On the Arrangement, Care, and Operation of Wood-Working Factories and Machinery; Forming a Complete Operator's Handbook (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. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ...There is no fear of having the bearings too large by this plan; it is the opposite fault that is to be guarded against. The fit will not be so good as one that is scraped, but will do very well, except for high speeds. As to the material for moulded bearings, there is no plan so good as to send to a responsible house which prepares these alloys and purchase the metal, explaining its purpose and leaving its composition to the manufacturer. In attempting to mix the metal there is generally more lost by oxidation and other waste than the profit of the regular smelter amounts to; besides, the composition is rarely right, and seldom well mixed. For slow bearings, pure zinc or worn-out printer's type does well, but with all that run at high speeds the best metal is none too good. We may add on the general subject of the material for bearings in wood machines, in which every wood manufacturer is interested, that moulded bearings made from alloys are only to be considered as an expedient for cheap fitting, good enough in many places where there is no considerable pressure, but if there was wanting any proof to show that they are not best for wood machines, it would be found in the fact that they have to be continually renewed. The dust from wood machines which cannot be avoided gets into the bearings and clings with great tenacity to the soft metal, and the spindles are continually going out of line from the wear that must of necessity take place. Brass bearings about 6 parts copper to 1 of tin, or harder, are the best for high-speed spindles, and if properly fitted and taken care of, will last as long as the machine itself. After the most careful experiments with moulded bearings by some of the European builders of wood machines, they were discarded for...