1. Team FlexGrade

2.  There is a potential market for the use of small diameter logs as integral parts of a structure.  Current grading techniques are conservative and unreliable. Six-inch-diameter lodgepole pine used in 5,000 ft 2 library in Darby, Montana.

3.  Visual Grading- Certified Graders measure:  Knot size  Knot type  Slope of grain  Major Defects or inconsistencies

4.  The objective of this project is to design and build a test rig that is inexpensive and portable; which can grade the strength of small round timbers quickly and accurately, requiring minimal user input.

6.  Inexpensive- Less than $7,000  Adjustable- Accommodates 3-9 in. logs and spans a length to diameter ratio of 21:1  Durable- Can withstand travel and everyday use.  Reliable- Gives accurate results with minimal upkeep.  Portable- Towable by small pickups to different job sites.  Fast- Must be able to keep up with pace of mill.  Minimal User Inputs- 4-5 manual inputs per test.  Safe for operators

7.  Major Components  Trailer and Supports  Loading Arm  Deflection and Load Measurement  Hydraulics  Controls

8. I-Beam 10 X 25.4 2000 pound rated axle Mount for load arm Supports

9. Base Plate

10. Load Arm I-Beam 6 X 12.5 2000 PSI Rated Hydraulic Cylinder Powered by ½ HP Hydraulic Pump Load Head & Protective Covering Guide for Cylinder

11. Ultra-Sonic Transducer Load Cell

12.  Acquiring Data  National Instruments DAQ  Measurement Studio  Interpreting Data  Filtering out bad data  Fluctuating data points  Calculations  Modulus of Elasticity  Recording Data  CSV format

13. Goal: Automate many of the processes required to determine the grade of a log and record the results. Specifications:  No hassle – Few number of clicks to grade a log  Easy to Use – Requires little to no training  Practical records – Data readable by Excel

15.  Preliminary tests show that our calculated Modulus of Elasticity of a steel bar is within 5% of accepted value of steel  In the following weeks we will test our machine against the laboratory setup.

16.  Design Supports for 2 degrees of freedom  Allow motion perpendicular to I-Beam  Rotatable support  Compare our machine to the apparatus already in lab  Get the machine in the field