MACHINE DESIGNING
While the elements of success in actual engineering are general,
comprised by knowledge of well-known sciences and arts; yet the
accomplishments of their undertaking must necessarily be stamped with
the individuality of its creator, and along those lines that repeated
experiences have found necessary, to insure success.
In inventing and designing a new machine, one must first thoroughly
familiarize himself with its desired performance, as the success or
failure of his mechanical creation depends on how nearly perfect that
performance is, compared to established or desired standards; and the
performance of that machine when made will truly denote how well its
designer understood it, and his skill in mechanical manipulation to
produce it.
[Illustration: THE STEPS BY WHICH HE IS REQUIRED TO CLIMB AND
MOUNT THAT DESIRED EMINENCE]
Another important item of calculation must be the relative value of
the probable production of the machine, its quantity and quality, to
the cost of the machine.
Careful consideration must be given to the working conditions the
machine will have to be adapted to. These must include a careful
study of the substance to be worked upon in the machine, its
regularity or irregularity in shape, its constant or changing
conditions under various environments or seasons, and its general
peculiarities.
The cost of manipulating the machine must be considered, that is,
the required amount of power for its propulsion, and the cost of
maintaining its efficient mechanical performance for a certain
amount of production, or its durability, and its proneness to get
out of order. Nor must one fail to take into account the required
intelligence and skill to operate it.
While constantly and carefully bearing in mind the before-mentioned
objective points, the prospective successful inventor in designing
his machine, must carefully aim for cheapness of construction, which
can only be properly accomplished by designing the various mechanical
performances of the machine with the least number of parts, and of
the simplest form, requiring for their proper production the least
amount and cheapest kind of labor in the Pattern Shop, Foundry, and
Machine Shop, and, next to the creating of efficient and durable
machines, the greatest order of skill in a machine designer is
required in producing simple and cheap mechanical designs.
And yet this is not all that is required from him, even in the
mechanical line, but he must have such mechanical movements and parts
in his machine, as will enable him to secure a good patent on it,
which will insure him protection, at the same time carefully and
absolutely avoiding any possible infringement on others. In a measure
that can be avoided by looking up the copies of patents of similar
inventions.
Another important factor in determining the general design of a
machine, is the probable market for the same, as that must, in a
great measure, decide the justifiable expenditure for the initial or
first general cost, for bringing the successful machine into being.
[Illustration: INVENTORS SELDOM HAVE ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THEIR
ASPIRATIONS AND PROSPECTS.]
So much for the mechanical or engineering part of the invention.