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Veneer Lathe Simulation using PEELSIM™
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HALCO's PEELSIM™ program simulates peeling of peeler blocks for veneer and actually forms part of the SAWSIM® program. For instance, it has been used to simulate optimized bucking of long logs into peelers and sawlogs in the same operation.
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PEELSIM™ was developed primarily to calculate volumetric veneer yields, and lathe and clipper times, for various peeler-block diameter classes and combinations of lathe type, veneer thickness and peeler-core diameter ("peeling methods"), to provide input for HALCO's PANELSIM™ program for plywood and LVL mill optimization. "Split peeling" to more than one peel thickness can be simulated. For the results to be useful, the program must be calibrated against production data and/or test results. When this is done, the resulting veneer grade yields can be incorporated into the PEELSIM™ predictions.
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The benefit is that sets of yields and peeling times can be developed for a variety of block classes and peeling methods that match actual operating results, are consistent within themselves, and give accurate information as to the relative effects of small changes. Thus the results can be used with confidence to optimize plywood, LVL or similar operations.
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Like SAWSIM®, PEELSIM™ has also been used to simulate the effect of equipment changes. The peeling model divides the various phases of the peel into times when such things as lathe speed and tray speed limit the peeling rate. In one study a large discrepancy was found between the total peeling time predicted by PEELSIM™ and the actual peeling time. Upon investigation it was found that inaccurate diameter scanning meant that the knife could only be allowed to approach the block slowly, to prevent collisions between the knife and the block. Much of the time the lathe was peeling air. It was thus shown that in addition to other benefits, investment in better scanning would result in a substantial production increase.
Related program descriptions: