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<DIV><FONT color=#000080>Thanks, Owen, I have the magazine and am =
familiar with
the quote. Still, this is based on tradition and handed-down =
'technology' rather
than test and examination. I've checked with various foundries and iron =
foundry
associations and have been unable to obtain any evidence of testing or =
research
that has gone into this question. Now, it may well exist but I've not =
yet found
it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=greyco@kingston.net =
href="mailto:greyco@kingston.net">Owen J.
Greyling RPT</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> August 26, 2002 10:59 =
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Foundry Castings</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> "Fine Woodworking" Techniques =
5, which I
purchased in 1983, has an article written by John Lively dealing with =
the
advantages of larger vintage woodworking machines made of cast grey
iron. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>qoute.... "Powermatic is =
licensed, he said,
to use the Meehanite process, a patented technology for making a high =
grade,
close grained grey iron that is superior for use in machinery =
castings. The
process ensures that the molecular constitution of the cast iron is =
consistent
from day to day and from year to year, a condition that makes milling =
and
grinding more efficient and that contributes to product =
uniformity. We
can control the aging time for our castings. He explained that the =
traditional
method of letting cast parts sit for months uncovered in the open air =
is still
the best means of relieving internal stresses created by the casting =
process.
Aging gives these stresses time to resolve themselves before the part =
is
milled and ground" ISBN 0-918804-17-5</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Del, if you are interested I can scan =
the
article, and fax to you. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Perhaps this is an entirely different =
process
then is used to make plates for pianos, but I somehow doubt it. I =
recall
seeing an article years ago about a foundry, I think in Europe where =
piano
plates were only one of the many products that were produced from the =
same raw
materials. I know Powermatic has a plant in McMinnville, Tenn. Perhaps =
they
have an R&D department. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Owen</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" =
size=3>>
....Foundry castings need time to "cure" for strength....<BR><BR>Do =
you have
any technical reference for this? I've been trying to track =
down<BR>solid
information on the subject for some time--but to no avail. It's =
long<BR>been
assumed and talked about--at least within the piano industry--but =
I'm<BR>after
specific details. What 'strength' parameters change over =
time?<BR>Stiffness?
Impact strength? Compression strength?
What?<BR><BR>Del</FONT><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>