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ÚVOD
Učebné texty sú určené pre študentov inžinierskeho externého štúdia Fakulty
výrobných technológií TU v Košiciach so sídlom v Prešove. Cieľom učebných textov je
aktívne rozvíjať komunikatívne zručnosti a návyky v odbornej praxi, odbornú slovnú
zásobu v príslušných študijných programoch pre potreby inžinierskej praxe.
Učebné texty obsahujú 6 lekcií. Jednotlivé častí lekcií pozostávajú z odborných
textov, lexikálno-gramatických a komunikatívnych cvičení, ktoré boli zostavené tak,
aby umožňovali precvičiť slovnú zásobu, gramatické a funkčné štruktúry anglického
odborného jazyka a podporovali rozvíjanie komunikatívnych zručnosti študentov.
OBSAH - CONTENTS
ÚVOD - PREFACE …………………………………………….………5
OBSAH - CONTENTS …………………………………………………6
Unit 1 TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY ………………………………….7
Unit 2 MANUFACTURING ...........……………………………………..16
Unit 3 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS…...………......…. 25
Unit 4 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ..………………………….... 34
Unit 5 THE STRUCTURE OF METALS .............……………………... 44
Unit 6 AUTOMATION AND INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS …………… 51
POUŽITÁ LITERATÚRA – REFERENCES ..………………………..... 60
7
Unit 1
TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Switch on
1. How does technology affect our lives?
2. Can you describe the effects of new technology on your work?
3. Does technology have a mainly positive or negative effect on our lives? Discuss and
use some examples: fast travel, river pollution, nuclear missiles, less housework,
cheap power, noise pollution, road deaths, space exploration, overweight people,
global warming, easy communication, mass entertainment.
1 Work in pairs and answer the questions. Then read the text and check your answers.
1. What is the purpose of technology?
2. Can you name any examples of technology?
3. Can you develop a short definition of manufacturing technology?
8
The purpose of technology is to produce applications which improve our material
environment. The people who design, test and make these applications are called
technicians, technologists, and engineers. They work in areas such as civil, mechanical,
electrical, electronic and marine engineering, in newer fields such as information
technology (IT). They use scientific knowledge and technological experience in their
work. They often adapt older existing technology (e.g. radio waves) to create new
applications (e.g. mobile phones).
Technology is all around us and affects every aspect of our lives. Here are some
examples:
transport - road, sea, and air travel; space exploration
telecommunications - mobile phones, fibre-optics, internet, satellites
trade - credit and debit cards, bank ATM machines, Business-to-business (B2B) internet
trade
work efficiency - washing machines, microwave ovens, computer software
power - heating, lighting, air conditioning
personal entertainment - DVDs, iPods, digital TVs, digital cameras
health - lasers in eye surgery, pharmaceuticals
safety and security - ABS brakes, air bags, sensors, smoke detectors
food-food processing, agriculture
information management - computer databases, search engines, business software
infrastructure - roads, buildings, sewerage, waste disposal, water supply
manufacturing - robotics in mass production (manufacturing an item in very large
numbers)
2 Complete the text with the suitable words.
Because technology is so important in society, technicians, ____________ and
engineers always have to think about values, that is, whether something is good or
_________. Unfortunately, some technology has both __________ and negative effects
on society. Using minerals such as oil, coal, iron, and uranium improves our standard of
__________, but can also pollute the air, _________ and ground. The same rockets that
allow space ___________ can carry nuclear weapons. Road ___________ and planes
allow fast travel but also cause accidental deaths and create global __________. The
9
challenge for technology is how to increase the positive effects on society but reduce or
eliminate the ___________ effects.
Language spot
Past Simple v Present Perfect
• We use the Past Simple for things that happened at a particular time in the past
or during a period that ended in the past:
I travelled a lot when I was in the army.
• We use the Present Perfect to talk about past experiences but not when they
happened:
I've been to the USA.
• We use the Present Perfect for actions which happened during a period from the
past to the present: He's worked as a technician for eight years. (He's still a
technician.)
• We often start a topic using the Present Perfect and then switch to the Past
Simple:
A: Have you ever been to Norway? B: Yes, I went there in 2001.
1 Complete the text below about developments in radio and television. Put the
verbs in brackets in the correct form: Past Simple or Present Perfect.
In just over a hundred years, radio_______________1 (develop) into a major form of
entertainment and communication. Marconi ______________ 2 (invent) a wireless
telegraph system in 1896. This___________ 3 (be) the birth of radio. Voice
transmission_____________4 (start) in 1909 following the invention of the valve.
Semiconductors_______________ 5(make) it possible to develop much smaller,
portable radios. The introduction in recent years of digital radios ______________ 6(allow) us to enjoy much better sound quality. There ______________ 7(be) many
changes in television too. In the UK, the BBC _____________ 8(start) daily TV
broadcasts in 1936. Colour broadcasts_____________ 9 (begin) in the late 1960s. Since
the 1970s satellite broadcasting _______________ 10 (allow) viewers a wider choice of
10
programmes. The recent introduction of digital TV ______________ 11 (mean) better
picture and sound quality. Manufacture now ______________ 12 (develop)
entertainment systems which include television, radio, DVD recorder /player, and
computer. The Internet _____________ 13 (make) it possible to enjoy radio and
television from around the world on our PCs.
Reading
The entertainment industry
1 In small groups, ask students to find out how many in their group use each
device for listening to music. Then read the text and explain some expressions and
abbreviations which are used in the text.
The entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing areas of technology.
Manufacturers have developed a range of personal entertainment devices designed for
use by people on the move as well as larger home entertainment devices. All of this
hardware depends on digital electronics.
