Great Field Trip Yesterday

Be patient with them, Errol, although I'm sure you are. Back in '57, I was told by the manufacturing superintendent at Sperry that I wasn't worth keeping after my 90 day probationary period. He wanted to fire me, and told me so. Had it not been for the kindness of one individual, a leadman at that time, I'd have been dismissed. He made me his personal project. He was promoted to supervision and worked with me, building my confidence and guiding me in the ways of the shop. It took ten long months to get my feet on the ground and begin doing good work, but I blossomed and became one of the better machinists in the facility (doesn't everyone think they're good?). I shudder when I think how inept I was back then. The term stupid would have done me justice. It takes time in grade to acquire the necessary skills to do it right, reliably. Many of us do a heap of growing along the way, as I'm sure you've witnessed.

I appreciate you comments about the care and level of professionalism in the shop at Sikorsky, and envy you your visit. I've stated often that doing fine work isn't what you do, it's what you are. Those that work in that capacity have a totally different outlook and feel for machining, especially those that are exceptionally talented.

Harold

Do not let the stupidity of adolescence get you down fix it and keep trying to spark ther intrest can you take me on the next field trip

Errol -

It is important to be or see peer types or those one would like to be types. I have known a number of school teachers in my day and those in the lower grades 9 and lower maybe 8 or lower - tend to think or limit their mind to that age group. The special ed teachers have to be rotated before they need help.

In this same sense, your students, even if not showing it, look up to you as a super peer in this types of tasks. Image is so powerful to the mind.

I remember spend> I had the opportunity to take a tour of Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford

They was just doing their jobs is all, as were you..........

And as will be at least some of those kids in the future.

Errol,

The gear cutting machines, they weren't Gleason Works machines by any chance ?

Regards, Bernd

Errol:

I'm certain my high school machine shop teacher often felt the same or worse about me. But, he persevered. Now, some 50 years later, and after 17 years of formal education, his name is one of only seven teachers I can remember. When I encounter friends fron those long-past times, we often talk about Mr. Shogrin--it's hard for teachers to see what their long-range impact will be

Hang in there Jan Howell

Wow Errol, living so close to you (school)and having known you for sometime, you didn't call me to tag along? ;) Your student's were quite lucky. Errol, at anytime you folks are welcome to come up to Mikron is see some really cool HSM stuff. We can really put on a nice show for them. Talk to them about advance technology, programming, automation, tooling and all the industries that we are involved in. Call me anytime.

gary

Errol, I saw your post and dragged out my copy of the "Source Book on Gear Design, Technology and Performance" from the ASM Engineering Bookshelf series. Lots of pictures of the cool stuff you have now been able to see first hand at Sikorsky. Did you see any of the giant Gleason gear checkers? You and your students are a lucky bunch.

Most probably they were.

If you visit Rochester NY, try to get a tour of Gleason Works. It's an incredible place, with a machine shop that you can eat your lunch off of its polished hardwood floor!

Harry C.

Careful now. If you have an aneurysm, you liable pop your last brain cell.

-- Lady Chatterly

"Oh, I feel real good about my oncoming hurricane now that Lady C has jumped into the discussion." -- Yomamma bin Crawdaddin

Doesn't know the meaning of the word fear, but then again he doesn't know the meaning of most words.

Great going. Let's hope you aren't breeding. Then again, maybe you'll be lucky and have some retards that are dumber than you.

Your verbosity is exceeded only by your inanity.

-- Lady Chatterly

"I agree with this bot's poast." -- Russell B Waters

Well Harry I worked there for over 30 years. I sarted as a two year apprentice back in 1969. Unfortunatley the hardwood floors have been replaced by concrete over the years. Down sizing has also taken it's toll.

Regards, Bernd

Yes, they were Gleason machines. Many years ago when I was an apprentice lad I ran a Gleason hobber for several months..

Several summers back I visited Gleason-Phauter in (I think) Illinois. They make the cutters (hobbs) used on the machines. A beautiful facillity, spotlessly clean and completely modern.

Once my wife and I were touring through the Ford-New Holland works in Lancaster county PA where they make farm equipment. I came across a fellow running a Gleason Gear hobber. I told him that I had run a similar machine many years before. He remarked that in the eighteen years he had been running the machine I was the first visitor who knew what he was doing!

I addition to the gear hobbers they (Sikorski) also had gear grinders and I was told that they were working to "tenths" in terms of size and tooth profile. Their gears are all made inhouse including heat treating. In helicoopters gears are a critical component and there is no room for error.

One neat thing was that they measure gear using rolls. The same technique I teach my students. On large gears where measuring over rolls is not practical they measure over a span of three teeth. I recall (was back in the dim past) learning that technique but really don't remember the details. Well, you can't temember evertyhing but it is good to know where to look it up and how to apply the necessary formulas.

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department H.H. Ellis Regional Technical School Danielson, CT 06239

Rochester eg? Darn. On the way home from Oshkosh this past summer I took the north route through NY. Had I remembered that Gleason is in Rochester I definitely would have made a point to visit.

Something to look forward to next summer.

As it was I took a swing down to Hammondsport and visited the Glenn Curtis museum. My thrid or fourth visit there but it is such a nice facility that it is a joy to visit. Of course maybe I am just easily amused.

Errol

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department H.H. Ellis Regional Technical School Danielson, CT 06239

Gary:

I realize that I didn't make clear that the visit to Sikorsky was part of a professional development activity, instructors only.

But had it been possible I would have gladly infvited you to come along.

I will try to keep it in mind for the future.

Errol

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department H.H. Ellis Regional Technical School Danielson, CT 06239

On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 00:28:47 GMT, "J. R. Carroll"

Although we were going past the area where the gears are inspected they were in a separate area and not in our view.

Errol

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department H.H. Ellis Regional Technical School Danielson, CT 06239

snip----->

Obviously the same method one uses to measure thread pitch diameter, too. It's the most reliable and precise way to measure as far as I know.

Harold