations for furniture industry blanks 

(A is most used, B is next mast used, etc*) 

Thickness Clear quality Frame quality Interior quality Core quality 

(inches) (26-inch width) (20-inch width) (20-inch width) (26-inch width) 

aNot required. 

Table 2.--Rou h-mill operating blank qualitylwldthllength 

com%inations for kitchen cabinet industry blanks 

(A is most used, D is next most used, J is least used) 

Thickness Clear quality Frame quality lnterior quality Gore quality 

(inches) (26-inch width) (20-inch width) (20-inch width) (20-inch width) 

aNot required. 
The Rough Mill 

A System 6 rough mill (Fig. 2) is 

much different from a conventional 

rough mill used to convert high-quality 

hardwood lumber to rough-dimension 

parts. In the System 6 rough mill all 

boards are used to make blanks. First, 

rapid and efficient automated breakdown of the boards (gang crosscutting 

is followed by gang ripping) removes 

the major defects. Manual techniques 

then are used to remove all of the 

remaining objectionable defects. 

A multiple-saw gang crosscut is 

used to make one to four pieces from 

each board. The spacing between 

saws depends on the lengths of blanks 

that are to be made. The outer saws 

are used to trim the ends of those 

best boards that contain one long 

length cutting. Medium-quality boards 

contain a cutting that is longer than 

half the board length but shorter than 

a long cutting. The outer saws and 

one inner saw are used to cut these 

boards to one medium piece and one 

short piece. The remaining are lowquality boards. The 6-foot ones are 

crosscut to three short pieces and the 

8-foot ones to four short pieces. 

Pieces from the gang crosscut 

saw are accepted if they contain at 

least a minimum-size cutting (11/2 

inches wide by shortest blank length 

to be made). Only one cutting is made 

from each piece. To speed processing 

and make the operator's decisions 

easier, we recommend cutting-width 

increments no smaller than 1/2 inch. 

We use five cutting widths: 11/2, 2, 

29'2, 3, and 3342 inches. Each piece to 

be gang sawed is inspected to choose 

its better edge. Then the piece is 

placed in one of five pockets on the 

gang-rip table. The %-inch edge cut 

(better edge) and the width cut to 

remove defects are made at the same 

time. Pieces from the gang ripsaw 

have edges of glue-joint quality. 

Input 

From Kiln -1 Rough Plane 

I Long Other I L I I 

Gang Crosscut 

I 

I Piece Sort I 

-To Hog 

Gang Rip 

Defect & Cut-To-Length 

1 

I Sort By Length I 

Salvage Rip 

r 

Use 

I , Output TO 

Package By Blank Lengths Glue Room 

Rip 

Figure 2.-Flowchart of System 6 rough mill. 

Next, we bring pieces to specified A manually controlled crosscut saw 

size and quality with manual cut-up, is used to remove end defects and cut 

After gang crosscutting and gang pieces to blank lengths. A manually 

ripping, the cuttings are in no more controlled glue-joint ripsaw is used 

than five lengths. There may still be for salvage ripcuts when required. 

some defects that need to be removed. 
Gang-Crosscut Lengths Saw Spacings 

In System 6 all boards are used 

to make blanks. Most of these short 

(6 or 8 feet long), narrow (3Ih or 4 

inches) boards are of poor quality. 

We have an automated method, gang 

crosscutting followed by gang ripping, 

to remove the majority of defects from 

the boards (Reynolds and Gatchell 

1982). 

The gang-crosscut saw is the 

heart of the System 6 rough mill (Figs. 

3-4). This saw has four blades to be 

used to crosscut a 6-foot board and 

five blades to be used to crosscut an 

8-foot board. The spacing between 

the saws and the position of saws for 

cutting (up to miss, down to cut) determine the lengths of pieces made 

when the board is crosscut. All crosscuts on a board are made in one pass 

through the machine. 

The spacings between the sawblades, the GCL's, are chosen to 

obtain pieces in the most needed 

lengths. The spacings between the 

saws are set at the beginning of a run 

and are not changed during a run. 

When the two outside saws are down 

(in a cutting position) and the other 

saws are up, one long piece is made 

from each board. When a third saw is 

lowered, each board is cut into two 

pieces. When all of the saws are 

lowered, each board is cut into three 

pieces (6-foot boards) or to four pieces 

(8-foot boards). 

Because requirements for quantities of blanks per length change 

according to market demands, many 

different sets of saw spacings are 

needed. I show how the saw spacings 

and saw positions are derived by using 

an example of gang-crosscut lengths 

for clear-quality, 26-inch-wide, 4/4- 

inch-thick blanks. 

In the examplel blanks longer 

"ran 72 inches are not needed so we 

use 6-Foot boards, Blanks 72, 45, 25, 

and 2-1 inches long are in the greatest 

demand. We cut for these lengths on 

the gang-crosscut saw. The other 

blanks-60, 50, 38, 33, 29, 18, and 15 

inches long-(see tabulation on page 

2) are obtained at the cut-to-length 

saw when defects are trimmed off. 

- 25 tnches 22 inches - 

Long Boards 

Selection 

72- 112-inch piece 

Half Boards r 

Selection L ----------- 

47- 1 /4-inch piece 25-inch piece 

Selection not required. All boards not selected as long 

Other Boards or half boards are other boards. 

-- 1 I 1' I -"--I 1-2 

25-inch piece 22-inch piece 25-inch piece 

Figure 3.-Gang crosscutting (pictured is GCL 6A1 

on 4-inch by 6-foot boards). 

Figure 4.-System 6 gang-crosscut saw (oulfeed side). 

5 
The first saw, on the right hand 

side facing the infeed side of the 

machine, is never moved (Fig. 3). The 

second saw is placed 25 inches from 

the first, the third 22 inches from the 

second, the Fourth 25 inches f rorn thethird. The fifth saw is not used. With 

saws I and 4 down and 2 and 3 up, the 

6-foot boards are crosscut Is one full 

length piece. With saws 1, 2, and 4 

down, the boards are crosscut to one 

25-inch piece and one 4Tth-inch piece. 

One-quarter-inch kerf sawblades are 

used. With all saws down, two 25-inch 

pieces and one 22-inch piece are made. 

Pieces ieaving the gang-crosscut 

saw are ripped and crosscut to remove 

defecb. The 72I/~-inch pieces can be 

made to 72-inch and shorter lengms. 

The 4S1h-inch pieces can be made to 

45-inch and shorter leng"rss, The 22- 

inch pieces can be made to 2s-irsch 

and shorter pieces, In all cases, the 

longest possible length crear pieces 

are made, 

Four examples sf gang-crosscut 

length were derived for each of the 

10 rough-mila operating blank quality! 

widt hlbhickness combinations, Two 

examples are for 6-foot boards and 

two are for 8-foot boards. These exampies are shown in Appendix I. 

