Tally System - Hardwood

The Autolog tally system offers multiple configurations allowing for versatility with several types of productions, such as at the planer mill, sawmill or hardwood sawmill. Our interface is simple and intuitive, allowing for easy navigation throughout the different menus.

Hardwood Tally System Hardwood Tally System Hardwood Tally System Optional user interface Main server computer Proliant G8 G8 Proliant computer
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The primary tool in an Autolog sorter & tally system is the user interface. This unit consists of a powerful computer and software developed specifically for the lumber industry that provides all the necessary features required to grade, sort and manage the mill production. It offers the utmost characteristics in the lumber industry.

The next most important element in a tally system for hardwood is its ability to run nonstop in a rough environment. It is very important for a mill manager to get its reports on time without any boards or information data missing caused by a power surge, computer hard drive malfunction, blue screen or any other similar problems. A tally system must be reliable and work all the time. Any computer crash or problem can result in costly downtime and force the mill to reset the system, manually count all the boards in each bin or cart, reprint manually the tickets and then restart the production.

Autolog has come up with a newly updated tally system design that greatly augments the overall robustness of both the software and hardware components, offering peace of mind and maximum uptime. 

  • Supports up to 8 product banks
  • Each bank contains the necessary tables to configure the products, such as the thickness, width, length, grade, etc. Supports up to 60 items per table.
  • Features a species table that can contain up to 30 different species
  • Supports multiple runs simultaneously for the same production
  • Possibility to create up to 150 runs
  • Each run provides up to 200 sorts
  • Features multiple types for the sorts’ maximum count, such as piece count, linear width, board feet or linear feet
  • User can configure up to 10 products per sort
  • The percentage of products in a sort can be limited by the user
  • Sorts can be sent in different destinations, such as the sorter or any other specified destination (reman gate, etc.)
  • Sorts can be assigned to several bins simultaneously. The incoming flow will be spread evenly between each bin or it can be configured by the user.
  • The user can configure sorting areas and specify which sorts are allowed to go in each of these areas
  • Supports up to 200 bins or pull-chain carts
  • The system provides immediate data and historical information about production using Report Center from the UI and gives production information and alarms via the production display
  • Multiple sorting tables which save time when switching over from one production to another
  • Downtime and lug utilization monitoring
  • All data is saved in the event of a power failure

The base system includes:

  • One (1) user interface
  • One (1) tally computer
  • One (1) tally computer back-up
  • One (1) digital production display
  • One (1) measuring device interface
  • One (1) ticket printer
  • One (1) control computer (Allen-Bradley) PLC (option)
  • One (1) remote user interface (option)
  • Measure system (can reuse existing if in good condition) 

 

The user interface is a powerful Human Machine Interface which is used to:

  • Communicate with all the Autolog systems in the mill, program, validate and save all the grading/sorting parameters
  • Diagnose the system and generate extensive production reports with MS SQL Report Center
  • Communicate with the Autolog service department for service, program updates and system diagnostics

The tally system is integrated in the main tally computer.   

The core element of the system is a HP Proliant G8 server type computer with the following technical specs:

  • Intel Xeon processor, 16 Gb RAM DDR3 1600 MHz
  • RAID 6 configuration with four (4) hot swappable 300Gb SAS hard disks
  • Extremely high data fault tolerance
  • Can sustain two simultaneous drive failures
  • Best solution for mission critical applications
  • Two (2) hot swappable power supplies
  • One (1) Uninterruptable Power Supply   

RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks is a data storage virtualization technology that combines multiple disk drive components into a logical unit for the purposes of data redundancy or performance improvement.

RAID 6: Any form of RAID that can continue to execute read and write requests to all of a RAID array’s virtual disks in the presence of any two concurrent disk failures.

A second server computer is part of the system and is generally located in the customer computer room adding redundancy while safeguarding the data.

This information, which is synchronized continuously, contains the report data pertinent to package and ticket reports, control files for sorting tables and bin contents, etc. It is a mechanism provided to add robustness to the system and cut downtime assuring the second computer can take over quickly when needed. Other Autolog files (such as applications, resources, etc.) are synchronized regularly (not in real-time) so that updates are propagated to the secondary computer.

In the improbable case of a problem, the system automatically sends an email message to the mill manager using the customer email server.

Testimonial

I want to thank each of you for the time you spent with us reviewing this project. I cannot express how excited I am to begin this relationship!

Your company and culture reflect a level of excellence beyond all of your competitors. My only regret is that we did not begin our relationship years ago when we first met.

Once again thank you all for your time and I look forward to our future with AUTOLOG!

Ben Stuart, Gutchess Lumber Company