Abstract
Wood machining with fixed abrasive diamond wire was investigated. Advantages of diamond wire sawing include the thin kerf and flexibility to change cutting directions. Advancements in new high speed diamond wire cutting machines have made this process suitable for wood machining. Two cutting configurations using a looped and an oscillatory wire saw were studied. Experiments investigating the effects of wire speed, wire feed rate, coolant, and cutting direction on cutting white oak (Quercus alba L.) and eastern white pine (Pinus strobes L.) were conducted. The results show that the diamond wire saw can effectively machine both types of wood. The looped wire saw machined the wood with the fastest feed rate, and had very good surface quality. The oscillatory wire saw machined with a slower wire speed and lower feed rate, and the surface roughness was not compromised. Overall, both wire saws yielded good surface quality when machining the pine and oak with various feed rates.