Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-12-16

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The largest, heaviest and most
powerful gun lathe in the world is
now being built for the naval gun
shops at Washington by William
Sellers & Co., of this city. The con-
tract for this stupendous instrument
was awarded December 8, 1890. and
the company has been working steadi-
ly upon it ever since, with the pros
pect of completing it by January.
This lathe, which will be construct
ed of bronze, steel and cast-iron, will
weigh 100000 pounds and will be
1873 feet in length. It's greatest
height will be IL feet, its greatest
width 10 feet 6 inches and its boring
capacity Is inches. The largest guns
that the naval shops can now con
struct are of 10-inch bore, and these
are also the largest employed in the
service. When the new lathe is COM
pleted, however, the navy will be
equipped with 16-inch-bore shooting
irons, more than one-third rs big
again as the guns now in use.
AS soon as the lathe, which will
cost $4,000, is completed. the compa-
ny will begin operations upon seven
others. These will be only slightly
smaller than the former, and will be
of 14-inch bore. They will be built
at a cost, in round numbers. Of $780,.
900, and will be employed for boring
and turning the gun tubes and jack.
cts.
One of the greatest features of the
16-inch lathe will be its face plate
This portion of the lathe is now al.
most completed it is constructed
throughout of cast-steel and weighs
100000 pounds. 1t is provided with
four adjustable steel jaws and gear
wheel, which has seventy-fve teeth Of
3-inch pitch and 10. inch face. Skill
ed workmen have been employed day
and night for three weeks in cutting
these teeth, and the operation is not
yet finished. Fourteen speeds, rang
ing by exact geometrical progression
from GA revolution to 4.3 revolution.
per minute, will be obtained. with q
outing pressure on 5O-inch diameter
of 100000 pounds on the Stoves,
speed. This plate is said to be one o.
the most perfect and costly steeI
structures that has ever been built BY
machinists.
The bed of the lathe is now lyins
in the company's shops, and it, too, i.
almost finished. This is built of cast
iron, and is 70 feet lot inches long
with width of 8 feet. The wild,
part, or main bed, has four ways, two
of which carry the tool carriage OF
one side, while the other two serve t.
hold the steady rests and tail stocl
on the other. The middle ways ar,
formed in one section of metal.
The boring arrangement is provid
ed with 6-inch steel scrow, which i,
81 feet in length. This screw receives
both slow and quick motion from Q
short-gear shaft, connecting it with
the proper train of gears on one sid,
of the boring bench. All the partl
of the lathe, which include head
stock, tool carriages, rests, tail stock
boring arrangement and counters, ar,
built on the same enormous scale ant
are perfect examples ofthe machinist',
art.
The 14-inch lathes will be construct
ed upon the same model as the 16.incl
instrument, but will be slightly small
err throughout. Each bed will be 81
feet in length, and the other part,
will be built upon a similar scale
They will be pushed to completion a.
quickly as possible, but the exac,
time this will require is uncertain
Philadelphia Record.