Apparatus and methods for automatically training saw blades on a saw mandrel

An apparatus for automatically training saw blades along a saw mandrel, said apparatus comprising:

• a gauge comprising (i) a slidable base that moves longitudinally relative to and parallel with a saw mandrel and (ii) left and right gauge contact members extending from the slidable base, said left and right gauge contact members being positionable along opposite left and right major surfaces of a first saw blade positioned along the saw mandrel such that the first saw blade is engaged with the left and right gauge contact members;
• a bender comprising left and right bender contact members, said left and right bender contact members being spaced from one another so as to be positionable on opposite left and right major surfaces of the first saw blade such that teeth of the first saw blade are between the left and right bender contact members;
• and
• a laser electronic measuring device (LEMD) that (i) determines a measured position of the slidable base and (ii) detects longitudinal movement of the slidable base relative to the saw mandrel,
• wherein in response to the first saw blade being out of tolerance based on the measured position and longitudinal movement of the slidable base relative to the saw mandrel, as measured by the laser electronic measuring device, during rotation of the saw mandrel, said bender being operatively adapted to (i) bend the first saw blade in a right direction if the first saw blade is in a positive out of tolerance position, and (ii) bend the first saw blade in a left direction if the first saw blade is in a negative out of tolerance position.