Log home fabrication process and associate log cutting machine

An apparatus for processing a log to be incorporated into a log structure, said log having two substantially parallel surfaces and a log centerline defined in a plane normal to the substantially parallel surfaces, the apparatus comprising:

• a support for supporting the log substantially horizontally on one of its substantially parallel surfaces;
• a fence positioned adjacent the support;
• a cutter for cutting the log;
• a mover for moving the log substantially horizontally along the support to said cutter;
• a controller for controlling operation of the mover and the cutter;
• and
• at least one guide, which is not a portion of the log itself, in contact with said fence for maintaining the log centerline substantially parallel to said fence at a fixed distance from the fence as the log is moved to the cutter.

An apparatus for processing a log to be incorporated into a log structure, said log having two substantially parallel surfaces and a log centerline defined in a plane normal to the substantially parallel surfaces, the apparatus comprising:

• a support for supporting the log substantially horizontally on one of its substantially parallel surfaces;
• a fence positioned adjacent the support;
• a cutter for cutting the log;
• a mover for moving the log substantially horizontally along the support to said cutter;
• a controller for controlling operation of the mover and the cutter;
• and
• at least one log guide in contact with said fence for maintaining the log centerline substantially parallel to said fence at a fixed distance from the fence as the log is moved to the cutter, said at least one log guide including a log guide centerline in alignment with the log centerline and a guide edge which maintains contact with the fence as the log is moved to the cutter.

A method for processing a log to be incorporated into a log structure, said log having two substantially parallel surfaces, two opposed edges maintaining a natural contour of a raw timber log, and a log centerline defined in a plane normal to the substantially parallel surfaces, the method comprising:

• supporting the log substantially horizontally on a first one of its substantially parallel surfaces;
• attaching a log guide to the log, said log guide having a guide edge;
• positioning the guide edge of the guide in contact with a fence;
• and
• moving the log substantially horizontally to a cutter for processing of the log as the guide edge is held in contact with the fence.