Gear Grinder

Position: Gear Grinder A
Gear Grinder

Company Description

Flender is a leading global supplier for mechanical drive systems and has the reputation for highest performance, innovation, quality, and reliability of mechanical components for 125 years.

We're now hiring a talented Gear Grinder for our team in Elgin, IL on a full-time basis. If you're eager for your next challenge, Flender is a great place to grow your career.

For more information on Flender, please see website:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Flender is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, protected veteran or military status, other categories protected by federal, state, or local law, and regardless of whether the qualified applicants are individuals with disabilities.

Job Summary:

This position typically requires 8+ years of experience in precision grinding or a similar field and 3+ years specifically in profile grinding of gears or gear-related components. Working with minimal technical supervision, the Skilled Gear Grinder performs complex set-ups and grinding operations on profile gear grinding machines to produce and finish gears and gear components to very close tolerances and stringent quality requirements.

The employee independently:

• Interprets blueprints, process sheets, and work instructions
• Selects and mounts work holding, grinding wheels, and dressing tools
• Programs/edits CNC profile grinding cycles as required
• Determines operation sequences and grinding strategies
• Performs in-process inspection and makes necessary corrections to maintain tolerances

The Skilled Gear Grinder uses all required precision measuring equipment, and understands gear geometry (e.g., involute profile, lead, pitch)

At this level the employee acts as a technical resource for less experienced grinders and machinists, provides on-the-job training to new employees, actively participates in process improvements
, and has a proven track record of improvement submissions
.

May perform other duties as assigned by supervisor. May be required to oversee quality, workmanship and training of fellow team members and, as assigned, perform the role of lead person.

Job Responsibilities:

Essential Job Functions

Set-Up & Operation - Profile Gear Grinding Machines

• Load, clamp, align, and center gear work pieces and mandrels.
• Set up and operate assigned profile gear grinding machines (e.g., Niles, Pfauter, Liebherr, Höfler, or equivalent).
• Adjust fixturing, machine offsets, and process parameters to achieve required tolerances and surface finish.

Programming and Process Definition

• Program or modify CNC profile grinding programs as needed to meet drawing and process requirements.
• Determine and optimize operation sequences for profile, lead, and root grinding.
• Select and set dressing parameters for grinding wheels and form rolls.

Inspection, Measurement & Documentation

• Perform in-process and final inspections using appropriate measuring equipment
  (e.g., gear measuring centers, lead/profile testers, micrometers, calipers, indicators, surface roughness gauges).
• Read and interpret gear inspection charts and make corrections to maintain tolerances.
• Prepare and maintain productivity, capacity, and quality figures according to given schemes and work standards.

Troubleshooting & Problem Solving

• Independently analyze grinding problems (burn, chatter, profile/lead deviations, taper, runout, size variation).
• Implement corrective actions related to wheel selection, dressing, coolant, feeds/speeds, and clamping methods.
• Analyze error incidence and support root-cause analysis and corrective actions.

Machine Care, Maintenance & Housekeeping

• Monitor service intervals, perform assigned preventive maintenance, and carry out cleaning tasks to keep machines in good working order.
• Respond promptly to machine alarms and minor mechanical issues and coordinate with maintenance as required.
• Maintain a clean and orderly work…