Personal devices (which are often small enough to be handheld) include music players
like Apple's iPod, portable media centres which can play video and audio, and portable
games consoles such as Sony's Playstation Portable. Home entertainment devices
include HD ( h_______ d_____________ ) televisions, home games consoles which are
plugged into a television and have controllers for a number of players to play against
each other and domestic cinemas which combine DVD (d_____________ v________
d________ ) players with hi-fi ( h________ f____________ ) sound systems and flat
panel LCD (l_____________ c___________ d____________ ) screens. Increasingly,
devices combine a number of functions. Some mobile phones can play music, show
videos, identify your exact position through the global positioning system and provide
wireless connections to the Internet.
Popular music is now commonly sold by downloading tracks (copying tracks to your
hard disk) from Internet providers such as Napster. In the future it may be possible to
download clips of films and TV programmes in the same way. A track is any short
complete musical item such as a song or instrumental piece: a clip is a short piece of
video or film. Illegal sharing of tracks damages the music industry, because if everyone
11
downloads tracks free of charge, the industry will make no money and eventually no-
one will want to produce any music or films. To prevent this, the industry is taking a
very hard line on anyone who is caught illegally downloading.
Video games have become big business. Companies such as Electronic Arts employ
large teams to develop the software for new games. The teams include computer
programmers (who produce the program code for the games), animators and artists.
There are many types of video games including racing games, FPS (f__________
p_____________ s_____________), RPG (r_______- p_____________ g___________),
simulations (imitations of real-life situations) such as flight simulators or racing car
simulators, adventure games, and sports games.
Some games are for individual use, others are team games and some are for playing
online with players around the world. MMOG (m______________
m_________________ o______________ g___________) is proving extremely popular
because of the extra speed provided by broadband internet connections and the
possibility of receiving software updates (newer versions) quickly online. Some games
have a more serious purpose. The US military use video games and simulations in their
training.
Useful expressions
� portable hard disk devices include MP3 players, iPods, and similar portable
devices which can download music from the internet;
� MPS stands for MPEG Audio Layer 3. It is a compressed digital sound file format.
MP3 files are only around one-tenth the size of an original CD file, but the sound
quality is the same. It is the most popular means of transferring music on the
Internet.
2 Work in pairs and answer the questions. Then read the text and check your
answers.
1. What does VoIP stand for?
2. What is a packet?
3. What is a wireless hotspot?
12
How VoIP phone systems work
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems work by sending data via the Internet
in tiny packets. This is called packet switching. It works like this:
1. Your voice signal, which is analogue, is converted into digital data. If you have a
standard phone, you need an extra piece of hardware to do this called an ATA
(Analogue telephone adaptor). If you have an IP phone, it produces a digital
signal so you don't need an adaptor. You can also use your PC and a microphone
as a telephone.
2. The sending computer uses software to compress the digital data, much like MP3
files.
3. The data is divided into packets, each one 30 milliseconds long.
4. The packets are sent to a router which decides the best path through the Internet
for each packet. They will travel by many different paths. They will arrive at
different times and some may even be lost.
5. The receiving computer uses special software to store the packets and put them
in the right order. Because the packets are so small, you won't hear the
difference if some are lost.
6. The data is converted back to voice and played through your standard phone,
IP phone, or PC headphones.
If you have a wireless VoIP handset, you can make and
receive calls anywhere near a wireless hotspot. Some
mobile phones are dual-mode. You can use a mobile
phone network or wireless VoIP, depending where you
are.
3 Put the steps in the correct order to make a
flowchart showing how this type of VoIP phone
system works.
13
a) The packets are sent to a router.
b) The digital data is compressed by the sending computer.
c) The data is converted back to voice.
d) The receiving computer puts the packets back together again.
e) The voice signal is converted to digital.
f) The digital data is divided into very small packets.
g) The router sends each packet through the Internet by the best available path.
1 e 3 __ 5 __ 7 __
2 ___ 4 ___ 6 ___
Vocabulary
� Word groups
Some technical words look similar to each other but are used in different ways, for example , mechanic
(belongs to a group containing people and jobs) and mechanics ( belongs to a group of subjects).
1 Put the list of common technical words into groups using the table below.
mechanic mechanics mechanical mechanism
electron electronic electronics
technical technology technician
electricity electrical electrician
engine engineer engineering
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Subjects People and jobs Things Adjectives
engineering engineer engine engineering
14
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Speaking
The future of technology
1 Work in small groups. Discuss the predictions regarding technology. Decide
which ones are most likely to happen and when they will happen.
1. Medical robots will carry out operations, controlled by surgeons who may be
hundreds of kilometres away.
2. Tiny robots will be injected into our bodies to deliver medicine and to perform
surgery from the inside.
3. You will be able to interact with characters in a TV programme and follow a
storyline of your choice.
4. Planes will be controlled by computers which think like humans and are
therefore afraid to crash.
5. Cars will be made of composites, plastic, and fibreglass, and will be assembled in
six hours.
6. Cars will automatically drive at safe speeds and safe distances from each other.
7. You will be able to download your brain to a computer before you die.
8. Microchips will be stuck to your skin to form different circuits, including
computers. You'll be able to watch a DVD using your arm as a screen.
9. Business will be carried out in 3 -D virtual space, not in offices.
10. Active make-up will change to any shade you want.
11. Jobs like teaching children or nursing will continue to be done by people, but
most other jobs will be done by robots and computers.
12. We'll be able to 'grow' plastics and fabrics from molecules.
15
Problem – solving
1 Discuss the predictions regarding technology. Decide which ones are most likely
to happen and when they will happen.
1. You will be able to interact with characters in a TV programme and follow a
storyline of your choice.
2. Business will be carried out in 3-D virtual space, not in offices.
3. Planes will be controlled by computers which think like humans and are
therefore afraid to crash.
16
Unit 2
MANUFACTURING
Switch on
Manufacturing is about changing materials into products. Choose from the list and complete the table with the materials required for the products A – C.
alloy
rubber
steel
titanium
copper
plastic
wood
aluminium
___________________________________________________________________________________
1 Materials
Processes
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
A
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
C
17
2 Develop questions based on the text underlined below and then ask your classmate to answer them.
Manufacturing means changing raw materials into products using a range of processes.
