The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

70 MESSRS. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. 12 millimétrés (| in. bare) wide, the latter tools jutting ont 2 millimétrés (y1,- in.) over the wider ones, in order to divide the steel cuttings in two. These cutting tools are held in place, each by two screws, one at the back which acts as a thrust and serves to place them ail at the same distance from the centre ; the otlier holding the tool firm in its socket. The tools are manufactured entirely by a shaping machine ; each one requires 14 operations to give it the necessary form. A special process enables them, however, to be manufactured in quantity at the cost of 2d. type as the heavier ones, but the saw is .964 metre (38 in.) in diameter, and cames only 38 tools, 19 being 15 milli- métrés (f in.) wide at the cutting part, and the remainder 8 millimétrés (T5K in.). Planing and Finishing Armour Plates.—The plates on leaving the saws are cemented and water-harclened ; they are then carried back to the finishing shop to be given their final shape. This operation is completed by a series of planing machines of varions types, adapted to different natures of work. The edges of the plates are Fig. 160. Vertical and Horizontal Planing Machine for Armour Plates. each. The proper feed of the saw in the plate is insured by a screw which draws foi’ward the saw-carrying frame. The speed varies according to the hardness and thickness of the plates ; for nickel-steel plates .300 metre (11} in.) thick, the travel is .120 metre (4f in.), These machines can eut plates 8 metres (26 ft. 3 in.) long and .600 metre (23f in.) thick as a maximum. m. ft. in. Diameter of saw ................ 2.050 6 Speed at circumference per minute 4.200 13 The shop contains five large sawing machines and three smaller ones for thin plates. The latter are of the same usually surfaced with side-planing machines. The plate is fixed flat on a table, and the edge is brought under a travelling tool (Fig. 160). Several of these machines are fitted with special appliances for planing rabbets on curved plates. Figs. 161 and 162 show the arrange- ment foi’ planing turret-plates. Those for side armour, with a strong curve, are laid down on the slab, and a template, giving exactly the shape of the rabbet, is placed on them and serves as a guide. The tool-holder is free to move vertically, and carries a roller which travels on the template and Controls the eut. Motion is given to the