Knowing which blanks are to be 

made in what quantities and having 

the gang-crosscut saw spacings set, 

we can begin operating the rough mill. 

Rough-Mill Operations 

With the gang-crosscut saw set 

to cut boards into the desired piece 

Isngths, the rough miill is ready for 

operation (Fig, 21, The machine speralsrs lake their instructions from the 

appropriate operaling specification 

(A through J) in Appendix I. Far purposes of expianation, I describe the 

rsug h-mi l! opera"risns necessary to 

make clear-two-face (62F) quality, 

26-inch, 414 blanks in the "1 standard 

lengths (Appendix I, Operating Gombination A). Six-foot-long boards are 

used. The gang-crosscut saw is set 

according to GGLl For 6-foot boards 

(6A1) as in the previous section. 

Packages of 6-foot boards are 

brought from the dry kiln to the rough 

mill, "These 414 boards are fed into the 

rough planer where they are hit-andmiss planed on both sides .lo 1.000 

inch, The boards then ga to the gangcrosscut saw one at a time. 

Each board is examined to determine if a long- or a medium-length 

cutting can be obtained. The operating 

specifications give the length of cutting required. In the 62F example, a 

board that will yield a 1-542- by 50-inch 

clear cutting or larger is designated a 

"Iong" board. If a I$/'- by 29-inch 

cutting or larger cutting can be sbtained (but not a 1 j/2- by 50-inch cutting), the board is given the "half" 

designation. Ail other bsards not 

meeting the long and half designations are considered "other" 'boards. 

The long boards are end trimmed 

only, the half boards are made to two 

pieces, and the other boards are made 

"6 three pieces (6-fa@$ boards) or four 

pieces (8-foot boards). in the example, 

the long boards are end trimmed with 

saws 1 and 4 to one piece 721/2 inches 

long (Fig. 3). "The half beards are cut 

to one 47Ih-inch and to one 25-inch 

piece with saws =$2, and 4, The other 

boards are cut to three pieces, 25, 22, 

and 25 inches long, with saws 1, 2, 3, 

and 4. 

The gang-crosscut saw can be 

used in two ways. When the saw is 

equipped with an electronic memory, 

each board can be crosscut individuaily. As a board is pubonto the infeed 

chains, buttons controlling Ihe saws 

(up 8s miss, down to cut) are pushed. 

"be memory notes which saws should 

be up and which shoraid be down so 

that they are c~nlrslled correctly as 

the board passes through the saw 

area. 

When an electronic memory is 

not available, a sorting technique is 

used. The saws are set (up to miss. 

down to cut) for the other boards. As 

"ihese boards are identified, they are 

fed through the gang-crosscut saw, In 

the example, saws l1 z2, 3, and 4 would 

be down and the other bsards would 

be cut to a 25-, a 22-, and a 25-inch 

piece. The long bsards would be 

set aside in one pile and the half 

boards in another. When it is convenient, board planing (Fig. 2) would be 

stopped. The saws would be changed 

to cut the half boards. In the example, 

saws 1, 2, and 4 would be down, Foflowing the crosscutting sf the half 

board, the long boards would be 

trimmed. In the example, saws "Dnd 

4 would be down. After all of the long 

boards have been sent through the 

gang-a=rosscu"lsaw, the planer is 

started and the cycle is repeated, 

Pieces leaving the gang-crosscut 

saw are sorted so that only those with 

a clear area of 1 fay 145 inches are 

sent on to the gang ripsaw. 

The operator of the gang ripsaw 

examines each piece to determine the 

better edge and determines how wide 

a clear piece can be ripped from that 

edge. He then puts the piece into the 

appropriate infeed pocket with the 

better edge against the fence. Since 

there are only five infeed pockets 

corresponding to ll/z-, 2-, 21/2-f 3-, or 

3?."2-inch ripping widths, the operator 

soon becomes proficient in recograizing the correct ripping width. The 

operator always should be optirtnistic, 

We have found that the blank yield is 

best when 25 percenmsl' the pieces 

must be salvage ripped .to remove 

edge defects missed at the gang 

ripsaw. 

Pieces leaving the gang ripsaw 

go to the defecting saws. In the example, the 72I/z, 47%, or 22-inch pieces 

are trimmed 10 72, 45, and 2"1inches, 

respectively. Pieces with end defects 

are trimmed to the longest possible 

standard length. Bn this exampie, ail 

I1 lengths-72, 60, 50, 45, 38, 33, 29, 

25, 2% 118, and "1-are used. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent to the sal- 
vage ripsaw. We always maximize for 

length as a 1 X2- by 60-inch piece (90 

square inches) is more valuable than 

a 2- by 45-inch piece (also 90 square 

inches). Only one trimmed piece is 

made from each piece entering the 

defecting step. Multiple pieces may 

increase total yield but fewer long 

pieces would be made. 

Pieces leave the defecting step 

and go to the sort-by-length step. The 

clear pieces are sorted by length 

regardless of width. Pieces with edge 

defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

At the salvage ripsaw pieces are 

made 2, Z1/2, or 3 inches wide 

while the edge defects are removed. 

Pieces 1 '/2 inches wide with edge 

defects are scrapped. 

This concludes the rough mill 

processing. The rough kiln-dried boards 

enter the rough mill where they are 

cut to standard-sire pieces (free of 

objectionable defects) ready for edge 

gluing to blank width. 

The System 6 rough mill can be 

operated in a manner similar to that 

of a conventional rough mill. A GCL 

is selected and the gang crosscut is 

set up. All standard blank lengths are 

set on the defecting saw stops. Production is as described and yield by 

length is monitored. When enough 

pieces have been made in a given 

length, that length is deleted. When 

all blank requirements are met, the 

run is stopped. An improvement in 

this System 6 technique would be to 

switch to a different GCL, in the same 

operating combination series, when 

the most needed length requirements 

are satisfied. 

A better manner for controlling 

System 6 rough mill production is 

available. The yields of blanks per 

GCL must be known before production. These data can be obtained by 

test or by previous experience with 

the single GCL processing control 

technique. The yield data per GCL 

together with the blank requirements 

per length are used as input data to 

the LP (linear programing) program 

S6OPT (Appendix 11). 

The LP output shows the minimum quantity of boards to be processed by each GCL to obtain the 

required blanks. The only rough-mill 

change needed when changing GCL's 

is in the spacings of the gang-crosscut 

saw. The greatest advantage in operating the rough mill in this optimal 

GCL combination mode is that the 

mill runs without interruption. Production of pieces by length is not 

monitored and there is no deletion 

of piece lengths at the defecting saw. 

Production stops when the specified 

quantities of boards have been used. 