For example, in bread manufacturing, you start with the raw materials: flour, water,
yeast, and fat. These materials are changed into a final product: a loaf of bread wrapped
in plastic foil. They are changed into the product by a number of processes or actions:
for example mixing, cutting, putting into tins, baking, cooling, taking out of tins,
spraying, slicing and wrapping.
In the past, these processes were mainly done manually (by hand), but now
manufacturers want to keep costs low, avoid waste, and make high-quality products as
quickly as possible. Increasingly these jobs are done automatically, using computer-
controlled automation. Food processing is an important area of automated technology.
The bread-making factory has more in common with a car assembly plant or with steel-
making than a traditional bakery in the past where bread was made by hand. (Assembly
means fixing together parts which have already been produced). It runs for 24 hours a
day and very little is done by hand. The work force is small so costs are low. A lot of
mass-produced food and drink comes from factories like this.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Useful expressions
� a process – is a sequence of actions which changes materials or assemble parts
into a completed product.
� a product – is a completed, finished item which can be sold.
18
� extrusion (n) is related to the verb extrude which means to push (or squeeze) a
substance out of a container. When you squeeze a toothpaste tube, you extrude
the toothpaste.
� injection (n) is the opposite process, related to the verb inject which means to
push a substance into a container. Doctors and nurses inject medicines into a
patient's arm.
3 Complete the text. Use the following words:
special, is pushed, by, water-cooled, covers, manufacturing, corrosion, caps, are made, is
applying, joining, improve, piston, injection.
Every type of manufacturing has its own __________ processes. In metal
_______________, impact extrusion is a process by which a sheet of metal
___________ or drawn up into shape. Aluminium cans _______________ in this way.
Bonding is _______________ materials using adhesives. Welding joins metals
____________ heating them to melting point. Plating _______________ a thin layer or
coat of metal to another metal to ______________ its appearance or to protect it from
_____________.
In plastics manufacturing, ______________ moulding is a common way of making
plastic items such as bottle tops, _____________ and CD ______________. The hopper
is a container or reservoir which feeds pellets (small pieces) of plastic into the barrel of
the machine. The ram is like a _______________. It pushes the soft warm plastic along
the barrel into the mould. The mould is usually ______________ ______________ to
allow the molten plastic to set quickly.
Language spot
Present Passive
• To describe a manufacturing process, we should answer these two important
questions about each stage in the process:
What happens? When does it happen?
19
• We can answer the What question using the Present Passive:
The ingredients are mixed.
• We can answer the When question by numbering the stages (1,2,3, etc.), or by
using sequence words (first, then, next, after that, finally), or time clauses:
1 The ingredients are mixed.
First, the ingredients are mixed.
After the loaves are sliced, they are wrapped.
• Where necessary, we should also answer these questions:
Where does it happen? Why does it happen? How does it happen?
• We can answer the Where question by adding information on the place the stage
happens: The ingredients are mixed in a steel mixer.
• We can answer the Why question using the infinitive with to:
The ingredients are mixed in a steel mixer to make dough.
• We can answer the How question like this:
The loaves are taken out of their tins (by) using suction.
1 Fill in the missing verbs using either the passive or active form of the verb.
Materials _______________ into a final product.
Manufacturing _________________ changing raw materials into products.
They __________________ into the product by a number of processes or actions.
In the past some processes _________________ manually.
The bread-making factory _______________ more in common with a car assembly
plant.
Some jobs _________________ automatically, using computer-controlled automation.
It _______________ for 24 hours a day and very little _______________ by hand.
2 Try to explain bold printed words and expressions in the following text.
Manufacturing activities must be responsive to several demands and trends:
1. A product must fully meet design requirements and product specifications
and standards.
20
2. A product must be manufactured by the most environmentally friendly and
economical methods.
3. Quality must be built into the product at each stage, from design to assembly,
rather than tested in after the product is made. Furthermore, the level of quality
should be appropriate to the product’s use.
4. In a highly competitive environment, production methods must be flexible
enough to respond to change in market demands, types of products, production
rates, production quantities, and on-time delivery requirements.
5. New developments in material, production methods and computer
integration of both technological and managerial activities in a manufacturing
organization must constantly be evaluated with a view to their appropriate,
timely, and economical implementation.
6. Manufacturing activities must be viewed as a large system, the parts of which
are interrelated. Such systems can now be modeled, in order to study the effect
of factors such as changes in market demands, product design, and materials.
Various other factors and production methods affect product quality and cost.
7. A manufacturing organization must constantly strive for higher levels of quality
and productivity (defined as the optimum use of all its resources:
materials, machines, energy, capital, labor, and technology). Output per
employee per hour in all phases must be maximized. Zero- based part rejection
(and consequent reduction of waste) is also an integral aspect of productivity.
Writing
Short sequence HOPPER
RAM HEATER
MOULD
21
1 Study the injection moulding machine. It is for manufacturing plastic products
like CD cases. Then put the stages in the injection moulding process in the correct
sequence. The first and last stages are done for you.
1. The hopper is filled with plastic.
a) The plastic is carried through the barrel by the rotating screw.
b) The hot plastic is injected quickly into the mould.
c) The plastic is melted by the heaters.
d) The plastic travels through the barrel.
e) The plastic is fed into the barrel.
f) There is enough melted plastic in the barrel.
g) The mould is cool.
h) The plastic is left to set before the pressure is removed.
i) The screw is pushed forward by the ram.
11. The finished moulding is removed.
Speaking
1. Work in groups of three. Make a list of at least nine food and drink products
which, like bread, are manufactured on a large scale.
2. Choose one from your list and try to explain to the others in your group how it is
made using your own knowledge of the process.
