COMPONENTS AND ASSEMBLIES

Explaining and Assessing Manufacturing Techniques

 Describing a process: sequence connectors

In technical language, it is vital to give accurate descriptions of processes. A

process is a sequence of actions with related causes and effects. Here are
some sequence connectors:

First / Firstly / First of all … begins / commences with / starts with

In the first step/stage The first step / stage is…
To begin with
Secondly, After this,
Afterwards / Later The next step / stage is …
Then / Next In the following / next stage
Subsequently
So far, Once…
Up to now
Beforehand Before this
Previously Prior to this
Earlier In the preceding / former / previous stage
At the same time/ Simultaneously During
Meantime / Meanwhile As / While
In the meantime When
Finally / Eventually … finishes / concludes with
At the end of the process The last step / stage is…
In the last stage
To finish,
Other useful expressions are:
To take place By means of…
To carry out (by) using ….
To occur / happen With the help of…
One method for / way of (…+
-ING) is to…

Describing design phases and procedures

31. The following extracts from emails relate to a project to build an
indoor ski complex in Australia, using artificial snow. The messages were
circulated by an engineer to members of the design team, and to a
specialist contractor.
Read the emails and, in pairs, answer the following questions. Note that
the emails are not in the correct order.
a) What are all the emails about?

b) What different types of documents are mentioned?

a) We now have a full set of working b) I attach a summary of our meeting
drawings for the main ski lift with the client last Tuesday. It
(attached). These incorporate some outlines ideas expressed by the
amendments requested by the client, client’s marketing team and describes
which have now been approved. Hard what an experience at the ski
copies have been forwarded to the complex should be like, from a
relevant contractors’ premises, for visitor’s point of view. We’ll be going
fabrication. through these notes at the project
kick-off meeting next Thursday, to
clarify the design brief, so please
formulate any queries before then.
c) Please find attached a full set of
preliminary drawings, as submitted to e) Please note that dwg 18A is
the client for approval/comments. currently being revised, to resolve
These are for information only at this problems encountered during
stage. assembly of the ski lift. Revision B
will be circulated next week. Until the
d) Attached are a few rough sketches amended drawing is issued, please
setting out the overall layout of the ski treat dwg 18A as superseded. If you
complex. At this point, these are initial require specific details urgently,
ideas based on the client’s please contact me, and I will arrange
suggestions and the approximate for a suitable sketch to be issued.
dimensions specified in the design
brief. I look forward to any feedback
by the end of this week.

Put the emails in the correct sequence.

1 2 3 4 5

32. Listen to Nasser Aziz, a Manufacturing Engineer. What do the numbers

refer to?

a. 225 kg ......................................................................................................
b. 3 minutes ....................................................................................................
c. 54 minutes .....................................................................................................
d. 21 minutes ......................................................................................................
e. 110 minutes .....................................................................................................
f. 10,000 ......................................................................................................
g. 240,000 .........

33. Describe what happens at each stage.

Language note:

Often, the names of tools (nouns) are exactly the same as the verbs that
describe their function, for example to saw with a saw, to drill with a drill, to
hammer with a hammer.
The concept of verbing (making verbs from nouns) is common in industry
when describing the functions of highly specific tools and machines, for
example to diamond drill (using a diamond drill), to jackhammer (using a
jackhammer/pneumatic breaker), to crane (lift using a crane).
Sometimes, however, the nouns that describe tools and machines differ from
the verb describing their actions, as the noun ends with -er, for example to
grind with a grinder, to power wash with a power washer.

34. Complete the following training material for graduate engineers

using the words in the box.

Drilling Flame-cutting Milling Sawing Shearing

Manufacturing Technique Evaluation: Cutting Operations

Key factors in determining the most appropriate cutting technique are:

material characteristics (notably hardness, and thermal and electrical
properties), component thickness, component shape and complexity required
edge quality, and production volume. Select cutting options below for a
detailed analysis of techniques.

CUTTING OPTIONS
(1) _____________: abrasive cutting, removing a kerf of material. Includes
cutting and abrasive wheels

(2) _____________: use of pressure on smooth-edged blades for guillotining

and punching.

(3) _____________: removal of material across the full diameter of a hole, or

using hole-saws for cutting circumferential kerfs.

(4) _____________: removal of surface layers with multiple cutting wheel

passes.

(5) _____________: using oxy fuel (oxygen + combustible gas, often

acetylene).
 35. Complete the following definitions using the words in the box.

Abrasive Wheel Guillotine Hole-saw Kerf Punch Toothed blade

A _________ makes holes by applying pressure to shear the material.

A _________ makes straight cuts by applying pressure to shear the material.
A _________ is the width of the saw cut.
A _________ has sharp edges for cutting or milling.
A _________ has a hard, rough surface for cutting or grinding.
A _________ cuts a circular piece to remove an intact core of material.

Explaining jointing and fixing techniques

36. Complete the following table using the words in the box.

Adhesive Bolt Clip Rivet Screw Weld

Mechanical fixing Non-mechanical fixing

37. Label the photos (1-6) with the words in the box.
Adhesive Bolt Clip Rivet Screw Weld

1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
Note
There are two main types of welding:
 gas welding – often using a mixture of oxygen gas and acetylene
gas, commonly referred to as oxy-acetylene or oxy-fuel (this
technique can also be used for cutting metal)
 arc welding – using an electrical supply to generate an electric
arc, which generates a high temperature.

38. Match the types of connection in the box to the following groups.

Bolting Bonding Connecting Fixing

Gluing Joining Riveting Welding

a) ________ __________ __________ = describes any kind of connection.

b) __________ __________ = describes mechanical connections only
c) ________ _______ ______= describes non-mechanical connections only.