From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Cost-effectiveness of hardness testing equipment for chassis crankshafts.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 132\1\ scan0011 | |
| Date | 31th December 1937 | |
| 116 BY & Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ~~Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}~~ RHC{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer}/.1/MND.31.12.37. CHASSIS CRANKSHAFTS. With reference to the above, we have looked into the question of a special Vickers machine and test rig as suggested in BY.23/G.13.12.37, for checking the Brinell of crankshafts hardened by subcontractors, and find that the cost of such equipment would be in the neighbourhood of £450, whilst the factory cost of testing each shaft would be about 2/6d. Additional nitriding equipment costing £2450 has been recommended which will enable all crankshafts to be hardened in the factory, and we therefore do not consider the Vickers testing equipment to represent a wise investment, because such testing will not be necessary when the hardening process is under our own control. The results at present achieved with the hardening of aero crankshafts are so consistent that it is only necessary to use the usual loose test piece for checking the hardness, and the same procedure will apply to chassis crankshafts in the future when same are dealt with in the factory. RHC.{R. H. Coverley - Production Engineer} | ||