PLAN No. 1030. MACHINE SHOP
Here all sorts of metals are worked, largely with machine tools. Machine shops are generally closed in so that the workmen are protected from the weather and are usually more or less heated. Much of the work requires standing, though workmen can often sit down at intervals while watching a piece of work on the machine. Since most of the work is done on power-driven machines and shops are usually provided with lifting and handling devices for heavy parts, work in the machine shop requires skill and intelligence but does not, as a rule, require heavy physical exercise.
Men employed include bench hands, machine hands, men who are familiar with the operation of one or more machine tools, machinist helpers and machine fitters (the latter put together machine parts and are able to fit, scrape, and ream, where necessary to secure tight, loose, and running fits), and all-around machinists or men who can operate all kinds of machine tools, fit parts on the bench, and erect or assemble all parts on the floor. A good machinist must be able to read all sorts of blue prints and drawings and must be able to make the necessary calculations for the various jobs.
Among the chief machine tools used are planers, boring mills, shapers, lathes, millers, drill presses, so-called “automatic machines” of various kinds, wet and dry grinders, and radial drills. These machines are of different sizes, according to the work to be done on them. In navy-yard machine shops some of the work is very heavy and the machines are very large.
PLAN No. 1031. BOILER SHOP
Here such fittings as boilers, condensers, smokestacks, and feed, filter, and fresh-water tanks are constructed from plates of sheet steel riveted together. These plates are got out from patterns or templates.
A boiler shop is usually closed in from the weather.
Among the men employed are blacksmiths, acetylene and oxy-hydrogen operators, layout men, men to operate various special machines for bending and flanging the plates, machinists, riveters, shippers, and calkers, drillers and reamers.
A good boiler maker must be able to read blue prints and lay out his work either on paper or metal.