Thread: Interesting website that's worth having a look at

Thanks Jim, what a great set of photos!!!!
The expertise to take on those critically precision jobs on such a huge scale is something to be in aw of!!!
I reckon those blokes are real heroes!!
My brother has a 6" X 18" lathe and I have a 15" X 36" lathe. When he comes to visit he always remarks just how much bigger my lathe is, well these guy's lathes make mine look really punie
Thanks for sharing.
I love workshop tours, of any sort

Interesting pictures.

Did you notice anything missing in those photos ? Something we all (hopefully) use each time we work metal.

No one was wearing any form of eye protection or safety gear at all that I could see - how times have changed.

Safety gear - look here lad, that's for pussies

Cheers

Rob

No eye or hearing protection but lots of people needed to do the work. Some great shoots of big iron

Originally Posted by chambezio

Thanks Jim, what a great set of photos!!!!
The expertise to take on those critically precision jobs on such a huge scale is something to be in aw of!!!
I reckon those blokes are real heroes!!
My brother has a 6" X 18" lathe and I have a 15" X 36" lathe. When he comes to visit he always remarks just how much bigger my lathe is, well these guy's lathes make mine look really punie
Thanks for sharing.
I love workshop tours, of any sort

Me too, I was in awe looking at and staring at these photos.

Thanks for posting the link Jim. I often wonder about how the lathes and other heavy machinery were built, the precision required, and the general design process.

I would love to take a tour of a similar manufacturing facility, if one still existed these days.

Thanks again,

Alan...

and not a computer even invented yet, the skills that were required before computers is to be marveled at

Thanks for posting

Wow that is really amazing. Thanks for sharing.

I especially like the shot of the factory floor with about 50 lathes, and the big gantry type mill. The big lathes are awesome too.

Originally Posted by Driftabout

No eye or hearing protection but lots of people needed to do the work. Some great shoots of big iron

Not sure what you guys are on about, the fellows welding all have face masks... OHS sorted.

they made felt hats tough in them days

Jokes and OHS aside, they would have done *something* after the first or second blinding/maiming. Ergo nobody got hurt(?)

Edit: and in at least one of those photos, the lathe operator is standing within the operating area of the chuck/faceplate..

Great link, thanks!

As far as the OHS issues go, the guy standing right at the chuck of the Ward turret lathe, the chuck has a safety ring around it, probably more to stop the cutting fluid going everywhere but it would stop chips too. Remember this is probably all HSS machining, which is much less likely to result in chips flying everywhere.

I love the guy with the oxy cutter cutting the crank parts out, boy thats a big cut! And the planer planing said parts with 2 cutters, a rougher and a finisher. The Asquith radial arm drill is a monster!

Cheers,
Ew

Im a bit confused by the gas axe. It looks like its meant to cut 2 parts simultaneously, but they seem to be making different bits on each end.
Can anybody shed some light as to how it works? Such as how are they cutting the arc?

Originally Posted by andrew_mx83

Im a bit confused by the gas axe. It looks like its meant to cut 2 parts simultaneously, but they seem to be making different bits on each end.
Can anybody shed some light as to how it works? Such as how are they cutting the arc?

Template on the table, axe on the work. Looks like there are several stations set up along the table. I'll say it again, its a monster cut! I wonder if it is power fed somehow......

Ew

Ah cool thanks. I get that from the first picture but the second one is a bit confusing as it looks like the guy is driving the head.

Monster cut indeed. Can you imagine to the cost of getting that cut out today! The steel alone would be a small fortune no doubt.