We are having problems with our McGeeHee 6" VDA Gang Saw. This machine normally runs flawlessly, and we hardly think about it, aside from regular maintenance and saw changes. About 2 months ago we started launching the odd cant. More recently, the saws have started to come out of the machine anywhere from dished to disintegrated. This happens even when there have been no reports of cants being launched. There is some irregular guide wear as well in the machine. I am hoping that perhaps someone has seen this problem before, and can offer some advice.

Here are some things we have already done/checked:

-feedroll timing looks good.
-lube/water is good. (lube system pressure is high if anything)
-saw plate thickness good
-tooth side clearance good
-saw guide tolerances good
-triple checking all specs. before sending saws/guides down
-feedroll speed empty is 359 ft/min. should be 396 ft/min ( set up last Feb. ) - will return to 396 ft/min and see what happens
-speed is changing (dropping by up to 15 ft/min) as wood is moving through machine
-note: infeed belt speed is correct @ 375'/min.
-checked level on linebar - is within .0005" side to side
-bottom guide supports are within .0005"
-vertical arbor level is good in all directions.
-level along linebar is good.
-all potential catch points inside machine are clear.
-saw arbour bearing vibration monitoring data looks good

Here is a diagram of the machine, showing the guides in relation to the saws, and the location of the irregular guide wear.

Layout

Here are some pictures of guides with irregular wear. Note the wear on the pad where the saw exits (right hand side of all pictures), before entering the cut. The belief is that this occurs gradually, as opposed to a catastrophic event. Eventually, the damage gets back enough, however, where things will start getting really wrecked.