The Iron Age 1934-05-10: Vol 133 Iss 19

Engin. YEAR SERVICE THE METAL WORKING INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT MAY 10, 1934 PROCESSES -:- NEWS ing modern applications story that should interest every manufacturer metal products. matter Licensed under Chemical Foundation Patents 1316817 and 1339378. what you make, you are searching for more serviceable, longer-lasting more beautiful material, ENDURO may hold possibilities that you have never realized. would like help you. Descriptive literature will sent upon request. REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION THE IRON AGE Page When business brings you Detroit, sure visit our plant. You will made welcome. IRON AGE, published every Thursday the TRON AGE MAY 10, 1934 OUTSTANDING TOOLS CAST SHAPE KROKOLOY—The leading chrome Cobalt tool steel cast shape and hardened still air. Also furnished bar stock and billets for forgings. Ideal for maximum runs and toughest jobs. Intricate shapes easily Elimination excess material often brings Krokoloy castings below cost ordinary steel tools. Write for Krokoloy booklet. MARTIN alloy tool steel cast shape and hardened still air. This alloy steel cast shape costs less than ordinary tool steels gener- ally used because possible make the most intricate shapes with minimum material. annealed condition readily machinable and can drilled and tapped without difficulty. Booklet furnished request. CASTALOY—A low-priced alloy tool steel cast shape and hardened still air. Can economically used for larger dies and applications, formerly made cast iron combination cast iron with forgings and tool steel inserts. Cast shape Castaloy usually costs more thon forgings—often less. Write for special Castaloy literature. oil-hardened tool steel cast shape. This electric furnace laboratory-controlled steel represents important contribution shop practice and economy. was developed primarily furnish high-grade tool steel cast shape for purposes where higher-priced alloy steel castings are prohibitive price. Write for Carbomang infor- mation giving details and applications Our complete line tool steels cast shape include the right alloy for your need. And the same alloy steel offers you definite economy both material and production costs. Let our sales engineers work with you your die casting and machine tool problems. There obligation. DETROIT COMPANY Foot Iron Street Detroit Eastern District Sales Manager: Central District Sales Manager. Andersen William Eakin 135 Post Ave., 707 Berkshire Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. BLISHING Office: Cor. Chestnut 56th Sts., Philadelphia. Executive Offices: 239 New York, second class matter the Post Office Philadelphia under Act March 1879. $6.00 year S., Canada $8.50, Foreign $12.00. Vol. 133, No. 19, | A 4 A — | | | ANG KBOMAN ind ost THE IRON SEVENTY-NINTH YEAR SERVICE H. VAN DEVENTER F. J. Winters Editor L. PRENTISS Cleveland FRANK, President PUBLICATION OFFICE: Corner Chestnut and 56th Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. OFFICES: 239 West 39th St., New York, Y., Member, Audit Bureau of Circulatious Member, Published every Thursday. United States and Possessions, Canada, $12.00 a year. W. B. Robinson, 428 Park Bldg., Pittsburgh Cable Address, ‘‘Ironage, Sweetser, 239 West 39th St., New York D. C. Warren, P. O. Box 81, Hartford, Conn. T. W. Lippert Associated Business Papers G. L. LACHER Ww. W. MACON ‘Rs. ame Managing Consulting Editor EHRNSTROM, JR BRURNHAM FINNEY Pittaburoh Detroit R. A. Fiske A. I. FINDLEY L. W. Morretr Chicago Washington Contents Price Control Quicksands Manual Dexterity and Machine Art Finishing Stellite Valve Seats Finish Helps Metal Products Sales Steel Selection for Plant Applications Status the Soviet Iron and Steel Industry Micarta Roll Neck Bearings for Rod Mills Malleability Nickel and Monel Metal Hollow Metal Lumber and New Form Roofing New Equipment News Personals and Obituaries Washington News Automotive Industry March Pig Iron Production Markets Construction and Equipment Buying Products Advertised Index Advertisers THE IRON AGE PUBLISHING COMPANY G. H. GRIFFITHS, Secretary c. 8. News Editor May 10, 1934 ~ GERKEN R Machinery Editor GBPRARD FRAZAR R. G. MILLER Boston McINTOSH Cincinnati ADVERTISING STAFF Subscription Price Mexico, Cuba, Charlés Lundberg, Chilton $8.50, including duty; Foreign 56th Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. Single Copy Cents Ober, 239 West 39th St., Peirce Lewis, 7310 Woodward Ave., Bldg., Emerson Findley, 311 Union Bldg., Cleveland B. L. Herman, 675 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. Hottenstein, 802 Otis Bldg., Chicago Detroit Chestnut New York BAUR, General Advertising Manager 106 128 THE METAL WORKING INDUSTRY | | } } i | phia. Act THE IRON Page 10, 1934 TAKEa Bethlehem Hot Forged Nut, run hand, put ona long, heavy wrench, and Twist the nut until it’s tight, and will stay tight. Give extra quarter-turn for good measure, you want to. Strip the threads? Not these threads! New, Exclusive Process Bethlehem Hot Forged Nuts will give you new idea what threads can stand. Nuts with threads strong and dependable these could never produced ordinary methods. These nuts are forgings, made new, exclusive process. why the threads are strong and tough, and have such remarkable ability stand up. why, you have condition demanding nuts that can survive heavy wrenching stresses and other kinds rough treatment, Bethlehem Hot Forged Nuts are decidedly the ones use. The hot-forged nut the leader the complete line Bethle- hem Bolts and Nuts. was developed our Lebanon, Pa., Plant, complete, self-contained Bethlehem division, operated men who know bolt and nut manufacture from Lebanon Plant devoted entirely the manufacture bolts and nuts and allied prod- ucts, and makes them every size and style, for every kind service. Bolts carbon, alloy and corrosion-resisting steel. Standard machine bolts. Bolts for extremely high pressures and temperatures. Treated nuts. quenched nuts. Also spikes, rivets, turnbuckles, etc. For service you, Bethlehem stock all standard commercial items Lebanon Plant. Bethlehem Steel Company, Bethlehem, Pa. THE IRON AGE MAY 10, 1934 ESTABLISHED 1855 Vol. 133, No. Price Control Quicksands