Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-12-14

The multiple spindle drill in one
operation drills all the holes in the
front axle. This is a guarantee thai
each will be in right relation to the
other.
1t was hard to drag us away from
the automobile turret lathe that sur.
faces and finishes fly wheels. II
works as though within its metal Wit
ais a blain was concealed. The
workman has only to put on the
rough fly wheel, adjust the first set
of tools, push the lever, and let the
machine do the rest.
The cast iron is peeled off as read.
lily as wax. Sometimes four or five
operations are performed at once
When one set of cuttings is done, the
machine stops automatically, and the
next set of tools comes automatically
into place. Twenty operations are
performed in IA minutes. 26 pounds
of metal are removed from the wheel.
One man can watch three OF these
machines.
The vertical cutter of gears on fly
wheels almost matches the turret
lathe in interest.
Moving up and down, the cutter at
the same time slowly revolves, the
fly wheel turning in the opposite di-
rection. By the time complete
revolution of the fly wheel has been
accomplished, all the gears are cut.
We all fell for the aluminium foun-
dry and for the machines that finish
the aluminium parts.
The multiple spindle drill bores 81
holes in the crank case in one opera
ton. This is proof of the superiori-
ty of maching processes, for the holes
must be in the right relation to each
other.
Another machine smooths the sur
faces of the crank cases, finishing
seven in nine minutes.
Diamonds, real diamonds, are con-
sumed with apparently reckless in
difference in the wet grind room.
Placed in small tools they are used to
true the emery wheels on which are
ground the bearing surfaces OF the
crank shafts. They are bought in
$4,000 lots:
We looked on while whole forests
of lumber were being turued into
bodies in the word work department.
This lumber comes in by carloads.
As 214 feet of wood is required on a
small touring car, we could readily
see why so much was required.
You make this round and you can
understand this company's immense
consumption of material-lS, 600, 900
pounds of solder annually; $500, 600
pounds of tin and lead for soldering;
1O,OOO,OO pounds of brass and cop
per; 100000 feet of steel tubing
and 1875, 900 tons of steel.
But what impressed me more than
all was the department in which ma
terials are tested. They have to know
thing is right before it goes into a
WHY'S Overland car. That's how
they safeguard the public.
Tests in the physical and chemical
laboratories are made in two ways.
Completed steel parts are subjected
to terrific tests. Axles are twisted
like rolls of taffy candy. Small bits
of steel, six inches long, cut from
completed axles, are attached at both
ends, and literally pulled apart.
The registering machine shows 2OO,-
600 pounds to the square inch nee
cessary to accomplish this, whereas a
resistance up to 125,000 pounds
would be proof of ample tensile
strength. Springs are tried for their
resistance.
Steel articles are also put thro ugh
both heat and chemical tests. The
former determines the amount Of
carbon, an important factor; the
other determines the chemical COM
position of the steel.
Naturally every operation in all
the plants tends finall toward the as
sembly con3eyor tracks. There are
four of them, each 645 feet long.
We followed the whole operation.
We began at one end where the
frames and rear systems are put in
place. By the time the other end of