S6OPT shows the number of 

longer blanks in excess of requirements. The computer output shows 

how the excess longer blanks are to 

be crosscut to shorter blanks to meet 

requirements. The optimal yield is 

based on the total required blank 

production after crosscutting is done. 

In comparing the use of the single 

GCL processing control technique 

with the combination of GCL techniques, Reynolds and Araman (1983) 

found that combinations of GCL's 

gave 3.0 to 12.5 percent better yields 

of required blanks than a single GCL. 

Literature Cited 

Araman, Philip A,; Gatchell, Charles 

J.; Reynolds, Hugh W. Meeting the 

solid wood needs of the furniture 

and cabinet industries: standard 

sire hardwood blanks. Res. Pap. 

NE-494. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

Northeastern Forest Experiment 

Station; 1982. 27 p. 

Hardwood Dimension Manufacturers 

Association. Rules for measurement and inspection of hardwood 

dimension parts, hardwood interior 

trim and mouldings, and hardwood 

stair treads and risers. 5th ed. (revised). Nashville, TN: Hardwood 

Dimension Manufacturers Association; 1961. 

Reynolds, Hugh W.; Araman, Philip A. 

System 6: Making frame-quality 

blanks from white oak thinnings. 

Res. Pap. NE-520. Broomall, PA: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station; 1983. 9 p. 

Reynolds, Hugh W.; Araman, Philip A.; 

Gatchell, Charles J.; Hansen, Bruce 

G. System 6 used to make kitchen 

cabinet C2F blanks from smalldiameter, low-grade red oak. Res. 

Pap. NE-525. Broomall, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station; 1983. 11 p. 

Reynolds, Hugh W.; Gatchell, Charles 

J. Marketing low-grade hardwoods 

for furniture stock-a new approach, Res. Pap. N E-444. Broomal I, 

FA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station; 1979. 7 p. 

Reynolds, Hugh W.; Gatchell, Charles 

J. New technology for low-grade 

hardwood utilization: System 6. Res. 

Pap. NE-504. Broomall, PA: U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northeastern Experiment 

Station; 1982. 8 p. 
Appendix I 

Operating Combination A 

Clear (C1 F and C2F) quality for 26-inch-wide, 4/4- and 

5/4-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 15, 18,21,25,29,33,38,45,50,60,75, 

100 inches 

Rough plane: 

4f4 boards 1.000 inch 514 boards 1.250 inches 

hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLl for 6-foot boards (6A1) full length, 45-, 25-, 21- 

inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 22 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 5 not used 

"Long" boards: 

llh- by 50-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down, 2 and 3 up; one 72lh-inch piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 l/2- by 29-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 417$/4- and one 

25-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half'f"' criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, and 4 down; two 25-inch pieces and 

one 22-inch piece 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (6A2) full length, 38-, 33-, 21-, 

18-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 33 inch, 2-3 18 inch, 3-4 21 inch, 4 not used 

"Long" boards: 

15/2- by 45-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down, 2 and 3 up; 721/2-inch piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 lh- by 29-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down, 3 up; one 39% and one 33- 

inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 33-, one 21-, and one 

18-inch piece 

GCLl for 8-foot boards (8A1) full length, 60-, 38-, 33-, 

25-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 33 inch, 2-3 25 inch, 3-5 38 inch, 4 not used 

"Long" boards: 

1 M- by 75-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down, 2 and 3 up; one 96I/~-inch piece 

'%alf3' boards: 

11/2- by 45-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1,2, and 5 down, 3 up; one 63?/2- and one 33- 

inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half'kriteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 5 down; one 38-, one 33-, and one 

25-inch piece 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (8A2) full length, 50-, 45, 25-, 

21 -inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 21 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 4-5 25 inch 

"Long" boards: 

11/2- by 60-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down, 2,3, and 4 up; one 96314-in~h 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 $/2- by 29-inch minimum clear-quality area on either 

end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down, 2 and 4 up; one 46%- and 

one 501/2-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half'kriteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; three 25-inch pieces and 

one 21-inch piece 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 '/2- by 15-inch clear-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 1 $/2-, 2-, 2l/2-, 3-, or 3'/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain clear-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,21,25,29, 

33, 38, 45, 50, 60, and 72 inches 

For 8-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,21,25,29, 

33, 38, 45, 50,60, 75, and 96 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain clear-quality pieces while 

cutting to these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by width. Pieces with 

edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make clearquality pieces 1 '/2, 2, 2l/2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Combination B 

Frame quality for 20-inch-wide, 414-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 13, 17, 19, 22, 24, 27, 29,33,44,54, 70, 

80, 100 inches 

Rough plane: 

414 boards 1.000 inch hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLl for 6-foot boards (6B1) full length, 44- and 24- 

inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 24 inch, 2-3 24 inch, 3-4 24 inch, 5 not used 

" Long'3oards: 

11/2- by 54-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down, 2 and 3 up; one 721/2-inch piece 

"Half'' boards: 

1 3%- by 27-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 48Ih- and one 

24-inch piece 

"Ot her5' boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, and 4 down; three 24-inch pieces 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (6B2) full length, 33-, 22-, and 

13inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 13 inch, 2-3 23 inch, 3-4 36 inch, 5 not used 

"Long" boards: 

11/2- by 44-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72l/2-inch 

piece 

"'Half" boards: 

1 l/2- by 24-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,3, and 4 down and 2 up; one 361/4- and one 

36-inch piece 

"'Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting ""lng'or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 36-, one 23-, and one 

13-inch piece 

GCLl for 8-foot boards (8B1) full length, 54-, 33-, and 

29-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 30 inch, 2-3 33 inch, 3-5 33 inch, 4 not used 

""Long" boards: 

1?4- by 70-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down, 2 and 3 up; one 9Ci1/2-inch piece 

'Walf" boards: 

Ilh- by 27-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,3, and 5 down and 2 up; one 33Ih- and one 

33-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "Iong1"r "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2, 3, and 5 down; two 33-inch pieces and 

one 30-inch piece 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (882) full length, 44-, and 24- 

inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 24 inch, 2-3 24 inch, 3-4 24 inch, 4-5 24 inch 

"Long" boards: 

1 f/z- by 54-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and s down and 2,3, and 4 up; one 963h-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 1/2- by 27-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,3, and 5 down, 2 and 4 up; two 48Ih-inch 

pieces 

""Ot her"bbsrds: 

All boards not meeting "bng" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 down; four 24-inch pieces 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 $/2- by 13-inch framequality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 1 */2-, 2-, 2l/2-, 3-, or 3'/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain frame-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 13,17,19,22,24, 

27, 29, 33, 44, 54, and 72 inches 

For 8-foot boards, set length stops at 13,17,19,22,24, 

27, 29, 33, 44, 54, 70, 80, and 96 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain frame-quality pieces while 

cutting at these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by width. Pieces with 

edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make framequality pieces 1Y2, 2, 2$/2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Combination C 

