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OVERVIEW OF THE TADPOLE SYSTEM SOFTWARE

Part of the main window for the primary user interface is shown in the Figure below. The main window is displayed on the main Tadpole PC KVM and on the various KVM stations. The window has controls that allow the operator to perform most tasks required by the control system including machine checks, data input, inspection of the control charts and the preparation of reports.

The window also provides real time indication of the state of product compliance using different colour codes as shown in the window section shown below which simulates a run nearing it's end. The green showing in the boxes indicates that the analyses are in-control. In this simulation two grades and 6 analysis types were made active for each grade. The colour changes whenever an analysis moves to a warning state or to an out-of-control state.

The software components of the control system can be divided into three main areas that in conventional terms can be called

'machine control' components, 'output control' components and 'additional' components.

'machine control' components of the Tadpole software are designed to ensure that the measurement accuracy of the grading machine is adequately quantified on a continuous basis so the timber processor can quickly respond to calibration errors.

'output control' components provide the required degree of control over the graded products using various monitoring techniques primarily based on the results of in-mill tests and from estimates of average E and 5% E made using algorithims utilizing the actual grading machine measurements.

'additional' components assist in a number of areas including recording setup data, recording machine checks and adjustments, recording local-E data, analysing local-E data, recording grade yields of runs and sub-runs, recording consistency checking, repeatability checks, recording downtime and maintenance, preparing and running reports and the provision of detailed process information for management.

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