RICE control key part “planned econ- omy.” Somebody has the job setting prices when taken away from the patri- archal partnership supply and demand. The enthusiastic “open minds” the New Deal, course, recognized this fact but did not daunt them. They put the Gold Dust Twins the job sweep prices 1926 levels with the devalua- tion broom. But that has not worked per plan, and now there serious talk materializing the silver-hearted spirit William Bryan assist the monetary price level control experiment. Meanwhile more specific and detailed, though limited, price control has been sought, particularly for “basic” industries and materials, way code provisions. This varies from complete allocation production and absolute Governmental price dicta- tion simple agreement not sell below cost. emergency measure, there may justifica- tion for attempts this sort, just man pur- sued lion bear would justified trying run across quicksand alternative being this time doubtless even the most visionary planned economy advocates have realized the impossibility effecting complete and detailed price control through all strata business and in- dustry. too complex task for human ability undertake, either for planning enforcement. the alternative the new dealers who still hug tightly the planned economy idea divide the price control job into two parts. “We,” they say, “will manage the prices basic industries and mate- rials, and will let supply and demand look after the rest.” They overlook the important fact that supply and demand have never consented take part time job and never will. The higher you the several successive strata industry, the more diversification prod- ucts you find and also higher proportion the smaller sized units, the welfare which NRA’s expected intention foster. the metal-working industry and particularly its upper industry strata, large proportion the units are engaged making “durable goods,” for which there now inadequate demand and “buyer’s” market with its accompaniment chisel- ing and cutthroat competition. Thus are faced with the anomaly the lower strata industries ostensibly protected against increased NRA costs price control, whereas the upper strata industries, which buy from the lower strata, are vulnerable cost and unprotected price. HAT the solution? don’t know. But know that basic industries, however pro- tected, cannot prosper unless their customers do. This business price control seems matter “whole hog You cannot step little way into the quicksand price control without danger being swallowed bodily state socialism. oF: & he. a, 4 | ] J +} = 10—The The illustrations this article show portions the John Woodward Higgins Armory, Worcester, which was established the author and contains exhibits that trace the influence the manual arts the working iron and steel through the ages the present day. For centuries the evolution the work- ing iron and steel was chiefly the development arms and armor, and hence these form conspicu- ous parts the collection. The contrast between the old and the new brought out sharply the mounted knights which dominate the nave shown above and the chassis high-power automobile which dominates one the naves shown the following pages. Age, May 10, 1934 — anual agitators rail against the depression? The economic salvation Amer- lies the manufacture su- perio for the world Superior machines can created only superior dexter- ty. Here the challenge. The peration machines for the mass production consumer goods means end, but not important factor the evolu- tion our civilization. This Mr. Higgins’ philosophy the modern American machine Editor. National Recovery Codes prohibit the employment, gainful occupations, youths under years age and the wage and hour restrictions bar from indus- try all apprentices and incompetent workers—even the part time, “con- tinuation” school Proposed Federal child control legislation would extend this ban years and estab- lish National Commission pro- scribe other activities Final- ly, under smoke screen economy, proposed State legislation would with- draw teaching manual training and household crafts from public schools, after notably successful record years. Such measures for curtailing and controlling the supply skilled crafts- men—a selfish and stultifying objec- tive national evils more serious than abuses they purport eliminate, un- less adequate substitutes are pro- vided. Are not convinced after years painful experience that extreme prohibition laws defeat them- selves? Modern youth demands admis- sions and deserves more and broader opportunities for self-expression, not less. When outlaw supposed evil, should not clever enough substitute counter attractions? Must revert creeds and codes? Massachusetts was State tellige the pente the boy had when basen ous dispe mani glect cent witte class deve for the radi Wha sona Edu rout into life fam Hol | exterity and Machine JOHN HIGGINS President, The Worcester Pressed Steel Company, Worcester, Massachusetts State and her pioneers expressed in- telligent appreciation industry. But the village blacksmith and the car- penter shop have disappeared—even the workbench the cellar, where boy could make his own dog house, had give way household luxury, when the coal bin was replaced automatic “conditioner” and the basement transformed into ous card-room dominated modern- istic chrome-plated bar for the new dispensation private tastes. Manual dexterity manifest themselves early, but ne- glected and ignored during the adoles- cent period while puzzles, games, and schools are all emphasizing quick- wittedness, static knowledge, and classics, how can America expect develop art craftsmanship rivaling, for example, that Japan Italy the 16th century? The “overprivileged” boy goes away “prep” school and college with his radio, tea set, and lounge pillows. What chance has acquire per- sonal efficiency and manual dexterity? rail against parents who route all their boys promiscuously into overcrowded colleges, but what alternatives are advertised? College life with its sports, songs, and good fellowship played every family. Compare the melodramatic Hollywood films with the educational and craft films they see. Naturally these boys” are superior ma- terial for industrial managers, but