Clear (CI F and C2F) quality for 26-inch-wide, 614- and 

814-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 15, 18,21,25,28,32,35,40,45,50,60, 

70,90 inches 

Rough plane: 

614 boards 1.500 inches 814 boards 2.000 inches 

hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLl for 6-foot boards (6C1) full length, 45-, 25, and 

21-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 22 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 5 not used 

"Long" boards: 

1 3/2- by 50-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72?/2-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 $/2- by 35-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws l,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 47%- and one 

25-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or '%aIfw criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; two 25-inch pieces and 

one 22-inch piece 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (6C2) full length, 40-, 32-, 21-, 

and 18-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 32 inch, 2-3 18 inch, 3-4 22 inch, 5 not used 

"Long" boards: 

11/2- by 45-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72%-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 I/'- by 35-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws I, 2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 401/4- and one 

32-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1, 2,3, and 4 down; one 32-inch, one 22-inch, 

and one 18-inch piece 

GCLl for 8-foot boards (8C1) full length, 60- and 32- 

inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 32 inch, 2-3 32 inch, 3-5 32 inch, 4 not used 

"Long" boards: 

1 l/2- by 70-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2 and 3 up; one 96Ih-inch 

piece 

"Half 'j boards: 

1 $/2- by 35-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1,2, and 5 down and 3 up; one 64%- and one 

32-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, and 5 down; three 32-inch pieces 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (8C2) full length, 50-, 45, 25, 

and 21-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 21 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 4-5 25 inch 

"Long" boards: 

11/2- by 60-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2,3, and 4 up; one 96%-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 f/2- by 29-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down and 2 and 4 up; one 46%- and 

one 50-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; three 25-inch pieces and 

one 21-inch piece 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 11/2- by 15-inch clear-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 1 '/2-, 2-, 2'/2-, 3-, or 3%-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain clear-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,21,25,28, 

32, 40,45,50,60, and 72 inches 

For 8-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,21,25,28, 

32, 40, 45,50,60, 70, and 90 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain clear-quality pieces while 

cutting at these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by width. Pieces with 

edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make clearquality pieces 1 l/2, 2, 2'1'2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Combination D 

Interior quality for 20-inch-wide, 4/4-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 15, 18,21,25,29,34,40,50,60,70, and 

95 inches 

Rough plane: 

414 boards 1.000 inch hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLl for 6-foot boards (6D1) full length, 50-, 25-, and 

21-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 25 inch, 3-4 22 inch, 5 not used 

"Long" boards: 

1 $/2- by 60-inch minimum interior-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 7255-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

11/2- by 29-inch minimum interior-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,3, and 4 down and 2 up; one 501/4- and one 

22-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2, 3, and 4 down; two 25-inch pieces and 

one 22-inch piece 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (6D2) full length, 40-, 29-, 25-, 

and 18-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 29 inch, 2-3 18 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 5 not used 

"Long" boards: 

1 '/2- by 50-inch minimum interior-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 721/2-inch 

piece 

"Half 'boards: 

1 l/2- by 34-inch minimum interior-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 439%- and one 

29-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "Iong"ar "half "criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 29-, one 25-, and one 

18-inch piece 

GCLl for 8-foot boards (8D1) full length, 60-, 34-, and 

25-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 34 inch, 2-3 25 inch, 3-5 37 inch, 4 not used 

"Long'l boards: 

1 l/2- by 70-inch minimum interior-quaiity area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2 and 3 up; one 961/~-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 l/2- by 40-inch minimum interior-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,2, and 5 down and 3 up; one 62%- and one 

34-inch piece 

"Ot her13oards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 5 down; one 37-, one 34-, and one 

25-inch piece 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (8D2) full length, 50-, 40-, 25, 

and 21-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 21 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 4-5 25 inch 

"Long" boards: 

11/2- by 60-inch minimum interior-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2,3, and 4 up; 0ne96~A-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 l/2- by 29-inch minimum interior-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down and 2 and 4 up; one 501/4- and 

one 46</4-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; three 25-inch pieces and 

one 21-inch piece 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 19'2- by 15-inch interior-quality 

area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 1 l/2-, 2-, 2%-, 3-, or 3%-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain interior-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,21,25,29, 

34, 40, 50, 60, and 72 inches 

For 8-foot boards, set length stops at 15, 18,21,25,29, 

34, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 95 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain interior-quality pieces 

while cutting at these standard lengths. Maximize 

length yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent toathe salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make interiorquality pieces I?"', 2, 2'12, or 3 inches wide. 
Operaling Combination E 

Core quality for 26-inch-wide, 414-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 15, 18,21, 23,26,29,34,40,50,60,70, 

95 inches 

Rough plane: 

4f4 boards 1.000 inch hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLWor 6-foot boards (6E1) full length, 50-, 26-, 23, 

and 21-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 21 inch, 2-3 23 inch, 3-4 28 inch, 5 not used 

""tng" boards: 

1 ?12- by 60-inch minimum core-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72?/2-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 lh- by 29-inch minimum core-quality area on right 

end 

Saws I, 2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 51 34- and one 

21-inch piece 

"Of her" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws I, 2,3, and 4 down; one 28-, one 23, and one 

21-inch piece 

GCb2 for 6-foot boards (6E2) full length, 34- and 

18-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 34 inch, 2-3 18 inch, 3-4 20 inch, 5 not used 

""Lng" boards: 

1; l/2- by 40-inch minimum core-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72?/2-inch 

piece 

""Wlf " boards: 

11/2- by 34-inch minimum core-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 38%- and one 

34-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

All other boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 34-, one 20-, and one 

18-inch piece 

GGLl for 8-foot boards (8E1) full length, 60-, 34-, and 

26-1 nch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

"12 34 inch, 2-3 26 inch, 3-5 36 inch, 4 not used 

""Long" boards: 

1 Y2- by 70-inch minimum core-quality area 

Saws I and 5 down and 2 and 3 up; one 96?/2-inch 

piece 

"Half " boards: 

1 *h- by 40-inch minimum core-quality area on right 

end 

Saws l,2, and 5 down and 3 up; one 62%- and one 

34-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting ""tong" or "half" criteria 

Saws l,2,3, and 5 down; one 36-, one 34, and one 

26-inch piece 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (8E2) full length, 50-, 40-, 26-, 

23-, and 21-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 23 inch, 2-3 21 inch, 3-4 26 inch, 4-5 26 inch 

"Long" boards: 

11/2- by 60-inch minimum core-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2,3, and 4 up; one 9G3h-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

11/2- by 29-inch minimum core-quality area on right 

end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down and 2 and 4 up; one 52Ih- and 

one 44%-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "bng" or ''half9' criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; two 26-inch pieces, one 

