NEW FORM OF SECTION-CUTTING MACHINE. 275 



tlie same time, should that be considered necessary. The action 

 of fixing the article has also the effect of fixing the compressor 

 itself firmly to the table. Should the table begin to wear or move 

 loosely, it is easy to tighten it by a few taps of the hammer on the 

 lower cross bar of the framework. Bear well in mind that there 

 must be no shaking whatever permitted in any part of the machine 

 while it is being used for cutting hard material with the saw. 

 Observe also, that the screw (b) at its rear end is guarded on one 

 side by a collar, and on the other side by a nut and washer or 

 double jamb nut, so that any wearing may be easily rectified. I 

 mention those points because at different times workmen have 

 thought themselves justified in altering the plans on those very 

 points, thinking that they substitute a better. But in every case 

 the machine was injured, and the original plan had to be re- 

 verted to. 



Let us now turn to the side of the machine for cutting sections 

 of soft material, which has been added to the frame originally 

 designed for cutting hard material only ; and in the first place I 

 may remark, that while hard sections are cut perpendicularly with 

 the saw, soft sections are cut horizontally with a knife or razor, so 

 that while being cut the section may float off on some liquid with 

 which the blade of the knife has been lubricated. The machine 

 consequently stands on its edge, but is fixed with a clamp by means 

 of the slit cast in the iron sole plate or base, upon the table or 

 bench where it is proposed to use it. This side then may be 

 described as forming a cubical box, of which one side is wanting — 

 that one on which tlie sections are cut. The moveable table, and 

 the base or bottom of the box which is screwed upon it, form other 

 two sides which are movable, and by means of these the material 

 to be cut is fed or pushed upwards to the level of the free side, 

 where the knife works in cutting ; the right and left are other two 

 sides formed by the framework of the machine, and are firmly fixed 

 and parallel throughout. The sixth and last side is that one by 

 which the mass is compressed, or the cavity of the box altered 

 from 11 to ^ an inch in depth. 



This side (which has received from the workmen the name of the 

 " tray") moves only in one direction at right angles to the course of 

 the material to be cut, and has flanges cast on three sides to prevent 

 it moving awry or obliquely, either from side to side or from above 

 downwards. Moreover, the flange at the back or bottom, moving 