they start heavily handicapped along- side the trade-school boys. wonder that their untrained stiffened fingers develop “inferiority complex” long before their dormant capacity and in- herent ingenuity are awakened. College graduates turn soliciting insurance because they never experi- enced the joy craftsmanship and construction. Those students who in- cline toward business career expect tutor post-graduate lecture course, with occasional visits large manufacturers. Even our surgeons and dentists, whose success depends more upon manual dexterity than Greek derivatives, rely upon graduate laboratory practice, after their fingers have attained adult stiff- ness—or upon practice patients—before they conclude that they are ill adapted for these profes- sions. favor young surgeons be- cause they know the latest methods, but old surgeons because they have acquired greater skill through prac- paradox! Youthful, nim- ble fingers should yield the greater skill they begin early and are guided wisely. The surgeon would choose for our operation the young expert trained early manual dex- terity, other things being equal. JOHN HIGGINS are complacently substituting machines for “child labor” and “sweat shop” labor, knowing that the peas- ants “backward” countries where these abuses have thrived for genera- tions exhibit the greatest manual gists agree that manual work, wisely selected, develops imagination, origi- nality, confidence, expression, and in- telligence—as well culture and artistic appreciation—all essential qualities for improving this good world ours. Courses for teaching manual dexterity these boys and girls who also have the means, op- portunity, and ambition continue still higher scholastic training will expand their cultural and artistic capacity—as well their creative skill. Some preparatory schoois are providing courses the manual arts but credits are allowed for pro- ficiency. Intelligence capacity filled with reason. Capacity expands only doing things and reasoning power avails nothing until trained for and statesmen, generation ago, recogniz- ing the necessity developing the creative faculty, established public school courses training, vocational instruction, tional therapy (under shorter names) along with the R’s, since the craft The Iron Age, May 10, 4 : a - n e > 1 d aly - = i le = ’ Sy : i side an st 2 guild and apprenticeship system was being crowded out manufactories specialization and efficiency meth- ods. When were dropped from school graduated from university, the business world wanted us; but now supply has overwhelmed demand. Technocrats say that have over- produced both commodities and chil- dren; today have turned wits, rackets, and synthetic dex- terity and are finding very few con- structive opportunities for using them. Graduates are not now wanted—they have choose between post-graduate courses and loafing with “inferior- ity complex” and unless our over- crowded trade schools are expanded, thousands adolescents will continue majoring coeducational banditry. Occupational opportunities are es- sential bread lines and doles, but only wealthy youths are now able keep occupied. The public school sys- tem will have take over all craft training. our early youth passed many after-school hours carpenter shop making The jig saw and the glue pot were favorite tools for creating designs. felt the thrill confidence that comes from con- structing with our own hands some- thing useful and our judgment beautiful. Later came bicycle and “horseless carriage” adjustments the machine shop, and that manufac- turing atmosphere stirred our me- chanical imagination with ambition. The Mechanics Association sponsored coeducational vacation classes where cabinet work, pattern making, and wood carving were taught, prior “prep school” days. Few such incen- tives are now available our sons with their predigested, automatic toys and fool proof automobiles. Since the first paleolithic sculptor chipped extra flints, million years ago, trade for his neighbor’s extra canoe, youth has grown into busi- ness, teeming with creative accom- plishment—“helping big men real things.” took five hundred thousand years learn polish those chipped flints, but since then intelligence and industry have advanced through man- ual dexterity geometric progres- sion. Let beware how upset this “apple cart” with inhibitions. course, business must serve man, and adolescent youth must protected from exploitation, but general pro- hibition will shunt that spark genius into destructive circuits, un- less restore natural opportunities for expression craftsmanship and household occupations, well sport and recreation. Even children perceive that daily chores are now performed more easily 12—The Iron Age, May 10, 1934 and quickly machinery than hand, and naturally reason, “Since efficiency the goal our scientific age, why should bother with hand work?” They overlook the fundamental fact that the perfection these machines due the co- ordinated skill the hands trained engineers. Machines never produce better work than the hands their masters. Machines cannot put art into object; only hands and hearts can that. The great masters their own day were inspired the incentive supreme craftsmanship and needed conviction that they were creating works art for all time. the day comes when hand-made masterpieces pall beside machine-made products, then our modern machine- made civilization passes its zenith and forthwith degenerates. These fine machines will wear out and join the file other “lost arts.” New machines made old machines and used unskilled operators will deteriorate all respects; masters will quit creat- ing great art expressions lose their ability create greater machines for turning out better prod- ucts. Here the vicious circle. When neglect craft training, relin- quish our vision art well science. Artists, craftsmen, and engi- neers who cannot produce superior hand products will never make ma- chines that excel. Whenever you fail detect superi- ority handiwork and prefer machine quality, either you lack comprehension skill your choo hanc buy cent very you rais cent lose ing that tion app ton. com inte q | 4 by a ion the art the craftsmen lacked skill and inspiration. not scorn your wife’s good judgment