A professional who sets up and operates machines to sharpen ledger (straightedge) and fly (spiral) blades of cloth-shearing machines. Respnsibilities include:

• Removes blades from shearing machine, using chain hoist.
• Mounts and squares ledger blade in jig of grinding machine, using straightedge and level.
• Turns handwheels to set blade at specified angle and to position grinding stone against blade.
• Starts machine that automatically moves rotating abrasive stone along edge of ledger blade.
• Measures blade edge, using micrometer, to determine when thickness is within specified tolerances.
• Resets machine to grind undercut on ledger blade.
• Mounts spiral blade in brackets of grinding machine.
• Turns various wheels to set both ends of blade equidistant from grinding head.
• Starts machine that rotates abrasive stone and fly blade in opposite directions and moves stone along edge of blade, grinding blade until flaws are removed.
• Measures diameter of blade with calipers at intervals along surface of blade to detect uneven grinding.
• Replaces damaged spirals on fly blade, using handtools.
• Mounts fly blade and ledger blade on lapping rig and starts machine that grinds blades against each other, using emery powder and oil, to finish edges.
• Boils blades in chemical solution to remove oil and abrasive dust.
• Applies preservative oil to blades.