Modern Mechanical Engineering Vol-I

THE DETAIL OFFICE 25
Order-books.—One or more large order-books should be kept for
each job, and a duplicate copy of each order sent out should be inserted.
The drawing-office order-book is generally quarto size, and made with thin
sheets of white paper upon which the orders are pasted. A standard index
should be at the front of each book, and the order-sheets for different jobs
entered always in the same numbering of pages. The book should, more-
over, be split up into convenient sections, and a number of spare sheets left
between sections, so that a space may be provided for unusual orders, which,
of course, must be specially and appropriately indexed up.
Standard Drawings and Data.—In any large office a considerable
number of standard drawings are kept, whereby a very considerable saving
of time and labour is effected. It is obvious that it is necessary to have
a uniform standard of bolting throughout the work, and, indeed, if the firm
can see its way to the adoption of the British Engineering Standards for
pipe-flanges, &c., so much the better, and the nearer we shall be to a standard
practice and the simplification of design and avoidance of difficulty in repairs.
Standards are generally constructed for pipe-flanges of different pressures
and material, standard dimensions of bolts, glands, riveting, and other parts
of the work that lend themselves to this process. In addition to this, books
containing all the dimensions and sketches of the different classes of small
fittings used, such as valves, cocks, &c., are kept, and it is only necessary to
indicate position of flanges and pieces they join and to add the standard
number, to completely specify the piece it is desired to have made. Portions
of the work which can be easily standardized in design, although perhaps
not in dimensions and scantlings, should be so treated that the addition of
the one or two variable dimensions should complete the sketch or order.
Miscellaneous Drawings and Sketches.—In any drawing office
there is always a mass of sketches and drawings received from outside,
which must be indexed and kept in an orderly fashion. These are either
kept in appropriate drawers or in individual pockets or dockets. When
drawers or dockets are not available, large square envelopes with tongued
flaps are a good temporary substitute. When the drawings are finished
with, they can be bundled together and put away in the storage safe, where
old records are kept.
These square envelopes should be marked on the; outside with the job
number and packet distinction, say, A, B, C, D, &c. Each print or tracing
kept in them will be Alf A2, A3, A4, &c., or B^ B2, B3, B4, &c., as the case
may be.
In folding prints it is a good, neat, and satisfactory plan to fold them in
Admiralty style, with title, number, and date received, and the origin of the
drawing marked clearly OB the outer portion. In putting prints back in the
dockets, they should always be put back strictly in order so as to minimize
loss of time in future searches. It is attention to these small details which
tells favourably on the efficiency of an office—saving time, worry, and
misund ers tanding.
All alterations to prints should be made in red " blue-print " corrector,