she chooses pay $25 for hand-made handkerchief Venice, when you buy machine-made rayon here for cents that looks better you. Her very perception and desire (even you cannot afford satisfy it) will raise the quality machine-made cent handkerchiefs. not let her lose that vision—it worth satisfy- ing much sacrifice. The chances are that her own needle skill propor- tionately developed, and skill may applied sewing suspender but- ton. Consumer-demand denotes community’s culture more truly than intelligence quotients, and you can judge city its stores well its schools, churches, and art museums. Supply-and-demand must give and take, but both are cultivated together. That Italian hand-made lace was designed and woven peasants, eight year old children year old grandparents, all working under what call “child labor” and “sweat shop” conditions, from dawn till dark —but they produced masterpieces. Our machines will not even approach that quality without great sacrifice and the application that same grade de- votion and manual dexterity the development our machine art. Syn- thetic silk and “cultivated” pearls not compare with nature’s product, worm oyster. But time and cost are the elements which justify the machine—not laziness, slack stand- ards, and lost skill. Observe the debacle the Russians are making our machines, bought money. They noticed and concluded that these were the secret our prosperity, but they soon discovered that machines with- out their master’s hand would never save their five-year plan. Some our own legislators and “brain trusters” still have this lesson learn. The cultured Chinese have praying ma- chines, artistic but ineffective; these not bring food nor peace suffer- ing China. America advances with efficient mechanization. champion mass production super machines, infinitum, but must recognize that the best machine only amplified tool the hands its master. Manual the pre- requisite. Next importance comes the better machine—as end. may stress quantity production, but solely means this end. All other arts will take care themselves un- less wreck the Robot possessing the golden touch. shall live see the machine advance power, speed, efficiency, and quality, but bunglers will never build machines which transcend their own mediocrity. Super achievements any art break from the top the craft, and only the hand virile. Always the hand supreme, because the mind’s best tool. Machines are humanitarian. They only crowd out the stagnant laborers. The intelligent workers the long run are boosted into better jobs— with head start—making, improv- ing, and maintaining chines. Whenever one machine forces temporary unemployment offers permanent leisure, others offer the means profiting and enjoying it. Machines never held down good man—nor better machine. They tempt craftsmen superior their original creators; their success de- pends the morale their friends. They are never maintaining and perpetuating organ- isms evil that some social refor- mers and professional agitators would have believe. Ruskin railed against the repetitive handwork his day because made machine-like slaves out workers; branded the buyers hand-made glass beads slave- drivers. Philosophers now welcome modern machines because they release men from machine-like labor—they al- low the masters devote all their attention inventing, designing and developing better machines for doing longer does anyone condemn and try destroy those Arkwright looms. (Continued page 80) The Iron Age, May 10, 1934—13 and the ein hen lin- igi- na- Pri- Finishing Stellite Walve Seats for FRED JACOBS eceee Fig. Cylinder block, showing exhaust valve seats inserted. Fig. The Stellite seat deposited upon the body and fused welding. 14—The Iron Age, May 10. 1934 VER forty years ago when the automotive industry was weak and struggling infant and showed little hopes developing its gigantic importance today, engineers adopted any practical means accomplish desired result. Thus poppet valves were employed because they were easy construct. These early valves were not efficient they burned out rapidly and broke fre- quently. The gradual development the alloy steels and the art heat treatment solved this problem satis- factorily, and such valves working cast iron seats machined directly into the cylinder block cylinder head have been standard for some thirty- five years more. While efficient valves have been made for many years, only within the last few years, comparatively speaking, that serious attention has been given the valve seats. machine the seat directly into the cast iron head cylinder block cheap and simple procedure, but such valve seats always have caused more less trouble with exhaust valves. When the valve stem sticks, the hot burning gas “wire draws” through the slight opening between the valve and its seat and this causes rapid erosion. The difficulty has been overcome the introduction special inserted valve seats hard, unburnable material for the truck and bus motors built the White Motor Co., Cleveland, Ohio, and this article illustrates and describes briefly the interesting grinding operations fol- lowed finishing the valve seats. Fig. shown the valve seat section, the construction details which are quite simple. The seat proper screwed into the cylinder block against thin, soft steel gasket while the method locking the seat place shown clearly. This con- struction used for the exhaust valves only, shown the illustra- tion the cylinder block Fig. The valve seat body machine steel annular member formed desi tior autol simp Fig. plug ber fuse seat and oper seat whe familiar slogan, Dad, knows,” might well ap- plied the troubles encountered motorists the earlier days when exhaust valve seats were machined directly the cylinder block. Today, inserted valve seats hard, unburnable material are being used, with considerable elimi- nation burned valves and “wire Stellite seat inserts are used for the exhaust valves White mo- tors. this article the author describes the interesting opera- tions making and machining these seats. automatic lathe, which operation simple and commonly understood and thus calls for particular comment. The seat itself Stellite No. which fused place the oxyacetylene process. This operation shown