MSG PRODUCTION TESTING, DATA ENTRY & DATA STORAGE

In order to be able to set our grading machine to produce timber with the required strength properties we need to know something about the way local-E affects timber strength. We concentrate here on timber strength (specifically bending strength) because most timber species that are mechanically graded are of the knotty type where strength is the property that limits the maximum assignable stress grade. We need to know a lot in this area if we are to achieve something approaching optimum grade yields whilst still achieving satisfactory compliance with target strengths.

So how do we measure strength in timber? In the mill we normally measure bending strength and or tension strength and we have standardised the testing arrangement for this property to the one illustrated in the Figure below for bending strength. In addition to evaluating bending strength we also use this test to measure the overall modulus of elasticity (E).

A commercially available testing machine that enables us to evaluate bending strength and E in a mill situation is also shown in the Figure below.

In order to obtain sufficient data on the relationship between local-E and bending strength we sample directly from production runs, test the samples in the mill and enter the data into the database.

Tadpole provides the tools required to reliably and efficiently record important data related to the production samples including their local-E, stiffness and strength.

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