114 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



do anything along the line of drop forging, but it would be entirely 

 practical to do machine forging. 



To mention on]j one line of work that miglit be done, we have a great 

 deal of iron and steel scrap in short rods that accumulates from various 

 sources. These scrap rods could be worked up into forged bolts and 

 nuts. There is enough scrap available to supply all bolts and uuts 

 used by the shops and power plant. This machine would give 

 the students experience in setting up and operating on a production basis, 

 also give the opportunity to make and try out various forms of dies. 

 This would give them a cliance to see that the dies were i)roperly harden- 

 ed. If a die would stand up in actual service, everyone would feel that 

 it was properly made. 



MACHINE SHOP. 



Modern machine tools are now made as largely automatic as possible. 

 There are several reasons for the introduction of automatic machinery 

 in modern shops. An automatic machine will do its work without the 

 human element. Automatic machines are set up by machine setters, 

 and all that is necessary of the operator is to supply more stock. Auto- 

 matic machinery is typical of the highest class of machine tool design. 

 The skill of the designer is transferred to the machine. Automatic ma- 

 chinery can be run by unskilled labor, which is more plentiful and less 

 costly than skilled labor. 



We have no type of automatic machine in our machine shop; it 

 would, therefore, be extremely desirable to install an automatic turret 

 lathe. It would bring out the points mentioned above; it would give 

 tlie student the opportunity of setting up this machine for doing whatever 

 work was at hand. The jjolts and nuts made by the forge shop would 

 be threaded on this machine. The student would get the benefit of 

 setting up this machine for threading any particular size of bolt or nut 

 that would be required, and his experience in setting up would be had 

 even if he made only a dozen bolts. The various cams and other auto- 

 matic features of the machine would in that way be brought directly to 

 the student's attention, and the experience is very desirable. 



I do not agree with the idea that the automatic machine is unde- 

 sirable because it is suitable only for devouring stock. As actually 

 used in the factory that is what the machine is for. It is run by un- 

 skilled labor, and the quantities produced on the machine at one setting 

 vary from 5,000 to 100,000 or more, as, for example, machines used in 

 the Michigan Screw Company. They are set up only when a large order 

 is required, and then run continuously night and day until that order 

 is filled. Of course it would not be desirable to use the machine in our 

 shop in that way, and that is why I say that the student would get 

 the benefit of setting up the machine and operating it even if he pro- 

 duced only a dozen pieces. The next student that came along would be 

 given the job of setting up the machine for a different type of piece, 

 and in that way get his experience in setting up and operating. 



A universal tool grinder is urgently needed in order that advanced tool 

 making may be given. We also need a vertical boring mill, a universal 

 milling machine, a small punch press and a number of small hand tools. 