3. Now combine information as a group to try to make a better explanation. Using
any useful information your partners have provided, repeat the explanation.
4. The next person should now choose a topic. Continue until everyone has made
three explanations.
Useful language
I think... happens next. You 've forgotten about... What about... ?
22
Manufacturing
Study the common manufacturing processes.
From the list below, identify the process and method involved in each of these
operations.
1. Making a small circular hole in a metal sheet.
2. Joining two similar metals using heat.
3. Applying a permanent layer of chromium to a steel car body part.
4. Gluing wings to the body of an aircraft.
5. Spraying a component with tiny particles of resin and colour to make a
protective and attractive covering.
6. Cutting a metal sheet into two using a sharp blade.
WASTING
_________________________________________________________________________
metal metal, wood
turning (lathe) and milling drilling
(milling machine)
23
FORMING
metal metal metal
shearing punching and piercing bending
JOINING AND ASSEMBLY
______________________________________________________________________
metal metal, wood, plastic, fabric
arc welding and gas welding using adhesives
24
CLEANING AND COATING
_________________________________________________________________________________
metal
plating ______________________________________________________________________
metal
powder coating
25
Unit 3
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
Switch on
List the materials you know which are used in engineering. Combine your list with the others in
your group and classify the materials as metals, thermoplastics, etc.
1 Identify the main material in items of sports equipment. Tick the material used. More
than one answer is possible in some cases.
football baseball bat
_________________________________ _________________________________
leather / polyurethane / fibre-glass nylon / aluminium / wood
ice skates hang glider
________________________________ __________________________________
nylon / high carbon steel / wood aluminium and polyester / wood and
nylon / wood and acrylic
26
kayak
fibre-glass / aluminium / plastic laminates
___________________________________________________________________________
2 Read through the paragraphs 1-4 and find the most appropriate, in your opinion,
explanations of such physical properties as density, melting point, specific heat, and
thermal conductivity.
Physical properties should be considered in the selection and processing of materials because
they can have various important effects on manufacturing and on the service life of the
components. They can also affect design and compatibility with other materials, including
tolls, dies, and workpieces. Among the properties of particular interest are density, melting
point, specific heat, thermal conductivity and expansion, electrical properties, and
corrosion.
1. DENSITY
The density of a material is its mass per unit volume. Another way to express a material's
density is in relation to that of water. This quantity is known as specific gravity, and it has no
units. A significant role that density plays is in the specific strength and specific rigidity of
materials and structures. Density, which is generally defined as the relation of mass to volume,
is an important factor in the selection of materials for high-speed equipment. The low
resultant mass of the components in these high speed operations reduces inertial forces that
could lead to vibrations, to inaccuracies and even, over a period of time, to part failure.
Because of their low density, ceramics are used for components in high speed automated
machinery in machine tools.
27
Vocabulary
density - hustota, merná hmotnosť
mass - hmota, hmotnosť, masa, množstvo
unit volume - objemová jednotka,
jednotkový objem
specific - špecifický, merný
rigidity - tuhosť, húževnatosť
gravity - gravitačná sila
strength - pevnosť, sila,
resultant - výsledný
volume - objem, obsah
2. MELTING POINT
The melting point of a metal depends on the energy required to separate its atoms. The
melting point of a metal has a number of indirect effects on manufacturing operations. The
choice of a material for high-temperature applications is very important, especially in jet
engines and furnaces – anywhere heat occurs or is generated. Because the
recrystallization temperature of a metal is related to its melting point, operations such as
annealing, heat treating, and hot-working require a knowledge of the melting points of
the materials involved. This factor influences, in turn, the selection of tool and die
materials in manufacturing operations.
Another major influence of the melting point, generally known as a temperature at
which a solid melts, is on the selection of the equipment and of the melting practice in
casting operations. The higher the melting point of the material, the more difficult the
operation becomes.
Vocabulary
melting point - teplota topenia, tavenia
annealing - temperovanie, žíhanie
die - lisovnica, matrica, forma na liatie
pod tlakom
recrystallization temperature - teplota
rekryštalizácie
solid - tuhá látka
3. SPECIFIC HEAT
A material's specific heat is the energy required to raise the temperature of a unit mass
of it by one degree. Specific heat is a heat which is required to change the state of unit
mass of a substance from solid to liquid, or from liquid to gas, without change of
temperature. The temperature risen in a workpiece can decrease the product quality by
28
affecting its surface finish and dimensional accuracy, and can also result in
metallurgical changes in the material.
Vocabulary
unit - jednotka, celok
surface finish - stav, kvalita, úprava
povrchu
substance - hmota, látka
dimensional accuracy - rozmerová
presnosť
specific heat - merné teplo
4. THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
Thermal conductivity indicates the rate at which heat flows within and through a
material. Metallically bonded materials (metals) generally have high thermal
conductivity, while ionically or covalently bonded materials (ceramics and plastics)
have poor conductivity. Thermal conductivity is defined as a measure of the rate of flow
of thermal energy through a material in the presence of a temperature gradient. Because
of the large differences in their thermal conductivities, alloying elements can have a
significant effect on the thermal conductivity of alloys. When heat is generated by
plastic deformation or friction, the heat should be conducted away at a rate high enough
to prevent a severe rise in temperature. For example, the main difficulty experienced in
machining titanium is caused by its very low thermal gradients and, in this way, causes
inhomogeneous deformation in metalworking processes.
Vocabulary
rate of flow - intenzita prúdu,
prietoková rýchlosť
to bond - viazať, spájať
measure - miera, mierka
alloying element - legovací prvok,
prísada
severe – intenzívny
Useful information.
� effect - affect
These sentences mean the same:
1. What is the effect of technology on society?
29
2. How does technology affect society?
Here, effect is a noun and affect is the related verb.
