American Machinist Volume 57, Nos. 23-26 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 Excerpt: ...been recognized that standardization is one of the most important methods of-reducing costs and expediting work, not only standardization of methods but of equipment and product, of tools and operations. Always excepting the exceptions there is very little evidence of standarization in railroad shops. Holes are rebored to any size that will make a clean job and the shaft or axle is fitted to this hole. There is no good reason why there should not be a few standard sizes to which such holes must be rebored. If this were done the male pieces could be made while the other pieces are being bored and they could be made in less time and by less skillful men. Furthermore, they could be kept in stock, thus avoiding all delay. This lack of standardization is not confined to the boring of holes. It is found everywhere, in sizes, in parts, in methods and in equipment. More And Better Gages Needed Standardization of parts and dimensions cannot be carried out without proper measuring instruments and gages. These are almost completely wanting. A micrometer is as rare in the railroad shop as in the average foundry, and gages are so conspicuous by their absence that the sight of an occasional one comes as a shock. At that, these few gages are generally of the crudest kind. One may find a rod to gage the bore of a tire and then see the workman try to balance a 12-in. scale at the end of that rod to make up for shortage. There are many parts which could be kept in stock; there are others which, when not kept in stock, could be made to standardized dimensions and one naturally asks why this is not done. The answer can only be guessed at. Gages cost money and such expense cannot be charged directly to repairs or maintenance or even to equipment, as is generally understood. The...