By classifying these processes, it will be seen that there is in all but a few functions to be performed by machines, and that they all act upon a few general principles. Engineering tools employed in fitting are, for example, all directed to the process of cutting. Planing machines, lathes3, drilling machines, and shaping machines are all cutting machines, acting4 upon the same general plan—that of a cleaving5 wedge propelled in straight or curved lines.
Cutting, as a process in converting material, includes the force to propel cutting edges, means to guide and control their action, and mechanism6 to sustain and adjust the material acted upon. In cutting with hand tools, the operator performs the two functions of propelling and guiding the tools with his hands; but in what [58] is called power operations, machines are made to perform these functions. In nearly all processes machines have supplanted8 hand labour, and it may be noticed in the history and development of machine tools that much has been lost in too closely imitating hand operations when machines were first applied9. To be profitable, machines must either employ more force, guide tools with more accuracy, or move them at greater speed, than is attainable11 by hand. Increased speed may, although more seldom, be an object in the employment of machinery12, as well as the guidance of implements13 or increased force in propelling them. The hands of workmen are not only limited as to the power that may be exerted, and unable to guide tools with accuracy, but are also limited to a slow rate of movement, so that machines can be employed with great advantage in many operations where neither the force nor guidance of tools are wanting.
There is nothing more interesting, or at the same time more useful, in the study of mechanics, than to analyse the action of cutting machines or other machinery of application, and to ascertain14 in examples that come under notice whether the main object of a machine is increased force, more accurate guidance, or greater speed than is attainable by hand operations. Cutting machines as explained may be directed to either of these objects singly, or to all of them together, or these objects may vary in their relative importance in different operations; but in all cases where machines are profitably employed, their action can be traced to one or more of the functions named.
To follow this matter further. It will be found in such machines as are directed mainly to augmenting16 force or increasing the amount of power that may be applied in any operation, such as sawing wood or stone, the effect produced when compared to hand labour is nearly as the difference in the amount of power applied; and the saving that such machines effect is generally in the same proportion. A machine that can expend ten horse-power in performing a certain kind of work, will save ten times as much as a machine directed to the same purpose expending17 but one horse-power; this of course applies to machines for the performance of the coarser kinds of work, and employed to supplant7 mere18 physical effort. In other machines of application, such as are directed mainly to guidance, or speed of action, such as sewing machines, dove-tailing machines, gear-cutting machines, and so on, there is no relation whatever between the increased [59] effect that may be produced and the amount of power expended19.
The difference between hand and machine operations, and the labour-saving effect of machines, will be farther spoken of in another place; the subject is alluded20 to here, only to enable the reader to more fully21 distinguish between machinery of transmission and machinery of application. Machinery of application, directed to what has been termed compression processes, such as steam hammers, drops, presses, rolling mills, and so on, act upon material that is naturally soft and ductile22, or when it is softened23 by heat, as in the case of forging.
In compression processes no material is cut away as in cutting or grinding, the mass being forced into shape by dies or forms that give the required configuration24. The action of compressing machines may be either intermittent25, as in the case of rolling mills; percussive26, as in steam hammers, where a great force acts throughout a limited distance; or gradual and sustained, as in press forging. Machines of application, for abrading27 or grinding, are constantly coming more into use; their main purpose being to cut or shape material too hard to be acted upon by compression or by cutting processes. It follows that the necessity for machines of this kind is in proportion to the amount of hard material which enters into manufactures; in metal work the employment of hardened steel and iron is rapidly increasing, and as a result, grinding machines have now a place among the standard machine tools of a fitting shop.
Grinding, no doubt, if traced to the principles that lie at the bottom, is nothing more than a cutting process, in which the edges employed are harder than any material that can be made into cutters, the edges firmly supported by being imbedded into a mass as the particles of sand are in grindstones, or the particles of emery in emery wheels.
Separating machines, such as bolts and screens, which may be called a class, require no explanation. The employment of magnetic machines to separate iron and brass28 filings or shop waste, may be noted29 as a recent improvement of some importance.
Disintegrating machines, such as are employed for pulverising various substances, grinding grain or pulp30, separating fibrous material, and so on, are, with some exceptions, simple enough to be readily understood. One of these exceptions is the rotary31 "disintegrators," recently introduced, about the action of which some diversity of opinion exists. The effect produced is certainly [60] abrasive32 wear, the result of the pieces or particles striking one against another, or against the revolving33 beaters and casing. The novelty of the process is in the augmented34 effect produced by a high velocity35, or, in other words, the rapidity of the blows.
(1.) Name five machines as types of those employed in the general processes of converting material.—(2.) Name some machines, the object of which is to augment15 force—One to attain10 speed—One directed to the guidance of tools.—(3.) What is the difference between the hot and cold treatment of iron as to processes—As to dimensions?— (4.)
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1 expend | |
vt.花费,消费,消耗 | |
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2 disintegrating | |
v.(使)破裂[分裂,粉碎],(使)崩溃( disintegrate的现在分词 ) | |
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3 lathes | |
车床( lathe的名词复数 ) | |
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4 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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5 cleaving | |
v.劈开,剁开,割开( cleave的现在分词 ) | |
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6 mechanism | |
n.机械装置;机构,结构 | |
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7 supplant | |
vt.排挤;取代 | |
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8 supplanted | |
把…排挤掉,取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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10 attain | |
vt.达到,获得,完成 | |
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11 attainable | |
a.可达到的,可获得的 | |
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12 machinery | |
n.(总称)机械,机器;机构 | |
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13 implements | |
n.工具( implement的名词复数 );家具;手段;[法律]履行(契约等)v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 );执行;贯彻;使生效 | |
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14 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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15 augment | |
vt.(使)增大,增加,增长,扩张 | |
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16 augmenting | |
使扩张 | |
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17 expending | |
v.花费( expend的现在分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽 | |
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18 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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19 expended | |
v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽 | |
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20 alluded | |
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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22 ductile | |
adj.易延展的,柔软的 | |
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23 softened | |
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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24 configuration | |
n.结构,布局,形态,(计算机)配置 | |
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25 intermittent | |
adj.间歇的,断断续续的 | |
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26 percussive | |
adj.敲击的 | |
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27 abrading | |
v.刮擦( abrade的现在分词 );(在精神方面)折磨(人);消磨(意志、精神等);使精疲力尽 | |
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28 brass | |
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器 | |
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29 noted | |
adj.著名的,知名的 | |
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30 pulp | |
n.果肉,纸浆;v.化成纸浆,除去...果肉,制成纸浆 | |
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31 rotary | |
adj.(运动等)旋转的;轮转的;转动的 | |
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32 abrasive | |
adj.使表面磨损的;粗糙的;恼人的 | |
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33 revolving | |
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想 | |
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34 Augmented | |
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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35 velocity | |
n.速度,速率 | |
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