FWPSAW3207
Sharpen band saws


Application

This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to assess the condition of band saw blades, set up the sharpening machine and sharpen saw blades with a grinder. Work is completed in a forest products factory setting.

The unit applies to Sawdoctor, Saw Repairer, Sawyer.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for sharpening

1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.

1.2 Select appropriate repair, maintenance and personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations.

1.3 Plan sharpening process in line with work order.

2. Assess condition and set up sharpening equipment

2.1 Follow organisational safety procedures thoughout all maintenance and repair processes.

2.2 Remove band saw blades from designated machinery.

2.3 Assess cutting performance of blade and determine need to replace or sharpen.

2.4 Assess condition of prior repairs and blade teeth, set and tension.

2.5 Select sharpening machine and change or dress grinding wheel.

2.6 Adjust machine settings to suit required blade geometry and set blade to manufacturer's recommendations.

2.7 Align blade tooth with machine feed mechanism.

3. Sharpen band saw blade

3.1 Conduct tests to ensure teeth and machine feed mechanism are aligned.

3.2 Establish depth of machine cut and in-feed from blade condition.

3.3 Monitor machine sharpening process to ensure correct grinding conditions and geometry.

3.4 Finalise process and check blade for sharpness, correct cutting angle and profile.

3.5 Identify damaged and exhausted saw blades and and dispose of these in line with environmental protection practices.

3.6 Package band saw for protection during return to service.

3.7 Identify routine processing and equipment faults and resolve or report to appropriate personnel.

Evidence of Performance

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 band saws

sharpen band saws in line with a work order and within prescribed organisational requirements

assess cutting performance as follows:

saw performance balanced against achievement of required production time

degree of deviation in the range of sawn products

assess the condition of blade teeth for:

sharpness of each tooth

damage to teeth

pitch

number of teeth per metre

operate the abrasive wheel at appropriate speed to remove material without affecting steel characteristics

produce a quality of surface texture left by the abrasive wheel along the entire profile and at the intersection of all cutting edge angles.


Evidence of Knowledge

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

purpose, features and operation of band saws for which blades are sharpened

features and names of different parts of band saw blades

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

sharpening machines

grinding wheels

importance of sharpening and setting teeth and tension to match requirements for:

characteristics of various materials sawn

speed of the sawing process

direction of the sawing process

cutting angle for sawing

saw blade specifications

methods for:

removing saw blades from band saws

assessing saw blade condition

sharpening blades to specified requirements

setting teeth to a specified profile

setting tension of blades to specified requirements

aligning saw teeth

tooth pitch and tooth angles at which blades are sharpened (blade geometry)

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

organisational policies and procedures specific to sharpening band saw blades:

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

communication reporting lines

recording and reporting processing 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


Assessment Conditions

The following resources must be made available:

tools and equipment used to sharpen band saw blades:

sharpening machines

grinding wheels

band saws for which blades are to be sharpened

one or more of the following types of band saw blades to be sharpened:

wide band saw blades used for processing timber products

narrow band saw blades used for cutting both ferrous and non-ferrous materials

personal protective equipment suitable for sharpening band saw blades

manufacturers’ instructions for use, repair and maintenance of equipment

work order for repair and maintenance activities with specific instructions for sharpening band saw blades in specified equipment

template documents for recording processing and equipment faults

organisational procedures for sharpening band saw blades.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must:

hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and

be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and

be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.


Foundation Skills

This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Numeracy skills to:

calculate requirements and:

operate machine at correct speed, pitch and angle

sharpen blades to correct set, tension and profile.

Oral communication skills to:

ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders.

Reading skills to:

interpret:

workplace health and safety procedures

work orders

manufacturers’ maintenance recommendations.

Writing skills to:

complete accurate basic records of processing and equipment faults..

Planning and organising skills to:

efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation and repair work using work order to guide activities.

Problem-solving skills to:

assess blade condition and rectify faults through correct sharpening process

identify and dispose of exhausted and damaged blades

recognise faulty equipment and resolve by reporting or rectifying.

Technology skills to:

select and use appropriate repair, maintenance and personal protective equipment for sharpening band saw blades

efficiently and safely sharpen band saw blades.


Range Statement

Not Applicable


Sectors

Sawmilling and Processing