Foundations of Mechanical Accuracy

Book excerpt: In his introduction to this book, George R. Harrison, Dean Emeritus of M.I.T.'s School of Science, writes as follows: "Basic to man's behavior is his ability to determine, modify, and adapt to his environment. This he has been able to do in proportion to his skill at making measurements, and fundamental to all other measuring operations is his ability to determine locations in the material world. Thus the science of mechanical measurements is a fundamental one. It is this science, and the art which accompanies and informs it, with which this book is concerned." This is the third book produced by the , Inc., of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Like all of its products, the book is marked by a clean precision of design and execution. The firm has built a worldwide reputation since 1924, both as a manufacturer of special tooling to extremely close accuracies and of machine tools that make possible a very high degree of precision. Wayne R. Moore has assembled in the 350 pages of Foundations of Mechanical Accuracythe company's intimate knowledge of and experience with mechanical accuracy, and how to achieve it. He has illustrated his text with over 500 original photographs and drawings. This book tells how to attain precision in manufacturing to millionths of an inch and how to control such precision by appropriate measuring techniques. The book is divided into four main sections: geometry, standards of length, dividing the circle, and roundness. A fifth section covers "Universal Measuring Machine Techniques and Applications." The book is printed in two colors throughout, and interspersed with full-page, full-color plates.