Abstract: The results from ofthogonal cutting tests in 0-90, 90-0, 90-90 directions for 11 coniferous woods showed that: 1) the effects of chip thickhess, knife rake angle, and wood moisture content on the main cutting forces for various species were basically identical, but quantitatively there existed certain variations; 2) the variations of the ratios Rt, R₂, and R_w expressing respectively the effects of chip thickness, rake angle, and moisture content were not significant among various species; 3) there were certain interactions among the effects of the three factors, which varied in different cutting directions.

Key words: Wood cutting resistance, Chip thickness, Knife rake angle, Wood moisture content, Coniferous woods