Cutting capacity
The very heart of your work depends on your efficiency. This, in turn, is a combination of your skill, your experience – and the efficiency of the tool you’re using. This efficiency – how fast, sharp and powerful it is, is measured in cutting capacity. And the higher it is, the better you get. It’s about productivity, about work pride – and about enabling the very best workday.
About cutting capacity
Cutting capacity can be used as a measurement and describes how well a chainsaw performs its main task - cutting fast through the wood.
The cutting capacity of any given chainsaw directly relates to the capacity of work an operator can get done. The higher the cutting capacity, the higher the work efficiency. In effect, you’ll be able to get more done in less time which, in turn, equals more profits for the contractor or company.
Cutting capacity is typically measured in cm2/s, which is the cross-cutting areas per time unit, or how many seconds it takes to cut through a log. You simply measure the time it takes to cut through a piece of wood at the maximum rated speed, typically comparing the measurements between different models.
At Husqvarna we measure cutting capacity by rigorous testing in a semi-automated test rig with the saw mounted in its front and rear handle and then pushed through the logs at full throttle. Three pine logs are stacked on top of each other, and the measurements are made when cutting through a section of a log of a specific cross-section, a log with 30x30cm dimension. Based on the time it takes for a saw to cut through a log of a specific cross-section, the result is then measured in cm2/s.
The time and engine speed measurement are done electronically ten times per second.
When the chainsaw passes the first point the measurements starts automatically, when it passes the second it stops.
These points are placed so that the measuring is only done in the second log.
Husqvarna 550 XP® Mark II and Husqvarna 545 Mark II – Cutting Capacity test
BEST IN CLASS CUTTING CAPACITY*
Our tests show that Husqvarna 550 XP® Mark II has a higher cutting capacity than a Stihl MS 261 C-M.
*Claim applies to 550 XP® Mark II model tested by Husqvarna in a controlled Environment
During 2018, Husqvarna performed extensive testing of the new 550 XP® Mark II professional chainsaw, comparing it to a Stihl MS 261 C-M. The tests have been performed in a controlled environment and the results are conclusive.
About the test
For maximum accuracy, this test was performed in a mechanical rig with brand new chainsaws and out-of-the-box cutting equipment. Both saws have cut through three squared logs, 20x20 cm, without bark.
Measuring is performed at maximum rated speed rpm. The chainsaw is run at full throttle and the cutting rpm are adjusted by the force which is used to push the saw through the log, a higher force equals lower rpm.
Three logs on top of each other are used for the test and it is in the middle log that the cutting speed is measured. The test is optimized so that the correct speed is reached at the second log. Three cuts are made per chainsaw model and are used to calculate the difference in cutting capacity between the models.
The Husqvarna 550 XP® Mark II and 545 Mark II were equipped with a 15” Husqvarna X-Force pixel guide bar and the Husqvarna X-Cut SP33G chain. The Stihl MS 261 C-M was equipped with a 15” Stihl Rollomatic-e guidebar and the Stihl RM3 chain.
BEST IN CLASS CUTTING CAPACITY - In all tests, the Husqvarna 550 XP® Mark II performed with a higher cutting capacity than the Stihl MS 261 C-M, cutting through the logs in a shorter amount of time.
Husqvarna 592 XP® - Cutting capacity test
BEST IN CLASS CUTTING CAPACITY* - Tests have shown that the new Husqvarna 592 XP® provides best in class cutting capacity, almost 5 % higher than STIHL MS 661 C-M.
*Claim applies to Husqvarna 592 XP® model tested by third-party testing agent, RISE SMP.
Third party testing
An independent third-party agent RISE SMP – Swedish Machinery Testing conducted the tests in order to safeguard unquestionable results.
About the test
The comparison testing was performed by RISE SMP at their site in Umeå, Sweden. The purpose of the tests was to determine the difference in cutting capacity between the Husqvarna 592 XP® and the STIHL MS 661 C-M. The tests were performed with six pairs of out-of-the box products respectively.
In the tests the respective manufacturer’s most common cutting equipment was used.
Husqvarna:
- Bar – 24" X-Tough™ RSN, 1.5mm gauge
- Chain – 24" X-CUT™ C85
- Pre-mixed petrol – Husqvarna XP® POWER
- Bar & chain oil – Husqvarna Premium chain oil (mineral based)
STIHL:
- Bar – 25" Rollomatic-E RSN, 1.6mm gauge
- Chain – 25" 36RS
- Pre-mixed petrol – STIHL 2T MOTOMIX
- Bar & chain oil – STIHL SynthPlus (mineral based)
BEST IN CLASS CUTTING PERFORMANCE - When comparing the test results, the conclusion was that the Husqvarna 592 XP® had a 4.6% higher cutting capacity than the STIHL MS 661 C-M.