Fig. The operator inserts copper plug filler into the seat, this mem- ber acting mold. The Stellite fused into the space between this fill- and the valve seat. The top the seat thus formed welding rough and uneven that disk grinding operation follows bring the Stellite insert approximately level with the seat body. careful visual inspection follows the disk grinding operation and any seats that are not fused place properly are rejected before any subsequent operations are per- formed. Rough grinding the taper seat follows. This operation performed Brown Sharpe universal grind- ing machine adapted for the purpose. The work held three jaw chuck rotated the headstock which set generate the necessary angle. The wheel Alundum, in. diameter, run speed 5000 r.p.m. While the surface speed this wheel course comparatively slow, has been Fig. Construction diagram showing seat and seat body. found give excellent results this case. shown that the valve seat counter- bored above the serrations. Grinding this counterbored diameter the next operation which done Bryant grinder. The setup shown Fig. Here the work held three-jaw collet chuck, the jaws be- ing provided with shoulders the back that the work can chucked accurately. The wheel used for this job Alundum, in. diameter, in. face, grit, grade, operated spindle speed 5000 r.p.m. This operation smooths the Stellite and the soft steel seat the correct inside diameter. The serrations the inside the seat are now broached. While the object these serrations afford means for screwing the finished seat place, they also are used locat- ing point subsequent operations. Thus they must broached with accurate tool. The seats are broached one time special fixture, care being exercised test each seat after broaching. special plug gage used make sure that the diameter correct. The operations performed before broaching might called roughing operations, but the broach- ing and the operations that follow constitute finishing processes. course essential that the tops and bottoms the seats flat and true and this accomplished Blanchard grinding. This machine carries Alundum cylinder wheel in. diameter, in. face, in. wall, grit, grade, silicate bond. This wheel mounted vertical spindle and runs speed 860 r.p.m. The work mounted ro- tary magnetic chuck which has speed approximately r.p.m. this operation the chuck face loaded reasonable capacity, about 100 parts one setting. One side ground true and flat, then the parts are Fig. Grinding the counterbored diameter. The Iron Age, May 10, | fant eans they atis- that . into lock but ised cks, ket Fig. Finish grinding the tapered seat. turned over and the other side finished. This strictly precision grinding operation and the finished seats must true within very close limits, less than 0.0001 in. The next operation consists turn- ing the outside diameter and finish- ing the undercut the bottom slight- below the root diameter the thread which cut later. Fig. shows this undercut plainly. turn- ing the outside diameter the seat held special arbor and the work located from the serrations. this ordinary engine lathe job re- quires special comment aside from the fact that the arbor which the work mounted must run dead true. Otherwise the seats would eccentric and this would cause trouble later. However, the arbor tested occa- sionally and care exercised the operation the finished work will concentric the outer diameter and serrations, which the condi- tion sought. The operation next following con- sists finish grinding the seat. This Fig. Milling the thread. 16—The Iron Age, May 10, 1934 important job and the ground seat must exactly concentric with the serrations. The setup for this shown Fig. Locating from the serrated work seat, the valve seat held against the grinding machine chuck face three jaws which op- erate simultaneously. Fig. shows, the chuck set angle with the grinding wheel generate the desired bevel the seat. This machine Brown Sharpe universal grinder, while the wheel Alundum, in. diameter, in. face, grit, grade, operated spindle speed 6000 r.p.m. Cutting the threads that screw the seat place constitutes the next op- Fig. that these threads must accurate and concentric with the valve face. The required accuracy as- sured milling the threads shown Fig. This machine semi- automatic Hanson Whitney thread miller. The valve seats are located series two seats each placed back back. The arbor held between centers and rotated two jaws the illustration shows. The hob that does the milling course very accurate tool with its threads finished grinding. the hob rotates speed approximately 200 r.p.m., the work advances the necessary lead. After the cut complete the hob moves away from the work auto- matically and returns the starting position shown Fig. The foregoing constitute the prin- cipal manufacturing operations the valve seats. assembling the seats the cylinder block, the block bored and counterbored under heavy duty drilling machine after which hand operated facing tool used for the final finishing bring the seat the desired squareness and depth. Then large blocks heads holes are drilled and tapped for the locking shown Fig. Pins take the place these screws smaller cylinder blocks. After the valves are ground place their seats the op- eration complete. ever should necessary re- move seat, this can accomplished readily taking out the locking screws pins and screwing the seat out from its position. However, the seat practically indestructible there little cause for remov- ing it. Instances are record wherein valves sticking, the valve heads have been completely burned away while the seats were not injured. Thus once the seats are set place they should outwear the rest the motor. that trialis lower chanr field over have The ation: handi | ‘ > = ; 4 Tops This the hine op- the ired der, in. the alve as- ead ited ack een Attractive Finish Helps Metal Products Sales 17—Pre-Finished Raw Materials HERBERT SIMONDS labor-saving machinery great during the last decade that has temporarily blinded indus- trialists some opportunities for lowering production costs other channels. One such opportunity lies the field metal finishing. Over and over again this series, examples have been given where the weak link manufacturing