Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare blades and knives for sharpening
   • Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.
   • Select appropriate repair, maintenance and personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness.
   • Plan sharpening and aligning process in line with work order.
2. Assess condition and set up blade and knife assemblies
   • Follow organisational safety procedures and manufacturer’s recommendations throughout all repair and maintenance processes.
   • Remove blade or knife for sharpening from designated machinery.
   • Assess cutting performance of blade or knife to determine sharpening requirements.
   • Assess condition of knife holder, jig and chuck and correct defects.
   • Clean and secure knife holder to chuck in line with organisational procedures.
   • Select jig type and setting for required blade or knife setup.
3. Set up equipment
   • Clean blades or knives of excess build-up, inspect babbitts for defects and replace where unserviceable.
   • Select angle for sharpening blade to suit its use in specified equipment.
   • Set up grinder with suitable attachment for holding knife or blade and examine and dress grinding wheel.
   • Select grinding wheel speed and feeds to suit blade or knife, grinding wheel material and configuration.
4. Operate grinder to sharpen blades and knives
   • Feed grinding wheel across and into cutting edge to sharpen blade to geometric requirements without defects or burns.
   • Monitor grinder for operational effectiveness and apply coolant as required.
   • Inspect blade or knife after sharpening for accuracy and hone remaining burrs to obtain sharp cutting edge.
   • Dispose of unserviceable and damaged blades and knives in line with environmental protection practices.
5. Align blades and knives
   • Inspect babbitts to assess reconditioning requirements.
   • Heat babbitt material to required pouring temperature.
   • Set up blade or knife in pouring jig to required dimensions.
   • Pour babbitt without to minimise material waste and avoid cavities and shrinkage.
   • Cool assembly and remove excess material to allow correct positioning in machinery.
   • Inspect set screws and replace bent or broken screws.
   • Adjust set screws to position knife or blade at correct depth and lock into position to avoid knife or blade movement.
   • Record and report processing problems and equipment faults to appropriate personnel.

Range Statement

Not Applicable

---

Performance Evidence

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:

follow organisational policies and procedures relevant to sharpening and aligning blades and knives

remove and replace babbits and set screws in line with standard operating procedures and machine settings

pour babbits to site procedures and finishing standard

---

Knowledge Evidence

A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

purpose, features and operation of equipment for which blades and knives are sharpened

blade and knife properties, at a basic level of understanding:

metal from which blades and knives are made

tensile strength

geometry

features of typical blade and knife defects:

burrs

burns

chips

splits

dents

purpose, features and operation of tools and equipment used to sharpen blades and knives:

grinding machines

grinding machine attachments

abrasive grinding wheels

babbitt making equipment

methods for:

removing blades and knives from machinery

assessing blade and knife condition

selecting appropriate grinding wheels; diameter and material

cleaning blades and knives

sharpening blades and knives to specified requirements

reconditioning babbitts

aligning blades and knives to specified requirements

angles at which blades and knives are sharpened

range of speeds at which abrasive wheels can be operated without damaging blades and knives

organisational procedures specific to sharpening and aligning blades and knives:

workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out and use of personal protective equipment

communication reporting lines

recording and reporting processing problems and equipment faults

environmental protection practices for repairing and maintaining tools and equipment in forest products factory settings:

reducing water and energy use

cleaning plant, tools and equipment

disposing of, recycling and reusing materials

---