3 Translate the paragraph THERMAL EXPANSION into Slovak.
The thermal expansion of materials can have several significant effects. Generally, the
coefficient of thermal expansion is inversely proportional to the melting point of the
material. Alloying elements have a relatively minor effect on the thermal expansion of
metals. Shrink fits utilize thermal expansion and contraction. A part with a hole in it that
is to be installed over a shaft, such as a flange or a lever arm, is heated, and then it is
slipped over a cool shaft or spindle. When it is later cooled, the part shrinks and the
assembly becomes effectively integral.
Other examples in which relative expansion or contraction is important are electronic
and computer components, glass-to-metal seals, moving parts in machinery that require
certain clearances for proper functioning. The use of ceramic components in cast-iron
engines also requires consideration of their relative expansions.
4 Read through the paragraph ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES and match the
terms in column A with their descriptions in column B.
Electrical properties are important in many advanced machining processes such as
electrical discharge, chemical, and electrochemical machining. Electrical conductivity
and the dielectric properties of materials are of great importance not only in electrical
equipment and machinery, but also in such manufacturing processes as electrochemical
grinding of hard and brittle materials. The influence of the type of atomic bonding on
the electrical conductivity of materials is the same as that of thermal conductivity.
Alloying elements have a major effect on the electrical conductivity of metals: the
higher the conductivity of the alloying element, the higher the conductivity of the alloy.
Materials with high conductivity, such as metals, are generally referred to as conductors.
Electrical resistivity is the inverse of conductivity. Materials with high resistivity are
referred to as dielectrics or insulators. Semiconductors are extremely sensitive to
temperature and to the presence and type of impurities. Thus by controlling the
concentration of impurities in a substance, electrical conductivity can be controlled.
30
Vocabulary
electric discharge - elektrický výboj
dielectric property - dielektrická vlastnosť
grinding – brúsenie
to refer to - označovať ako
insulator – isolator
atomic bonding - kovalentná väzba
A B
1.superconductivity a) materials with high conductivity, for example metals
2.superconductors b) phenomenon of almost zero resistivity that occurs in
some metals and alloys below a critical temperature
3.conductors c) the electrical properties of these materials are sensitive to
temperature
4.conductivity d) metals that possess superconductivity
5.semiconductors e) property of conduction heat or electricity
5 Develop questions based on the underlined words in the paragraph
CORROSION RESISTANCE.
Metals, ceramics, and plastics can be subjected to corrosion. The word corrosion itself
usually refers to the deterioration of metals and ceramics, whilst similar phenomena in
plastics are usually called degradation. Corrosion resistance is an important aspect of
material selection for applications in the chemical, food, and petroleum industries, as
well as in manufacturing operations. Corrosion leads to deterioration of the surface of
components and structures. Resistance to corrosion depends on the particular
environment and on the composition of the material. Corrosive media may be chemicals
(acids, salts), the environment (oxygen, pollution, and acid rain) and water (fresh or
salt). Nonferrous metals, stainless steels and nonmetallic materials generally have high
corrosion resistance. Steels and cast irons generally have poor resistance and must be
protected by various coatings and surface treatments.
31
Vocabulary
deterioration - poškodenie
phenomenon (mn.č. phenomena) jav
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6 Find the answers to the following questions.
1. What factors lead to the corrosion of a metal?
2. What does thermal conductivity indicate?
3. Why is density an important material property in manufacturing?
Speaking
1 Answer the following questions.
1. Which of the described properties are important for mechanical pencils, cookie
sheets for baking and beverage cans? Explain your answers.
2. Does corrosion have any beneficial effects in manufacturing? Explain.
2 Discuss these questions with a partner.
1. Why is electrical wiring generally made of copper?
2. Why are metals such as aluminium, stainless steel, and cooper so commonly
used in cooking equipment?
3. What kind of material should we choose for the heating elements in toasters?
32
4. Why are commercial airplanes generally made of aluminium and some titanium,
and why are some airplane components being replaced gradually with ones
made of reinforced plastics?
Language spot
made of, made from, used to, used for
• We use made of and made from to talk about the materials of which a product consists.
made of – is normally used when only one material is mentioned and the material has
not been processed or changed in any way (it lists the materials that a product consists
of): Some bottles are made of plastic.
made from – is normally used when more than one material is mentioned, and/ or the
materials have been processed or changed in some way (it emphasizes the result of a
process): Steel is made from iron and carbon.
However, in practice, these expressions are often considered to have the same meaning:
Some bottles are made of/ made from plastic. Steel is made of/ made from iron and
carbon.
• We use used to and used for to describe how materials are used.
used to: Rubber is used to make the pedals.
= subject + is/are used to + infinitive
used for: Leather is used for making footballs.
= subject + is/are used for + -ing form
We can use used to and used for in a similar way. Nylon is used to make/used for making a lot of different products.
Note: Do not confuse these expressions with be used to+-ing form, which means “be accustomed to”.
1 Complete the text with the suitable words and expressions.
The physical and chemical properties of materials can have various important effects on
manufacturing and on the s______________ l______________ of components. These
33
properties and characteristics should be considered during m_________________
selection because they affect d_________________, service requirements, and
c___________________ with other materials, including t____________, dies, and
w___________________. Thermal c__________________ and expansion are major
factors in the development of t________________ stresses and of thermal fatigue and
s______________, effects which are important in t___________ and d________ life in
manufacturing o_______________. Electrical and ch______________ properties are
important in many a________________ m___________________ processes such as
electrical-discharge, ch_______________ and e__________________________
machining.
34
Unit 4
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Switch on
What uses for information technology can you think of in different places or situations?
1 Match the examples of computer use in column A with the areas of application in
column B. More than one answer is sometimes possible.
