The Razer

• About The Razer 
• Razer Software 
• Peripheral Handling Systems 

Razer Software

"Simple" Software

Incorporates three different operation views.

The first view is used for manual cutting and is simply a list of all the members (and the quantities) in the file. The operator loads one piece of timber in for each member.

The second view is a tree view of the job, then truss and then member. This view is used to allow the operator to quickly find and cut a particular member without having to search for it.

Finally, the third view is the optimized view. When the file is originally loaded, it is automatically optimized and ready to be cut. In this view, the operator can load one piece of timber to cut several members. The three different views allow the user to quickly and efficiently cut in whatever mode is appropriate for the situation and to switch between modes with minimal effort.

The user can change some basic parameter to control how the optimizing takes place and then either re-optimize the entire file or only a selection of the file with the click of a button.

Machine set-up

In the optimized mode, the user can print a picking-list to give to someone responsible for collecting the appropriate timber.

The document contains two lists - the first summarizes the total number of each piece of timber required while the second presents the order in which to place the timber if on an automated feeding live-deck or manually into the saw . The lists are very concise and user friendly.

In each view, the 'program buffer' is displayed to allow the operator to see exactly what data is being sent to the saw to be cut. The user can also modify parameters, such as angles, lengths and what to print, by simply clicking on the appropriate field in this view.

Re-cutting members is incredibly easy and efficient with the various views. The operator can simply click on another tab, select the member and hit cut. When the member has been cut, the operator can click on the optimised view tab and hit cut to continue where he left off.

Multiple job files can be open at the same time. This allows the operator to prepare the next jobs while the first job is still cutting. Thus, the picking list for the next job can be given to the person picking the timber before the first job is finished, without having to stop cutting.

An operator must log in before being able to use the saw. This requirement allows management to monitor the production levels of individuals and production shifts.

Rip cuts can be added to any member simply by right clicking on the member.

The user can operate in either metric or imperial measurements.

The saw can be run either left-to-right or right-to-left to suit the layout of the truss factory. Switching between these operating modes is achieved by changing a single set-up parameter.

The programme is very well suited to saws with either a manual feed, automated live-deck in-feed and out-feed systems, or fully automated pack feeding system.

Production Statistics

The saw provides three different types of statistics in three separate files.

The first file contains a daily summary of the production levels. Every line of the file relates to the production data for a particular day.

A second file is created on a monthly basis and is used to provide a detailed representation of what is happening over the course of the day/month. Each line of this file relates to a 20-minute sample i.e. every 20 minutes a line is created, detailing what was achieved and who was operating the saw during that time frame.

The third statistics file relates to a summary of what each user on the saw has achieved to date.

The statistics are based on when the saw is actually being operated and thus will reveal how much down time is accruing over the day. Any down time of 30 seconds or more (this parameter is adjustable) will be picked up and effectively logged.

The cost of the members and the cost of the waste is also calculated and presented in these files.

Optimizing

An 'Off-cuts' (remnants, remainders) file can be created by the user to specify particular lengths of blocks/noggins etc that can be used elsewhere in the fabrication cycle. These blocks will then be used, (based on the specified priority level associated with each block), to use up a significant amount of the waste associated with production. Essentially, if there is sufficient waste in a length of timber after optimizing, blocks will be cut out of this waste automatically. This means that the maximum amount of the timber can be used without having to recut off-cuts on another saw, maintaining material flow and eliminating double handling.

A materials database is used to give the operator control over what timber will be used during optimization. The user can specify the cost per length of a particular piece of timber to be used in production statistics. Advanced features automatically allow the optimizing of the materials/members in the most cost effective way. The operator can perform advanced sorting functions in the database based on material description, dimensions, cost, priority and several other ways. If a member requires a piece of timber not currently listed in the database, a pop-up window notifies the user of this and allows him to add an acceptable piece of timber to the database.

The materials database can be used to monitor the inventory of timber for the truss company. The program will update a 'total available' and 'total used' as the program executes the cut files. It can be specified (if required) that if the inventory reflects that a particular piece of timber is no longer available in the inventory, the optimization is to occur with only the pieces of timber currently in stock.