23-, and one 21-inch piece 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 ?/2- by 15-inch core-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 11/2-, 2-, 2'/2-, 3-, or 3'/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain core-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,21,22,26, 

29, 34, 40, 50,60, and 72 inches 

For &foot boards, set length stops at 15, "r, 21,23,26, 

29, 34,40, 50, 60, 70, and 95 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain core-quality pieces while 

cutting at these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make corequality pieces 1 M, 2, 2%2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Cambinalion F 

Frame quality for 20-inch-wide, 5/4-inch-t hick blanks 

Standard lengths: 15, 18? 20, 23,25,28, 33,45, 55,65,80, 

90, and 100 inches 

Rough plane: 

514 boards 1.250 inches hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GGL1 for 6-foot boards (6F1) full length, 45-, 25, and 

23-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 25 inch, 2-3 24 inch, 3-4 23 inch, 5 not used 

'"Long" boards: 

1 '/it- by 55-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72Y2-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

19'2- by 28-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 47Ih- and one 

25-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting '"ong" or "half" criteria 

Saws 'I, 22, 3, and 4 down; one 25-, one 24-, and one 

23-inch piece 

GCb2 for 6-foot boards (6F2) full length, 33-, 20-, and 

18-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 33 inch, 2-3 18 inch, 3-4 21 inch, 5 not used 

""Lng" boards: 

1 l/2- by 45-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72l/~-inch 

piece 

'Walf" boards: 

1 '/2- by 33-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 39Ih- and one 

33-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

All other boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 33-, one 21-, and one 

18-inch piece 

GCL1 for 8-foot boards (8F1) full length, 65-, 33-, and 

28-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 30 inch, 2-3 33 inch, 3-5 33 inch, 4 not used 

""Lng" boards: 

f 1/~- by 80-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2 and 3 up; one 96I/~-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

J1h- by 45-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1, 2, and 5 down and 3 up; one 6G1iit- and one 

30-inch piece 

""Ot her'9oards: 

All other boards not meeting "Ilong'br ""kHff" criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, and 5 down; two 33-inch pieces and 

one 30-inch piece 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (8F2) full length, 45-, 25-, and 

23-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 23 inch, 2-3 25 inch, 3-4 23 inch, 4-5 25 inch 

"Long" boards: 

1 '/2- by 55-inch minimum frame-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2,3, and 4 up; one 963h-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 */2- by 28-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down and 2 and 4 up; two 481/4-inch 

pieces 

""Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,.4, and 5 down; two 25- and two 23-inch 

pieces 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 3/2- by 15-inch frame-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 11/2-, 2-, 2l/2-, 3-, or 3?/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain frame-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18920,23,25, 

28,33,45, 55, 65, and 72 inches 

For 8-foot boards, set length stops at 15,18,20,23,25, 

28, 33, 45, 55, 65, 80, 90, and 96 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain frame-quality pieces while 

cutting to these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent lo the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make framequality pieces 1 '/i, 2, 2l/2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Combination G 

Clear (ClF and C2F) quality for 26-inch-wide, 518-inchthick blanks 

Standard lengths: 13, 15, 17, 18, 22, 26, 31, 36, and 

42 inches 

Rough plane: 

38 boards 0.625 inch hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLl for 6-foot boards (6G1): 42-, 26-, and 22-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 22 inch, 2-3 24 inch, 3-4 26 inch, 5 not used 

No "long" boards needed 

"Half" boards: 

1 +/2- by 31-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1,2, and 5 down and 3 up; one 501/4- and one 

224 nch piece 

'at her'boards: 

All boards not meeting "half" criteria 

Saws l,2,3, and 4 down; one 26-, one 24-, and one 

22-inch piece 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (6G2): 36- and 18-inch blanks 

needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 18 inch, 2-3 18 inch, 3-4 18 inch, 4-5 18 inch 

No "long" boards needed 

"Half" boards: 

1*/2- by 22-inch minimum clear-quality area on 

either end 

Saws I, 3, and 4 down and 2 and 5 up; two 36%-inch 

pieces 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "half" criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 down; four 18-inch pieces 

GCL1 for 8-foot boards (8G1): 31-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 31 inch, 2-3 31 inch, 3-5 34 inch, 4 not used 

No "long" or "half" boards needed 

"Other" boards: 

All boards 

Saws 1,2,3, and 5 down; one 34-inch piece and two 

31-inch pieces 

GGL2 for 8-foot boards (8G2): 42-, 26-, and 22-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 22 inch, 2-3 22 inch, 3-4 26 inch, 4-5 26 inch 

No "long" boards needed 

"'Half "boards: 

1 M- by 31-inch minimum clear-quality area on right 

end 

Saws 1, 3, 4, and 5 down and 2 up; one 44%-inch 

piece and two 26-inch pieces 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting the "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; two 26- and two 22-inch 

pieces 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 l/2- by 13-inch clear-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 1 '/2-, 2-, 2l/2-, 3-, or 31/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain clear-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6- and 8-foot boards, set length stops at 13,15,17, 

18,22,26, 31,36, and 42 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain clear-quality pieces while 

cutting to these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make clearquality pieces 11/2, 2, 2*/2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Combination H 

Frame quality for 20-inch-wide, 814-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 12,16,19,21,24,28,30, and 34 inches 

Rough plane: 

814 boards 2.000 inches hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLl for 6-foot boards (61-11): 34-, 24-, and 12-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 24 inch, 2-3 24 inch, 3-4 24 inch, 5 not used 

No "long" boards needed 

"Half" boards: 

1 M- by 28-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 48%- and one 

24-inch piece 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "half *' criteria 

Saws 1, 2, 3, and 4 down; three 24-inch pieces 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (6H2): 34-, 19-, and 16-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 16 inch, 2-3 20 inch, 3-4 16 inch, 4-5 20 inch 

No "'long" boards needed 

"Half" boards: 

1 If;!- by 21-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

either end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down and 2 and 4 up; two 36lI4-inch 

pieces 

"Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting the "half" criteria 

Saws l,2,3,4, and 5 down; two 20- and two 16-inch 

pieces 

GCLl for 8-foot boards (8H1): 34- and 28-inch blanks 

needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 28 inch, 2-3 34 inch, 3-5 34 inch, 4 not used 

No "long" or "half'30ards needed 

"Other" boards: 

All boards 

Saws 1,2,3, and 5 down; two 34-inch pieces and 

one 28-inch piece 

GCL2 for &foot boards (8H2): 24-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 24 inch, 2-3 24 inch, 3-4 24 inch, 4-5 24 inch 

No "long" or "half" boards needed 

"Other" boards: 

All boards 

Saws 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 down; four 24-inch pieces 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 */2- by 12-inch frame-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to li/2-, 2-, 2%~-, 3-, or 31/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain frame-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6- and 8-foot boards, set length stops at 12,16,19, 

21, 24, 28, 30, and 34 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain frame-quality pieces while 

cutting to these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yields. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make framequality pieces 1 Y2, 2, 2Y2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Gsmbirsation 1 

Frame quality For 20-inch-wide, 6/4-inch-thick blanks 

Standard lengths: 14,18,21,24,28,31,34, and 40 inches 

Rough plane: 

614 boards 1.2500 inches hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCL1 for 6-Foot boards (61v): 40-, 28-, and 21-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 30 inch, 2-3 21 inch, 3-4 21 inch, 5 not used 

No "long9' boards needed 

"'Half" boards: 

IT/'- by 31-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l, 2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 42jh- and one 

30-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting the "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 30-inch piece and two 

21-inch pieces 

GCL2 for 6-foot boards (612): 40-, 31-, 2%-, and 18-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 31 inch, 2-3 21 inch, 3-4 20 inch, 5 not used 

No ""lng" boards needed 

"'Half" boards: 

11/2- by 34-inch minimum frame-qualiv area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 41 '9%- and one 

31-inch piece 

""Ot her9' boards: 

All boards not meeting the ""hagf'" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3, and 4 down; one 31 -, one 21 -, and one 

20-inch piece 

GCLl for 8-foot boards (811): 34- and 31-inch blanks 

needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 31 inch, 2-3 31 inch, 3-5 34 inch, 4 not used 

No "long" or "half" boards needed 

""Other" "boards: 

All boards 

Saws 1,2,3, and 5 down; one 34-inch piece and two 

31-inch pieces 

GGL2 COP 8-foot boards (812): 40-, 28-, 24-, and 21-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to [eft): 

1-2 24 inch, 2-3 30 inch, 3-4 2"5inck, 3-5 21 inch 

No "1ong'"oards needed 

""Half" boards: 

V/2- by 31-inch minimum frame-quality area on 

right end 

Saws I, 2,3, and 5 down and 4 up; one 42?i;t-, one 

30-, and one 24-inch piece 

""Ot her5' boards: 

All boards not meeting "re ""half"' criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; one 30- and one 24-inch 

piece, and two 21-inch pieces 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1%- by 34-inch frame-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 1 '/2-, 2-, 2%2-, 3-, or 3"~-inch widm tto remove 

edge defects to obtain frame-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6- and 8-foot boards, set iength slops at "1,18,21, 

24,28, 31, 34, and 40 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain frame-quality pieces while 

cutting to these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yields. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make framequality pieces 1 '12, 2, 2$/2, or 3 inches wide. 
Operating Combination J 

Clear (61 F and C2F) quality for 26-inch-wide, 314-inchthick blanks 

Standard lengths: 14, 17, 19,22,25,29,31,35,41,47', 558, 

and 86 inches 

Rough plane: 

314 boards 0.75 inch hit-and-miss 2 sides 

Gang crosscut: 

GCLHor 6-foot boards (6J1): full length, 47-, 25-, and 

22-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 22 inch, 2-3 25 inch, 3-4 25 inch, 5 not used 

""Lng" boards: 

1%- by 58-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72I/~-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

1 I/'- by 29-inch minimum clear-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 506/4- and one 

27-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

AII boards not meeting ""lng" or ""kafl-" criteria 

Saws 1,2, 3, and 4 down; two 25-inch pieces and 

one 22-inch piece 

66L2 for 6-foot boards (6J2): full length, 35-, 22-, and 

14-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 35 inch, 2-3 15 inch, 3-4 22 inch, 5 not used 

""Lng" boards: 

11/2- by 41-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 4 down and 2 and 3 up; one 72%-inch 

piece 

""Half" boards: 

1 '/2- by 35-inch minimum clear-quality area on 

right end 

Saws 1,2, and 4 down and 3 up; one 371h- and one 

35-inch piece 

""Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting the "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws l,2,3, and 4 down; one 35-, one 22-, and one 

15-inch piece 

GGLl for El-foot boards (ElJ1): 86-, 58-, 35-, 31-, and 

29-inch blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 36 inch, 2-3 29 inch, 3-5 31 inch, 4 not used 

""Long" boards: 

'I i/~- by 86-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2 and 3 up; one 96$/~-inch 

piece 

"Half" boards: 

13'2- by 41-inch minimum clear-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,2, and 5 down and 3 up; one 601h- and one 

36-inch piece 

""Other" bards: 

All boards not meeting 'Ylong'br "half9' criteria 

Saws 1,2, 3, and 5 down; one 36-, one 31-, and one 

29-inch piece 

GCL2 for 8-foot boards (8J2): 86-, 47-, 25-, and 22-inch 

blanks needed 

Saw spacings (right to left): 

1-2 23 inch, 2-3 25 inch, 3-4 23 inch, 4-5 25 inch 

'long" boards: 

135- by 58-inch minimum clear-quality area 

Saws 1 and 5 down and 2,3, and 4 up; one 96%-inch 

piece 

"Half9' boards: 

1 '/z- by 29-inch minimum clear-quality area on 

right end 

Saws l,3, and 5 down and 2 and 4 up; two48jA-inch 

pieces 

""Other" boards: 

All boards not meeting "long" or "half" criteria 

Saws 1,2,3,4, and 5 down; two 25- and two 23-inch 

pieces 

Piece sort: 

Use any piece with a 1 */2- by 14-inch clear-quality area 

Gang rip: 

Rip to 11/2-, 2-, 2?42-, 3-, or 3?/2-inch width to remove 

edge defects to obtain clear-quality pieces 

Defect and cut-to-length: 

For 6-foot boards, set length stops at 14,17, 19, 22,25, 

29, 31, 35, 41, 58, and 72 inches 

For 8-foot boards, set length stops at 14,17,19,22,25, 

29, 31, 35, 41, 58, and 86 inches 

Trim end defects to obtain clear-quality pieces while 

cutting to these standard lengths. Maximize length 

yield. 

Sort by length: 

Sort to piece lengths, no sorting by widths. Pieces 

with edge defects are sent to the salvage ripsaw. 

Salvage ripsaw: 

Pieces with edge defects are ripped to make clearquatity pieces 1 l/2, 2, 21/2, or 3 inches wide. 
Appendix I1 

SGOPT: Linear Programing Optimization Trim Method Data Sets 

This version of S6OPT is programed using MPS-Ill 

written by Ketron, Inc., 1700 N. Moore Street, Arlington, 

VA 22209. The program will run on computers that have 

the MPS-III compiler. This LP use is very limited in function as we only want to know the least board quantity 

needed to obtain the required blanks. 