chain existed cleaning finishing process. The very nature finishing oper- ations, coming they the end the production sequence, offers handicap their organization and high quantity output. assem- bled unit cannot handled effi- ciently can the simpler parts from which composed. Thus apparent that the fur- ther back the finishing process is, the over-all manufacturing sequence, the greater the chance putting low unit cost basis, and this factor which has stimulated the recent trend toward plating and pol- ishing sheet and strip metal the producing mills. Several other fac- tors contribute this trend, which the most important, perhaps, the development forming and pressing technique which makes possible BVIOUSLY, one way over- come high finishing costs not finish. This accom- plished some manufacturers without sacrificing appearance through the use pre-finished raw materials. Plated ished strip made into such items lamp reflectors and loose-leaf binders, and lacquered sheets decorative design are made into vanity cases without the necessity any finishing the fabricator’s plants. Some features the production and use pre-finished materials are described this, the seven- teenth article comprehensive series metal finishing. fabricate parts from the high pol- ished material without scratching the surface. “Large-scale standardized produc- tion plated and polished sheets makes for economy not possible the manufacturer’s plating depart- ment,” according James Mee the American Nickeloid Co., Peru, who continues, use pre- finished sheets strip this char- acter almost invariably less expen- sive than the cost maintaining plating department, capital invest- ment, depreciation, and cost mate- rials are properly considered. the case pre-finished chromium plated Tops for washing machines are stamped and formed out plated and polished sheets without the necessity further polishing after fabrication. This shows parts process large washing machine plant. The pre-finished sheet was supplied the Apollo Metal Works, Salle, The Age, May 10, | { | <x hat t - ery hed ary and | 4 + - = Courtesy Baldwin-Southwark Corpn., Philadelphia The raw material for the case this attractive recording instrument was pre-lacquered strip and sheets which need further finishing the manufacturing plant. sheets, the economy especially pro- nounced because eliminates hand- racking individual parts, which slow, expensive operation.” course there are some articles which cannot fabricated advisedly from the high polished sheets, but most cases adaptation the proc- essing and assembling operations will make possible use the pre-fin- ished sheets for least some the component parts product. The other parts can then plated and polished before assembling the company’s own finishing department. Where the surfaces are irregular often difficult remove buff marks when plating and buffing suc- ceed fabrication. This difficulty may cases using sheets that are plated and finished the raw state before fabrication. addition this, Mr. Mee points out that the large-scale standardized methods finishing sheets the mill make possible 18—The Iron Age, May 10, 1934 produce surface superior that small individual items. Polished Sheets Easily Handled Much the reluctance use highly polished sheets fabricating processes comes through lack ex- perience ignorance the possi- bilities. Mr. Mee’s opinion, “With relatively few exceptions, polished sheets are easily and successfully handled through processing operations are the unfinished sheets. Chrome plated copper, for instance, not harder work than bare copper, and nickel tin easily drawn and formed tin plate.” Certain precautions, course, are necessary handling polished sur- faces. Dies must kept better shape than when used plain ma- terial and they must properly de- signed. forming with sheet metal brake, the metal should greased the finished side and the paper which the polished sheets are packed should used line the brake. Where desired solder fin- ished sheets, chrome plated, for ex- ample, the chrome surface should removed from the sheets and non- corroding solder paste should used. For small parts, hand file will re- move the plate, and experience will indicate the amount surface removed. Before soldering the com- plete joint, Mr. Mee advises “solder tacking” several points keep the parts lined up. New Designs Are Needed design product that the soldered piece. However, further designing in- genuity, combined with the excellence the pre-finished sheets now avail- able, often makes soldered welded Mill sheets can spot welded and even deeply drawn, and many surprising examples high luster finish are found today among articles fabri- cated from such sheets without sub- sequent finishing. One manufacturer tableware successfully produc- ing highly polished products from pre- finished sheets, without doing any polishing buffing his own plant, except his dies, which takes great care keeping per- fect condition and which are all chro- mium plated and polished elimi- nate even tiny scratches. Pre-finished sheets aid mass pro- duction processes, otherwise high- speed presses and forming tools are slowed down the relatively slow operations plating and polishing. Some the products now successfully made production basis from pol- ished sheets are loose-leaf notebook parts, name plates, collapsible tube clips, boxes, novelties, toys, trunk hardware and brush ferrules. Larger articles include table tops, refriger- ator trim, electric stoves, office ma- chines, window trim and other deco- rative building materials and washing machines. Mass Production Finishing Several strip and sheet producers who have taken finishing their materials earnest have developed elaborate automatic, and, many cases, continuous finishing processes. the plant the Apollo Metal Works Salle, for instance, cold-rolled strip given chromium finish one continuous op- eration. The strip enters the proc- ess its natural state, and the se- quence includes washing, acid treat- ment, copper plating, nickel plating, for abc ant dry que | | fin- ex- non- re- will ered over in- ence vail- shed even abri- sub- urer pre- any own per- limi- pro- nigh- are slow hing. fully tube runk ma- deco- shing ucers their loped many esses. Metal