Analysis and synthesis of a controllable crank-slider mechanism with parallel springs for frame saws

Frame saws suffer from large unbalanced inertia forces, limiting operating speed and requiring heavy construction. This study aims to overcome these limitations by synthesizing a dynamically balanced main drive mechanism using a novel approach based on prescribed motion laws. The methodology involves proposing a crank-slider mechanism featuring a cam-actuated variable-length crank. The mechanism configuration with parallel spring is analyzed allowing for balancing inertia forces, achieved using a prescribed cosine slider motion law. For the considered configuration, the required variable crank length function (cam profile) and associated mechanism parameters (connecting rod length, spring stiffness) are analytically synthesized. The results of the carried-out numerical modeling demonstrate successful synthesis of a near-circular cam profile and very low pressure angles for the case studied. These findings show that synthesizing the saw drive kinematics based on force balancing requirements can theoretically eliminate inertial loads, offering the potential for higher speeds of saw frames and reduced loads. The synthesized near-circular cam profile suggests a pathway towards simpler manufacturing. The implications of successfully implementing such dynamically balanced frame saw mechanisms are potentially transformative for the sawmilling industry. Eliminating the primary inertial forces removes the major obstacle to increasing operating speeds. This could allow frame saws to operate closer to the optimal cutting speeds for wood (e.g., 40-50 m/s), leading to significant gains in productivity.