Three sets of data are required: the yield of blanks 

in each length by each GCL for the given board quality, 

the quantity of blanks required in each length for the 

given blank quality, and the yields when long blanks are 

trimmed to shorter blanks. All board inputs, all yield 

values by operating method, and all blank outputs are 

on a surface square-foot basis. 

GCL Data Set 

Each operating method data set is specific to: 

The board-quality level from a specific site or a specified sample. 

A single species from that site or sample. 

The GCL used to convert the rough dry boards to 

blanks. 

The lengths of blanks made by that GCL. 

In System 6 research work, each GCL data set is 

determined by actual test. Dried boards are made to 

blanks of specified lengths by the operating method 

being tested. The yield values in each blank length make 

up the data set. Values are given in terms of square feet 

of blanks per square foot of boards used. 

Blanks Requirement Data Set 

Araman et al. (1982) studied the solid wood parts 

needs of the furniture and kitchen cabinet industries. 

The recommended sizes and qualities for standard-size 

hardwood blanks were made from these study data. 

When a furniture or cabinet company buys or makes 

blanks in these sizes and qualities, there should be no 

more than 10 percent end trim loss in making roughdimension parts from blanks. 

The quantity of blanks per length, thickness, and 

quality must be specified. The blanks requirement data 

set is given in terms of square feet per blank length for 

a total of 1,000 square feet of blanks. Only one blank 

quality and blank thickness may be used per data set. 

System 6 operating methods are not designed 

to make all blank lengths, nor could enough operating methods be developed that would produce all of 

the blanks needed in each length, Instead, the operating methods are designed to obtain as many long 

blanks as possible. The long blanks that are extras then 

can be trimmed back to make shorter blanks to fulfill 

requirements. 

All possible combinations for making shorter 

blanks from longer blanks must be specified to allow 

the LP program to make the optimal choice. Trimmethod data are given in the form of square feet of 

shorter blanks that can be made from a longer blank. As 

an example, I square foot of 70-inch-long blank can be 

trimmed to 0.771 square foot of 54-inch blank (54170 = 

0.771) plus 0.186 square foot of 13-inch blank (13170 = 

0.186). Kerf loss of the trimsaw is ignored and is considered part of the waste. To be consistent, therefore, 

a square foot of 44-inch blank can be trimmed to a 

square foot of 22-inch blank [(22 + 22)144 = 1.01. 

The trim-method data set must correspond tcr 

all the long blanks made and all the shorter lengths 

required. Additional trim-method data will lead to error 

with the program assuming some blanks are available 

that are not. 

Card Deck 

The card deck layout is shown in Figure 5. 

JCL cards: The seven job control cards are 

given for the job and account 

numbers used by the author. All 

data starts in column 1. 

llB0945HWR JOB 0051 0,REY NOLDS 

I* ROUTE PRINT MVSI .RMT04 

/*LONGKEY GATCHEL 

I* PRIORIW PRIORITY 

I*JOBPARM LINES =3 

IlSTEPl EXEC LP 

1ILP.SYSIN DD * 

Program cards: The 15 program cards are given 

for the LP options used by the 

author. All data starts in column 

10. 

PROGRAM 

INITIAE 

TITLE ('ANY TITLE UP TO COLUMN 79') 
Figure 5.-Card deck layout. 

MOVE (XDATA, 'NAME') Name can 

be eight characters andlor numbers. No embedded blanks. 

MOVE (XPBNAME, 'PBFILE') 

CONVERT ('SUMMARY') 

BCDOUT 

MOVE (XOBJ, 'MINBOARD') The 

objective function is always 

named MINBOARD 

MOVE (XRHS, 'REQD') 

SETUP 

JCL cards: 

PICTURE 

VARIFORM 

SOLUTION 

EXIT 

PEND 

Two cards are used to introduce 

the data sections. All data starts 

in column 1. 

I * 

1IGO.SYSIN DD * 
Name cards: Name card and any comment cards. 

NAME (start in column 1) Namestart in column 15. Name can be 

eight characters andlor numbers. 

No embedded blanks. 

*(Column 1) comment cards any 

character or number and period. 

These comments will not appear 

in the program listing or output. 

Row cards: The first card is "ROWS" and each 

additional card gives one row, 

name, and the kind of row parameter on the RHS. 

L .= less than or equal to (for salvage blank lengths less than 20 

inches). 

G .= greater than or equal to (for 

all required blank lengths except 

the salvage lengths). 

N - objective function. 

Blank length is used as the row 

name for all except the objective function, which is named 

MINBOARD. Example: BLJ7O is 

name of the blank length 70-inch 

row. 

Rows (start in column 1) 

Parameter (N.L., or G in column 3). 

Name-start in column 5. Name 

can be eight characters andlor 

numbers and period, No embedded blanks. 

There must be a row name for each 

blank length to be considered 

even though that length may not 

be made by any of the operating 

methods and can only be made 

by a trim method. 

Column cards: OPERATING METHODS-The first 

card is "COLUMNS." Each additional columns card gives an 

operating method name in the 

LP matrix. In addition, two element values of the matrix data, 

not zero, are given by row, name, 

and value. All names and values 

are left justified. Zero matrix 

values do not have to be entered. 

COLUMNS (start in column 1). 

Operating Method Name Row Name Element Value Row Name Element Value 

Operating method name : card columns 5-12 

Row name : card columns 15-22 

Matrix value : card columns 25-36 

Row name : card columns 40-47 

Matrix value : card columns 50-61 
Column cards: TRIM METHODS. Each additional 

columns card gives a trim-method 

name in the LZa matrix, The trimmethod name is given with the 

length of the long blanks to be 

trimmed and the longest shorter 

length blank to be made, Example: TM70.54 is the trim method 

that takes 70-inch-long blanks 

and trims them to a 54-inch-long 

blank plus a 13-inch-long blank. 

The matrix element giving the 

long blank length is always - 1.0 

lo show that this is a blank in 

excess of requirements. All names 

and values are left justified. 

Prim Method Name Row Name Element Value Row Name Element Value 

Trim method name : card columns 5-12 

Row name : card columns 15-22 

Element value : card columns 25-36 

Row name : card columns 40-47 

Element value : card columns 50-61 

RMS cards: The first card is "MS." Each additional card has the name column 

REQD. Two row names and matrix 

values are given per card. For 

those rows with G parameters, 

the value given is the square 

footage of blanks required, though 

more blanks of those lengths 

could be used. For those rows 

with L parameters, the value given 

is the maximum square footage 

of blanks permitted. All names 

and values are left justified. 

RHS (Start in column 1). 

REQD Row Name Element Value Row Name Element Value 

REQD : card columns 5- 8 

Row name : card columns 15-22 

Element value : card columns 25-36 

Row name : card columns 40-47 

Element value : card columns 50-61 

JGL cards: "Pree additional cards are required 

to end the card deck. 

