The roughest shaped trunk may be easily fixed on the travelling table, and a thin saw may be used as it may be very tightly strained. This machine is used either for breaking down timber, or for converting it from the log to any desired thickness, the thickness of the boards being very readily and easily varied.

The machine consists essentially of a framework carrying either one or two very thin and tightly strained saws operating horizontally and cutting on both strokes, so that the feed is continuous, the construction being as follows:

VOL. II.HORIZONTAL SAW FRAME.PLATE XXV.
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Fig. 3149.

Referring to [Figs. 3149] and [3150], a is a base plate or bed carrying two uprights or standards b, b, having guideways c, c, for the cross-head d, which has slideways e, e′, for carrying the frame f, f, which carries the saw g, which is guided on each side of the work by the guides h, h′.

Fig. 3150.

The frame f, f is connected to the slides j, j′, and has the rod k, to which the connecting rod pin l is attached, and the rod m, which acts as a stretcher. A connecting rod p, connects the pin l to the crank pin q, on the crank q′, which is driven by belt from the pulley t, a fly-wheel being provided at s.

It is obvious that as the crank revolves the saw reciprocates, its line of motion being determined by the guideways e, e′.