A B
1. using barcodes to identify items and prices a) hospital
2. calculating the exact distance to a target b) airport
3. producing scale models of new designs c) supermarket
4. identifying an employee by his or her voice d) design
5. checking credit cards used for payments e) security
6. issuing seat numbers f) library
7. analysing blood tests g) military
8. storing employee records h) oil refinery
9. keeping a record of all borrowings i) the home
10. calculating the stress on a component
11. controlling the temperature of a washing machine
12. monitoring the safety of each stage in the process
13. warning when aircraft are too close
14. monitoring the life signs of a patient
15. comparing fingerprints
16. co-ordinating information from all parts of a war-zone
2 Explain the abbreviations in the text and define the underlined words.
Information Technology (IT) is the application of computers to all aspects of
technology. Computers can simulate different assembly methods so that the best can be
35
put into practice. They allow designs to be changed and defects (faults) to be corrected
easily and quickly. They also allow designs to be customized (manufactured following a
customer's individual specifications).
CAD (C__________ - a_________ d__________) has replaced working with paper and
making models from wood, clay, or polystyrene. CAD programs allow 3-D (three-
d______________) images to be produced on screen. Dimensions can be calculated
easily and the forces acting upon different parts of the structure can be shown. The data
can be sent to a rapid modelling device which will produce a solid model.
Once the design has been approved, the complete CAD file is imported into a CAM
(C______________ - a______________ m_________________ ) program, where the
machining operations are planned. This data is then converted into a set of instructions
which can be read by a CNC (C______________ n_______________
c_________________ ) controller. This automates all the machine tools which
manufacture the product. This whole computerized process from design to manufacture
is known as CADCAM.
The term CIM (C_______________ - i________________ m___________________ )
includes CADCAM but takes the process even further. In CIM, all aspects of
manufacturing including the supply of parts to quality assurance is computer controlled.
This permits faster production tirnes, a dramatic decrease in the number of workers
required, and a lower risk of human error. CIM also allows manufacturers to move part
of their operation to countries where costs are lower. For example, design may take
place in one country and manufacturing in another. Where international collaboration
involves different national companies in a single project, such as the Airbus, CIM
enables parts to be designed and manufactured in different countries then transported to
another location for final assembly.
36
3 Divide the following peripherals (external devices) into input and output devices:
mouse, web camera, joypad, printer, voice-over internet protocol (VoIP) phones,
scanner, flatscreen monitors, barcode reader, touchscreen, trackerball, keyboard.
input devices output devices
___________________________________ ________________________________
___________________________________ _________________________________
___________________________________ _________________________________
___________________________________ _________________________________
___________________________________ _________________________________
___________________________________ _________________________________
Reading
1 Read the following text.
Computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is now one
of the most important applications of computer science, affecting everybody who makes
or buys engineering products. Both CAD and CAM can be defined as the application of
37
computer systems technology to the design and manufacturing process, where CAD
refers to the design process and CAM to the preparation of data for the planning and
control of manufacturing process.
Today, constructing is simplified through the use of CAD, CAM and computer-aided
engineering (CAE) techniques. CAD allows the designer to conceptualize objects more
easily without having to make costly illustrations, models, or prototypes. The object to
be designed can be displayed on the graphics screen and the designer can modify the
object as well as consider alternative designs. The designer can also subject the design
to a variety of engineering analysis and can identify the potential problems. CAD can
rapidly and completely analyse designs, from a simple bracket to complex structure.
The working drawings, which have higher quality and better consistency than those
produced by traditional manual drafting, can be printed on appropriate hardware
connected to the computer. For example, the two-engine Boeing 777 passenger liner
was designed completely by computer (the so-called paperless design) with 2000
workstations linked to eight design servers. Unlike previous models, the airplane was
constructed directly from the CAD/CAM software, and no prototypes were built.
CAD involves the use of computers to create design drawings and product models.
CAD is usually associated with interactive computer graphics (known as a CAD
systems). CAD systems are powerful tools and are used in the mechanical design and
geometric modeling of products and components.
2 Find the words in the text corresponding to the following meanings.
a) to make something less complicated or difficult
b) to form an idea about what something is like
c) to think about something carefully before making a decision
d) to form a connection in your mind between different things
e) to show information on a computer screen
f) to change or influence something
g) monitor
h) drawing that may have changes made to it before it is finished
i) the first form of something new, made before it is produced in large quantities
j) relating to the principles and methods of geometry
k) possible problems
38
l) quickly
3 Read through the text and find the answers to the following questions.
1. How can CAD and CAM be generally defined?
2. What do CAD and CAM deal with in particular?
3. How can a designer benefit from the use of CAD software?
4. What is paperless design?
4 Translate the following terms into Slovak.
CAD _____________________________________________________________________
CAM_____________________________________________________________________
CAE_____________________________________________________________________
5 Match the headings with the description of the stages.
ELEMENTS OF CAD SYSTEMS
The design process in a CAD system consists of the following four stages: Documentation and
Drafting, Design Analysis and Optimization, Geometric Modeling, Design Review and
Evaluation.
1 ______________________________
At this stage a physical object (or any of its parts) is described mathematically or analytically.
The designer first constructs a geometric model by giving commands that create or modify
lines, surfaces, solids, and dimensions. The results of these commands are displayed and can
be moved around the screen, any section desired can be magnified to view details. These data
are digital and are stored in the database contained in computer memory.
2 _______________________________
After the geometric features of a particular design have been determined, the design is
subjected to an engineering analysis. This phase may consist of analyzing, for example,
stresses, strains, deflections, vibrations, heat transfer, temperature distribution, or dimensional
tolerances.
39
3 _______________________________
This stage is done in order to avoid difficulties during assembly or use of the part and to
determine whether moving members are going to operate as intended. Software, which has
animation capabilities, is used to identify potential problems with moving members and other
dynamic situations. During this stage, the part is precisely dimensioned to the full degree
required for its manufacture.
4 _______________________________
After the preceding stages have been completed, the design is reproduced by automated
drafting machines. At this stage, detail and working drawings are also developed and printed.
