IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING 'DUMMYS' OR 'FORMERS' FOR SHAPING, EDGE-MILLING, OR PROFILING MACHINES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Muir, of the Firm of William Muir and Co.,
Machine Tool Makers; of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING 'DUMMYS' OR 'FORMERS' FOR
SHAPING, EDGE-MILLING, OR PROFILING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Muir at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st July 1879
ALFRED MUIR, of the Firm of William Muir and Co., Machine Tool Makers, of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING DUMMYS'
OR FORMERS FOR SHAPING, EDGE-MILLING, OR PROFILING MACHINES."
'
· In making a "dummy" or "former" so as to mill a piece of work, the dummy
is usually filed to suit the desired form; now my improvement consists in milling
the dummy from a template or piece of work of the desired form. To accomplish
this the template and dummy are secured in the proper positions on a metal table;
this table is then placed on the machine and secured so that the dummy is in
position with the cutter, then the template will be in position with the dummy
pin; the operation of the machine goes on as if milling ordinary work. After the
dummy is milled to the desired form, the metal table is turned round and secured
on the machine so that the dummy is in proper position with the dummy pin.
The milling of the dummy may be accomplished by fitting the-dummy in the
position of the finished work, and securing the template in position for the dummy
pin.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Muir in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st January
1880.
ALFRED MUIR, of the Firm of William Muir and Co., Machine Tool Makers, of
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MAKING DUMMYS '
OR FORMERS FOR SHAPING, EDGE-MILLING, OR PROFILING MACHINES."
'
.3
My improvement consists in milling the "dummy" or "former" from a template
or piece of work of the desired form. To accomplish this the "template" and
former" are secured in the proper positions on a metal table or plate; this plate is
[Price 4d.]

page_text: then placed on the machine and secured so that the "former" to be milled is in
position with the cutter, which in this case is made taper, then the template will be
in position with the dummy. pin which is made parallel; the operation of the
machine goes on as if milling ordinary work. After the "dummy" or "former" is
milled to the desired form the metal plate is turned round and secured on the
machine so that the "former" is in proper position with the dummy pin. And in
order that my Invention may be fully understood, and readily carried into effect,
I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, reference
being had to the figures and letters marked thereon. Fig. 1 is an elevation, and
Fig. 2 is a plan of a shaping, edge milling, or profiling machine; Fig. 3 shews an
unfinished "former" in position for being milled by the conical cutter; and Fig. 4
shews a finished "former" in position on the machine ready for work. On Figs. 1
and 2, a is the ordinary parallel cutter on the machine spindle a; b is the ordinary
conical tracing pin or "dummy".pin; cis the plate on which the "former" and
work are fixed; d is the table of the machine to which the plate c is secured. On
Fig. 3, e is the conical cutter for milling the "former" to the required shape; fis
the, unfinished "former"; "g.is the template; and his the parallel tracing pin which
I use when making a "former." On Fig. 4 the parts of the machine shewn are in
position for ordinary work; a is the cutter; b, the tracing pin; f, the finished
former"; and i, the work to be milled. The mode of operation is as follows:-A
finished piece of work or template g and an unfinished "foriner "f having been
suitably secured to the plate c, the plate is first fixed on the table d with the
"former" under the spindle a¹, and the work under the tracing pin; a conical
cutter e is put in the spindle al, and a parallel tracing pin h used instead of the
ordinary one, and the machine is thus made to mill its own." former "exactly to
the required shape. This being done the plate is returned to its proper position on
the table with the "former" under the tracing pin and the ordinary cutter and
tracing pin fixed in position, and the machine is then ready to mill work to the
required shape. The "former" and work are by preference fixed upon a plate of
the same size as the table of the machine. This plate is to be secured to the table
by a screw at each corner, as shewn on Fig. 2, and these boles' must be drilled with
such accuracy as will admit of the plate being reversed or turned "end for end."
When fixed on the plate the centre lines of both "former" and work must accurately
correspond with those of the machine spindle and tracing pin or dummy pin.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same; I declare that I claim making "dummys" or "formers " for
shaping, edge milling, or profiling machines automatically in the manner shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Muir, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty eighth day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and eighty.