Patent ID: 8903529

Claim:
A simulation method of selecting a location on a wooden piece to be cut before the wooden piece is compressed, the selecting being performed as a simulation by a computer, the simulation method comprising: reading image data stored in a storing unit of the computer and detecting a knot appearing on a surface of a blank piece by performing image recognition using the read image data, the storing unit storing therein information related to a shape of the blank piece to be cut put from raw wood, information related to a final shape of the wooden piece obtained by compressing the blank piece, and image data obtained by capturing an image of the surface of the blank piece cut put from the raw wood; estimating, if a knot is detected at the detecting, a shape of the knot by referring to shape information on the blank piece stored in the storing unit; and determining, in accordance with the shape of the knot estimated at the estimating, a cutting location and a cutting shape of the blank piece in such a manner that the cutting location and the cutting shape include a part of the knot and a thickness of the knot is substantially the same as that of the blank piece that has been compressed.