Op- proc- chromium plating, polishing, buffing, paper coating and coiling, all auto- and all continuous. the far end, the coils, averaging about 100 lb. weight, are boxed and are then ready for shipment. The paper which has been introduced cial paper developed for this particu- lar purpose, with soft surface one side. purchased rolls having widths corresponding the widths the strip being finished. Sheets are course more difficult handle, but even here very nearly automatic finishing has been achieved, and, addition, the wide strip now available long coils takes care large percentage the average run small metal products. Pre-Lacquering Has Advantages Lacquering and painting sheets important part the general pre-finishing raw materials, and least one company has developed lacquer which hard, yet elastic enough used coiled strip and even under moderate drawing dies. flexible, transparent lacquer for copper strip has just been announced the Copper and Brass Research Association. The lacquering machine illustrated with this article automatic except for loading, and applies uniform coat sheets in. wide. Many machines this character contain drying units which complete the lac- quering processes one operation. occupied cardboard, wood and other non-metallic materials. One the most interesting examples the inroads being made sheet metal found the packing field. may said that success dependent upon the use pre-finished raw ma- terials, otherwise the required low costs could not met combination with high appearance value. One the companies take active interest the use metal for packaging the Apollo Metal Works. This company makes specialty light-weight chromium plated steel sheet which may formed into all manner attractive boxes without the necessity finishing the part the fabricator. Boxes made this material have surprising perma- nence and are used for packing pen and pencil sets, playing cards, shav- Sheets and strip are now available great variety deco- rative finishes. This shows several forms crimped sheets produced the Co. High production quering and painting large sheets ac- complished auto- matic this type. Sheet Metal Products Courtesy Paasche Air- Sheet metal making strong bid for business many fields formerly ing brushes and many toilet articles. The versatility this particular metal was shown some time ago production The Vanities New York, for one scene which the en- tire scenery and bakground were made Apollo chromium plated metal. This same metal strip form used for the edges and trim cardboard boxes, give added decorative effect well increased strength. example this florist’s box now being used some leading flor- ists. crackers are being sold boxes which chromium finished sheets form substantial part. Ford Uses Chromium Plated Copper The decorative effect polished sheet metal becoming more and more apparent. Show windows, ex- hibit booths, and, some cases, per- The Age, May 10, 1934—19 ‘ be All the metal parts used the manufacture some styles loose-leaf note books are formed from plated and polished raw material, and the ferrules painters’ brushes come strips which not only are polished the mill but are also ribbed for decorative effect. manent wall coverings are being made chromium steel sheets. The Ford Motor Co. will use more than 20,000 lb. chromium plated copper its new exhibit the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair. The Citizens Conserva- tion Corps camps one order pur- chased small mirrors which were stamped out 15,000 lb. chromium plated sheet. The Dennison Mfg. Co. orders chromium plated strip car- load lots for making rims for its familiar cardboard tags. Some other familiar uses chromium plated steel and copper are auto mirrors, jewelry case rims, towel cabinets, letter signs and tops cardboard powder boxes. One the newest developments the use pre-finished sheets for roadside signboards. Instead buy- ing plain sheets and having workmen scaffold paint the entire surface with background for the design, the sheet painted any color desired, the producing mill, and then all the superimpose his design. new effect this same field makes use matte brushed finished aluminum surface for the background. The sign then painted directly this, leav- ing the bare aluminum surface for the sky the background. Vanity Cases Low Cost Attractive compact boxes are in- geniously made out sheet metal. One design uses mir- ror finished chromium copper for the inside stamping and lacquer finished steel for the outside cover stamping. cross-section this type box shown ac- companying sketch. The forming the inner piece ingeniously done Iron Age, May 10, 1934 that the surface which becomes the mirror left undisturbed. The outer piece either plain color may made with design, which case the sheets are purchased covered with series circular designs each in- tended the top piece one box. Assembly the two parts spin- ning turning the edge the inner part over the cover, leaving small rim chromium rounding the lacquer design. Extension Pre-Finishing Expected pre-finishing raw materials not limited flat-rolled products. Polished drill rod has been familiar a Top stamped laquered sheet Typical design vanity case lid made one with lacquer finish and the other with mirror finish. stamped from mirror chrome plate industry for quarter cen- tury, but now plated and highly pol- ished wire coils finding many new uses, one which for the rings loose-leaf note books. Nevertheless, pre-finishing gen- eral still its infancy and extensive development this field may ex- pected the near future. the possibilities the new hard finish lacquers become better known, light- weight angles, channels and plates may available colors the raw materials for manufacturers farm equipment, sleds, baby carriages and similar items. The bicycle manufac- turers may able buy pre-enamel tubing for frames, just the maker bicycle wheels can now buy pol- ished strip for making his rims. Some features enameling and lacquering metal will described future ar- ticles this series. The Apollo Metal Works recently developed pre-finished tin plate which consists tin plated sheets surfaced with electro deposited finishes pop- ular metals and polished high luster. Sheets this character find usefulness many cases where added