As forestry harvesting equipment becomes more powerful and more advanced, new designs in felling head disc options become a critical factor in maximizing the potential for the equipment.
There are actually three different types of felling heads used in both small and large timber and clearing operations. Each of these general categories of felling heads also has a range of different configurations which will influence the best option for a felling head disc based on the specific needs.
Felling Heads
The three general categories of felling heads including bunching heads, which allow the arms of the head to gather and hold more than one stem at a time during the cutting process. There are two sets of arms, the accumulator arms and the gathering arms which are positioned at the mid-point of the head. The cutting blade is positioned at the bottom.
The cutting blade or disc saw can be fitted with a range of different cutting teeth. The teeth and the design of the blade can contribute to easier cutting through multiple stems. These saws are always one when the machine is running, which is why they have the name of hot saws.
Processing heads do more than just cut. They cut and process, which includes some delimbing and even in cutting the stem to specific lengths. These types of systems use a bar saw.
The basic felling head uses a bar saw and a grapple to cut the trees and to control the direction of the fall.
Improvements and Innovations
New designs in felling head disc options provide enhanced features well worth considering. Deep gullets in specialized circular patterns in specially designed discs are highly effective at moving large chips away from the cutting edge and blade very quickly. This not only speeds up the movement of the disc through the log but also limits the wear and tear those same chips can produce on the surface of the disc.
Reversible discs are also a great innovation, allowing teeth to be mounted on either side of the disc. This extends the life of the disc considerably while also limiting the need to have additional discs on hand.
Different angles and options for tooth holders and alignment can also be instrumental in creating a hot saw that is capable of slicing through logs with ease, increasing the loads per day while also decreasing the demands on equipment.