Effect of technological parameters on energetic efficiency when planar milling heat-treated oak wood

Measuring the energy consumption and evaluating the efficiency of machining processes is necessary for their optimization and for implementation of cleaner production. The final product quality and the machining process of woodworking are of great interest. The properties of thermally modified wood make it more resistant to fungi, moulds, and ligniperdous insects than natural wood, so it is increasingly used in interior and exterior spaces. This study examined the energy demand of the milling of heat-treated oak wood (Quercus petraea) by ThermoWood® technology. The investigated technological parameters were thermal modification temperature (160 °C, 180 °C, 200 °C, and 220 °C), cutting speed (20 m × s-1, 40 m × s-1, and 60 m × s-1), feed rate (6 m × min-1, 10 m × min-1, and 15 m × min-1), and the material of the cutting tool. As the temperature of the thermal modification increased, the cutting power decreased due to a chemical degradation due to heating and reduced wood density. The lowest energy consumption was observed for the milling of wood treated at 220 °C with a cutting speed of 20 m × s-1, and a feed rate of 6 m × min-1.