The scientific and technological progress will continue in engineering along in two main headlines. Firstly, it is automation, including the creation of “unmanned” industries. Secondly, raising the reliability and extending the service life of machines.

This certainly requires new technology. The machine modules on a large scale are well suited for “unmanned” industries.

Intense work is being carried out on new robots. What we need is not merely manipulators which can take up a workpiece and pass it on, but robots which can identify objects, there position in space, etc.

We also need machines that would trace the entire process of machining. Some have been designed and are manufactured. Modern engineering thinking has created new automated coal-digging complexes and machine systems, installations for the continuous casting of steel, machine tools for electrophysical and electrochemical treatment of metals, unique welding equipment, automatic rotor transfer lines and machine-tool modules for flexible industries.

New technologies and equipment have been designed for most branches of engineering.

In the shortest time possible the engineers are to start producing new generations of machines and equipment which would allow manufacturers to increase productivity several times and to find a way for the application of advanced technologies.

Large reserves in expanding service life for machines can be found in the process of designing. At present, advances methods have been evolved for designing machines proceeding from a number of criteria. Automatic design systems allow for an optimizing of the solutions in design and technology when new machines are still in the blueprint stage.

A promising reserve in increasing the life of parts is strengthening treatment. In recent years new highly efficient methods have been found.

First and foremost of them is the vacuum plasma method for coating components with hard alloy compounds, such as nitrides and carbides of titanium, tungsten and boron. Methods have been designed for reinforcing machine part most vulnerable to wear and tear, such as in grain harvesters, to make them last several times longer.

Thus, it is not merely quantity engineers and scientists are after rather it is a matter of major characteristics. In other words, this is a matter quality, and not of the mere number of new machines, apparatuses and materials.

Exercise 1.1 Translate the word-combinations:

Срок службы, передовые методы, электрофизическая обработка, модуль станка, система проектирования, составы из твердых сплавов, методы вакуумной плазмы, упрочнение деталей машин, гибкое производство, полностью автоматизированное производство

Exercise 1.2 Translate the sentences:

1. Much attention is being given at present to the modern equipment of research laboratories.

2. The idea of constructing a new auto plant was widely discussed some years ago.

3. Much is being done to improve the conditions for research work.

4. Wide investigation is being carried on in the field of machine-building.

5. Many old plants and shops are being expanded and reconstructed now.

Exercise 1.3 Answer the questions:

1. Name the main trends in modern machine-building.

2. What does automation include?

3. In what way can automation achieved?

4. What is the role of new technologies?

5. Give some examples of advanced methods for increasing the service life of machine parts.

6. How can the process of designing be improved?

7. What is the main task of the engineers and scientists developing new machines and technologies?

Text B. RELIABILITY

       Reliability is a basic requirement, plant or machine. The most ingenious machine is nothing but useless unless it is reliable.

At present the main defect in any machine is the different service life of its parts. The first to break down are parts with friction, the most numerous in any machine. Until quite recently scientists differed in there explanations of why parts subjected to friction break.

At present scientists are engaged in research into friction and were-and-tear resistance. The results of their comprehensive research will extend the useful life of units with friction by thirty to fifty percent as compared with what we have now.

Sufficient reliability and long service life of highly complicated automatic complexes, spaceships and assembly lines can be ensured by the high quality of their components, their accurate assembly and continuous checking while in operation, as well as by detecting faults as soon as they appear. This means that instruments are necessary for checking metal billets; all kinds of test installations and multiple switching control devices by which temperature, pressure and density in any part of a system may be inspected a number of times over a period of only one second. We need diagnostic system and many different types of flaw detectors and sensors because, as is known, reliability is the key which opens the way to large-scale automation.

Exercise 1.4 Answer the questions:

1. Why is the service life of different machine parts different?

2. What factors do the service life and reliability of complicated systems depend on?

3. In what ways can the quality of machine parts be inspected?