Repository: UIHistories Project: Course Catalog - 1888-1889 [PAGE 53]

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52

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

PROJECTS AND PRACTICE.

scribed. The second year practice will have for its object the production of some model or machine. The students, under the immediate direction of the teachers, carefully determine the dimensions and shapes best suited for the parts of some machine, produce them in neat and accurate, working drawings, and make tracings for shop use. No student will commence his advanced shop practice without working drawings. The designs are such as require execution in iron, brass, and wood, for the purpose of giving variety of practice. The student is required to make the patterns and castings, finish the parts, and put them together in accordance with the working drawings and the required standard of workmanship. This acquaints him with the manner in which the mechanical engineer carries his design into.execution, and teaches him so to shape, porportion, and dispose the parts of a machine as to secure the greatest economy of construction and durability in use. The practice of the third year will include the careful construction of mechanical movements, strictly in accordance with the theoretical determination of the form of the parts. The steam engine, large drill press, one engine lathe, the hand lathes, the milling machine, and other machinery now in use,, were designed here, and built in the shop by students in the department. Besides these practical exercises, students of sufficient skill may be employed in the commercial work which is undertaken by the shop. For this work they receive compensation. This work includes all kinds of machine building and repairing, and will serve to extend and confirm the practical experience of the student. Experiments and Practical Problems.—Experiments in the testing of prime movers and other machines, are undertaken by the students. They take indicator diagrams from the engines of the Mechanical Laboratories, analyze-them, and by means of the friction brake determine the loss in engine friction. They make evaporative tests of boilers and determine the percentage of moisture in the steam by the use of the calonimeter.