appearance value desired. The company calls attention the fact that this material should not used where heat excess 500 deg. Some the parts made from chrome-finished tin plate, known Apollo Chrometin, are mouth organs, musical instruments, decorative trays, oil cans, wastepaper baskets, kitchen accessories, hub caps devices. - Reflectors for electric heaters, and the frames for cracker boxes are made from polished sheet. found elabo but only their tion rials, lar buyin the have for indiv: orgar tions, digni ment the mean oft not the but corre advis | | tor n De mus = ste e that man thus > ager Alle Gr This ata | 4 selection proper steel for making the product for plant maintenance, has very definite bearing the commercial success the product. rightly func- tioning purchasing department must able correctly specify steels for given purposes, and the steels received should oughly checked order insure the original specifications were observed. Brand names ap- peal the aesthetic sense many buyers, and the steels they thus select may intrinsically good but unsuited the purpose for which they were purchased. order facilitate purchasing choice material, Mr. Allen has concisely assembled the data contained herein which cov- all the usual requirements large and small industrial concerns This paper was presented May State College, Pa., conference. OST companies which have grown beyond the personal management stage their founders have efficient and sometimes elaborate purchasing departments, but these departments are often their only contact with the suppliers their purchased needs. This condi- tion applies all purchased mate- rials, although herein particu- lar interest study its effects the buying steel. condition quite common find that purchasing department may have depend several individuals for guidance steel purchases. These individuals are often engaged other organization and production func- tions, and the specification steels, their recommendations can dignified, secondary nature. many cases the purchasing depart- ment follows the policy buying only the best. buying the best always meant buying the most suitable there would little fault found, but often happens that the best often not the most desirable. other cases the selection left the supplier, but not all suppliers are equipped correctly advise purchasers and some advise from personal viewpoint. election Steels for Plant Applications FRANK ALLEN Engineer, York Machinery Corpn. all cases there should close technical contact with makers and sellers steel, although purchasing ings dollars and deliveries, often not the right point for such contact. However, order simplify the specification steels for particular purposes, fundamental consideration the more common problems given herein. Steel specifications should held simple possible order not unnecessarily restrict the field supply. Where possible, the standard specifications national technical societies and such the S.A.E. and A.S.T.M., should utilized. Such specifications give very wide range and are avail- able from wide field supply. Sometimes, however, special require- ments may render such procedure impossible, but for general shop pur- poses this would rarity. all cases advisable re- member that tool machine part should just good enough for the job, poor engineering build strength into part which won’t called upon the nature its oper- ation. guide the study speci- fications should include (1) what are the ideal qualities steel the job, (2) such steel available the open market, and (3) what would the result using available but less ideal steel? Steel requirements may roughly divided into two main which are (1) machinery steels used for machine parts, and (2) tool steels used make ma- chine part sometimes the part itself. qualities needed may possessed plain carbon steel, may produced therein heat treat- ment, additions alloying ele- ments both these methods. classes Importance Carbon Content For reasoned selection steel, the significance the presence ab- The Iron Age, May 10, — ve m ; 4 y]- a ys, j Be - ig TABLE Chromium Content per cent 3to 0.90 per cent per cent 0.05 0.70 per cent per cent 1.5 to2.5 percent Carbon Property Steel Deep uniform hardness. Bearing steels, moderate wear resistance. Hot working die steels, permanent magnets. Stainless steels. Cold drawing dies. Very great wear resistance. sence the various elements the steel must understood. All steels contain carbon, and there always present sulphur and phosphorus impurities. The manganese and sili- con which are always present function deoxidizers. all the possible elements present steel, carbon exerts about the great- est influence. Its presence greater lesser degree will cause considerable variance the physical properties the steel, and its reaction heat treatment usually greater than that any other element present. There- fore the prime importance the car- bon content basic any study steel. For each 0.1 per cent carbon added naturally cooled steel 0.9 per cent, the physicals are affected approximately follows: Tensile strength increased 9300 lb. per sq. in., yield point increased 3900 per sq. in., elongation reduced 4.50 per cent, and reduction area re- duced 7.25 per cent. Above 1.00 per cent carbon the brittleness steel increases rapidly and its use confined parts re- quiring high hardness and little tough- ness tools. Further increases the properties just noted are course obtained heat treatment. Sulphur steel causes “red short- ness” brittleness rolling forg- ing. Its presence makes free cut- ting steel. strength and acts cleansing agent. counteracts the sulphur forma- tion manganese sulphide place iron sulphide, which has lower melting point. This acts cure the red shortness the steel. Silicon increases the tensile strength and yield point the steel, but does not materially impair the ductility. Phosphorus causes brittleness cold hardness. Small percentages in- crease the tensile strength and hard- ness steel. the carbon steels there covered either the A.S.T.M. the S.A.E. specifications avail- able wide choice. The physical char- acteristics cover broad range and the tensile strength the rolled, cast the heat treated condi- tion may from 50,000 200,000 per sq. in. Similarily, the yield po