Start in column 1. 

EN DATA 

I* 

I/ 
Example 

We used System 6 technology to 

make 414 frame blanks from low-grade 

white oak thinnings (Reynolds and 

Araman 1983). Four GCL's were tested 

using all boards. Yields were high for 

each operating method, and the optimal yield using all four operating 

methods to obtain the required blanks 

was very good. We then made additional tests using these four GCL's 

with only those boards below No. 3A 

Common grade. In this example we 

show the operating methods optimization for the second series of tests 

to obtain 1,000 square feet of required 

blanks. The LP matrix is shown in 

Figure 6. The four GCL's are labeled 

OME-OMH. 

The first three pages show the 

input card deck. The computer run was 

named "FRAME 4." In the "ROWS" 

section we specified that "'MNBQARD" 

was the objective function (row parameter "N"). Blanks 70 to 22 inches 

long should have at least the square 

footage shown in the "RHS" (row 

parameter "'G") section. Blanks 19 to 

13 inches long should not exceed the 

square footage shown in the "RHS" 

section (row parameter "L""). Here we 

ran into trouble. 

When only the poorest boards 

are used, more salvage length blanks 

(19,17,13 inches long) are made compared to using all boards. We exceeded 

the 40-square-foot limit of required 13- 

inch blanks before enough 54-inch-long 

blanks were made. The LP program 

shut down when the 40-square-foot 

limit of 13-inch blanks had been made. 

So we increased the quantity of salvage length blanks by 900 square feet 

and ran the program again. Now all 

blanks were made and an optimization 

was reached. 

The program output is shown on 

page 27. Under "Section 1 Rows" 

printout, the minimum board input 

is 1,760 square feet. The exact quantity of blanks 70 to 22 inches required 

was made. Originally, we wanted no 

more than 50 square feet of 19-inch 

blanks, and we got only 47 square 

feet. Originally, we wanted no more 

than 25 square feet of 17-inch blanks, 

and we got only 12 square feet. Originally, we wanted no more than 40 

square feet of 13-inch blanks, but we 

had to accept 41 square feet to obtain 

all of the 70- to 22-inch-long blanks 

required. 

Under the "Section 2 Columns" 

printout, the board quantities for each 

operating met hod are shown. Operating method E would use 487 square 

feet of boards, operating method F 

494 square feet, operating method G 

582 square feet, and operating method 

H 197 square feet. Not all blank lengths 

are made with these four operating 

methods, but enough additional long 

blanks are made to allow trimming to 

shorter blanks. Trim method 70.54 

was used to convert 108 square feet 

of 70-inch blanks to 54- and 13-inch 

blanks. Trim method 44.22 was used 

to convert 19 square feet of 44-inch 

blanks to 22-inch blanks. Trim method 

33.29 was used to convert 88 square 

feet of 33-inch blanks to 29-inch blanks. 

Trim method 33.27 was used to convert 151 square feet of 33-inch blanks 

to 27-inch blanks. The quantity of 

blanks so obtained are included in the 

"Section 1 Rows" printout. No other 

trim methods were used. 
Figure 6.----&inear programing matrix. 
ltB094SHNR 308 00510,REYNOLDS 

/*ROUTE PRINT MVSfoRMT04 

/*LONGKEY GATCHEL 

ISPRICRITY PRIORITY 

/*JOBPARN LINES=3 

//STEP1 EXEC LP 

//LPoSYSIN OD * 

PROGRAM 

INITIALZ 

TITLE(8SYSTEM 6 OPERATING METHODS OPTIMIZATION FRAME 4%') 

MOVE(XDATAI@FRAME~*) 

MOVE(XPBNAME~'P8FIlE') 

CO&VERT('SUMMARYt) 

BCDOUT 

MOVE(XObJ,*MINBOARU@) 

NOVE(XRHSI*REQD') 

SETUP 

PICTURE 

VARIFORM 

SOLUTION 

EXIT 

PEN0 

/* 

//GO,SYSIN DO " 

NAME FRAME4 

"STUDY 57 EIF~GIH ON ALL TM BG BOARDS ONLY EXTRA SHORT LENGThS 

CZOlrJS 

t\a MINBOARD 

G 8L70 

G 8154 

G Bb44 

G BC33 

G BL29 

G SL27 

G 8124 

G 8L22 

k Bb19 

L. 8617 

I, BL13 
COLllMtG"S 

OPE 

OWE 

OPE 

OPE 

OFF 

OHF 

OIutf 

OFF 

OM6 

OYG 

OWG 

OMG 

OYH 

OMH 

OWH 

TMtO.54 

TW70.54 

TY-PO.44 

TW70 m44 

TM70.33 

TP70.29 

TP70.27 

TM70.27 

TP70.24 

TP70.24 

TM70m22 

TP54 44 

TW54 33 

TP54 rn 33 

TM54.29 

TM54 . 29 

Ttr154.27 

Tlu54.24 

TM54.22 
TP44.33 

TFrf44oSt9 

TP44 e 29 

TY44.27 

TP44a27 

TP44 e 24 

TM44 e 24 

TP44 e22 

TP33.29 

TP'33.27 

TY33.24 

TFrf33.22 

TP129e27 

TP29 a 24 

TP29e22 

TM27 a 24 

TP27e22 

TP24.22 

RHS 

HEQD 

HEQD 

HEQD 

RECO 

REQO 

HEOD 

EhDATP 

/@ 

// 
SYSTEM 6 OPERATING METHODS OPTlMlZATION FRAME 4 

SECTION 1 - ROWS 

e.wROM,, AT *.wACTIvITY,,, SLACK ACTIVITY .*LOWER LIMITo ..UPPER LIMIT* ,DUBL ACTIVITY 

NOhrE 

39a00000 

83w00000 

83400000 

169m00000 

112,00000 

166eOOOOO 

123wOOOOO 

110,00000 

NO&€ 

NOhrE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

950eOOOOO 

925o00000 

940,00000 

SYSTEM 6 OPERATING METhODS OPTIMIZATIOB FRAME 4 

SECTION 2 - COLUMNS 

OME 

OMF 

OMG 

OMH 

TM70.54 

PM70-44 

Tlut70e33 

TM70.29 

PHf0a27 

TM70,24 

TW70-22 

f#54*44 

TMS4,33 

TM54 29 

TM"5w27 

lM54%24 

PM54 .s 22 

I'M44 e 33 

IEci44629 

PM44 €4 27 

Tli(44e24 

TM44,22 

TH33e29 

TH33a29 

PM33r24 

TM93e22 

Tl.129 a 27 

TM29 a 24 

TM29 * 22 

lM27,24 

tH27e22 

TM24-22 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

WORE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

NONE 

YONE 

NONE 

NONE