The CAD system also can develop and draft sectional views of the part, scaling the
drawings and performing transformations in order to present various views of the part.
Speaking
How do you think developments in IT will affect these areas of life in the next ten years?
a) commerce
b) work
c) the relationship between humans and computers
1 Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.
Computer-aided manufacturing involves the use of computers and computer technology to
assist in all phases of manufacturing a product, including process and production planning,
machining, scheduling, management, and quality control. Because of the benefits, computer-
aided design and computer-aided manufacturing _____________ (to combine) into
CAD/CAM systems. This combination _____________ (to allow) the transfer of
information from the design stage into the stage of planning for the manufacture of a product.
The database developed during CAD ___________(to store), then it
_____________(to process) by CAM into necessary data and instructions for operating
and controlling production machinery, material-handling equipment, and automated testing and
inspection for product quality. In machining operations, an important feature of CAD/CAM is
40
its capability to describe the tool path for various operations, such as NC turning, milling,
and drilling. The instructions (programs) are computer generated and can ___________ (to
modify) by the programmer to optimize the tool path. The engineer or technician
can _____________ (to display) and visually _____________________ (to check)
the tool path for possible tool collisions with clamps, fixtures, or other interferences.
2 Explain the following words and expressions.
animation
database
to dimension
to tolerance
to scale
to view details
to magnify
to avoid difficulties
3 Translate the information below into Slovak.
Computer-aided engineering simplifies the creation of the database, by allowing several
applications to share the information in the database. These applications include, for
example, finite-element analysis of stresses, strains, deflections, temperature
distributions in structure and load-bearing members, the generation, storage and retrieval
of NC data and the design of integrated circuits and other electronic devices. Using
computer-aided engineering, the performance of structures subjected to static or
fluctuating loads and to varying temperatures can now be simulated, analysed, and
tested more efficiently, accurately, and quickly than ever. The information developed can
be stored, retrieved, displayed, printed, and transferred anywhere in the organization.
Design can be optimized, and modifications can be made, directly and easily, at any time.
4 Form adverbs from the following adjectives.
simple
complete
direct
accurate
precise
effective
mathematical
analytical
quick
rapid
41
5 Translate each of the following sentences into English.
1. CAD umožňuje projektantom úplne a presne analyzovať rôzne návrhy.
2. Pomocou systémov CAD súčiastky môžu byť matematicky a analyticky
opísané.
3. Navrhovaný objekt je zobrazený na obrazovke počítača rýchlo a úplne.
4. Úpravy návrhov sa robia na počítači veľmi jednoducho.
5. Text môže byť vytlačený na zariadení, ktoré je priamo napojené na počítač.
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary
� Collocations
Collocations are words which are often used together. The verbs in column A are used in
computing. Match them with an appropriate noun from column B.
Example
download + pictures
A
click on
calculate
download
display
create
scroll up/ down
surf
select from
B
a menu
an icon
a page
pictures
the Web
costs
a new document
information
42
1 Use the phrases to fill the gaps in the sentences.
1. Flat screens around the airport display______________________ on all
arrivals and departures.
2. Click on the _________________________for PowerPoint to prepare a
presentation.
3. You can download __________________________ from your camera.
4. Spreadsheets are used to calculate_________________________.
5. Scroll down the _________________until you find the information you
need.
6. I normally spend at least one hour a day surfing ___________________ .
7. She created _________________________ to keep track of software
updates.
8. You can select from the _______________________ to choose which
application you need.
� Preffixes, -ise verbs
Some technical words in English begin with common preffixes. Knowing the meaning of
the preffix can help you work out the meaning of the whole word.
These prefixes are common in IT terminology.
Quantity
prefix meaning example
______________________________________________________________________
bi two bi-directional
uni one uni-directional
tera 1012 terabyte
giga 109 gigahertz
mega 106 megaherzt
kilo 103 kilohm
milli 10-3 millisecond
43
macro large macroinstruction
micro small microcomputer
multi many multimedia
Prepositions
prefix meaning examples
___________________________________________________________________________________
anti against anti-virus software
infra below infrared
intra within intranet
inter between Internet
hyper above, beyond hyperlink
tele distant, far telecommunications
Others
prefix meaning examples
auto by itself automated
cyber machine control cyberspace
super higher in quality or degree superhighway
Writing
Based on information about CAD and CAM summarize in several sentences how computers
contribute to design and manufacturing processes.
44
Unit 5
THE STRUCTURE OF METALS
Switch on
Why are some metals hard and others soft?
Why are some metals brittle, while others are ductile and can be shaped easily without
fracture?
1 Try to define the underlined words.
Structure of metals– that is, the arrangements of the atoms within metals. The structure
of metals greatly influences their behaviour and properties. Understanding the structure
of metals also allows us to predict and evaluate their properties. This helps us make
appropriate selections for specific applications under particular external and
environmental conditions such as force and temperature. Various other factors also
influence the properties and behaviour of metals. Among these are the compositions of
the metal, impurities and vacancies in the atomic structure, grain size, grain boundaries,
environment, size and surface condition of the metal, and the methods by which metals
and alloys are made into useful products.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Vocabulary
structure – štruktúra
impurity – nečistota, primes
composition of the metal – zloženie kovu
vacancy – diera
grain boundary – hranica zŕn
45
2 Answer the following questions.
1. How can you characterize the crystal and the crystalline structure?
2. What does a unit cell mean?
3. Can you name the basic atomic arrangements and some examples of metals that
use each?
The crystal structure of metals: When metals solidify from a molten state, the atoms
arrange themselves into various orderly configurations, called crystals. This
arrangements of the atoms in the crystal is called crystalline structure. The smallest
group of atoms showing the characteristic lattice structure of a particular metal is known
as a unit cell. It is the building block of a crystal and a single crystal can have many unit
cells.
There are three basic atomic arrangements and some of the metals that use each:
1. body-centered cubic (bcc) – alpha iron, chromium, molybdenum, tantalum,
tungsten, and vanadium;
2. face-centered cubic (fcc) – gamma iron, aluminium, copper, nickel, lead,
silver, gold and platinum;
3. hexagonal closed-packed (hcp) – beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, magnesium,
alpha titanium, zinc, and zirconium.
Vocabulary
crystal structure of metals – kryštalická stavba kovov
crystalline structure – kryštalická štruktúra
lattice structure – mriežka
hard-ball model –guľový model
alloying – zliatina
46
Figure: The body-centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure:
a) hard-ball model; b) unit cell;
c) single crystal with many unit cells.
Reading
1 Read the following text and then try to explain each of these terms.
allotropism
basal plane
body-centered cubic
crystal
face-centered cubic
grain boundaries
hexagonal close-packed
lattice structure
polymorphism
recrystallization
unit cell
Each sphere of these structures represents an atom. The order of magnitude of the
distance between the atoms in these crystal structures is 0.1 nm (10-8 in.). The models
47
are known as hard-ball or hard-sphere models. The way in which these atoms are
arranged determines the properties of a particular metal. We can modify these
arrangements by adding atoms of some other metal or metals, known as alloying which
often improves the properties of the metal.
Each atom in the bcc structure has eight neighbouring atoms, the fcc and hcp crystals
have the most densely packed configurations. In the hcp structure, the top and bottom
planes are called basal planes.
The reason that metals form different crystal structure is to minimize the energy
required to fit together in a regular pattern. Tungsten, for example, forms a bcc structure
because that structure involves less energy than other structures. On the same grounds,
aluminium forms an fcc structure. At different temperatures, however, the same metal
may form different structures, because of a lower energy requirement at that
temperature. For example, iron forms a bcc structure (alpha iron) below 912°C (1674°F)
and above 1394°C (2541°F), but it forms an fcc structure (gamma iron) between 912°C
and 1394°C.
The appearance of more than one type of crystal structure is known as allotropism or
polymorphism (meaning “many shapes”). Because the properties and behaviour of a
metal depend greatly on its crystal structure, allotropism is an important factor in the
heat treatment of metals and in metalworking and welding operations.
Vocabulary
basal plane – základná rovina, plocha metalworking – práca s kovom
2 Fill in the missing words:
There are three basic crystal ___________ in metals: body-centered ________ (bcc),
face-________ cubic (fcc), and ______________ close-packed (hcp). Grains made of
these __________ are not perfect; they contains various defects and imperfections, such
as dislocations, _____________, impurities, inclusions, and ________ boundaries.
Commonly used metals are polycrystalline – that is, they are composed of many crystals
or ________ in random orientations.
48
Language spot
Study these examples of adjective and noun pairs for describing the properties of
materials.
Adjective Noun
______________________________________________________________________
flexible flexibility
light lightness
strong strength
1 Fill in the gaps in this table with the missing adjectives and nouns.
Adjective Noun
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________ wind resistance
elastic ___________________________________
____________________________ plasticity
tough ___________________________________
soft ___________________________________
rigid ___________________________________
wear-resistant ___________________________________
____________________________ brittleness
hard ___________________________________
Problem – solving
1. Explain the difference between a unit cell and a single crystal.
2. In tables on crystal structures, iron is listed as having both a bcc and a fcc
structure. Why?
Pairwork
Work in pairs, A and B. Take notes from the text so that you can explain the main
points to your partner concerning deformation and strength of a single crystal.
49
1. Define anisotropy
2. Explain the meaning of elastic and plastic deformation.
Deformation and strength of a single crystal. When a crystal is subjected to an
external force, it first undergoes elastic deformation, that is, it returns to its original
shape when the force is removed. An analogy to this type of behaviour is a helical
spring that stretches when loaded and returns to its original shape when the load is
removed. However, if the force on the crystal structure is increased sufficiently, the
crystal undergoes plastic deformation or permanent deformation – that is, it does not
return to its original shape when the force is removed.
Anisotropy (Texture) – as a result of plastic deformation, the grains have elongated in
one direction and contracted in the other. Consequently, this piece of metal has become
anisotropic, and its properties in the vertical direction are different from those in the
horizontal direction.
Figure: Plastic deformation
of idealized (equiaxed) grains
in a specimen subjected to compression:
b) after deformation
Useful information
Similar but different
� elastic = able to change shape and able to return to its original shape;
� plastic = able to change shape, but unable to return to its original shape;
Opposites
� tough ≠ brittle (= easy to break)
� hard ≠ soft (= easy to cut into)
� rigid ≠ flexible (= easy to bend)
50
Try to solve the qualitative problems.
1. Explain your understanding of why we should study the crystal structure of
metals.
2. What is the significance of the fact that some metals undergo allotropism?
3. Describe your understanding of why different crystal structures exhibit different
strengths and ductilities.
4. Do you think that it might be important to know whether a raw material for a
manufacturing process has anisotropic properties? What about anisotropy in the
finished product? Explain.
5. Explain why the strength of a polycrystalline metal at room temperature
decreases as its grain size increases.
51
Unit 6
AUTOMATION AND INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS
Switch on
How can productivity be improved?
Can you explain possible applications for industrial robots?
Try to create your own definition of robot.
Key terms
arm
automation
control system
compliant end effectors
end effector
end-of-arm tooling
feedback devices
industrial robot
manipulators
manufacturing process
material handling
numerical control
productivity
wrist
1 Read the text and answer the following questions.
1. What are the differences between mechanization and automation? Give several
specific examples for each.
2. Why is automation generally regarded as evolutionary rather than revolutionary?
Mechanization runs a process or operation with the use of various mechanical, hydraulic,
pneumatic or electrical devices. The word automation indicates automatic handling and
processing of parts in production machines. Automation is generally defined as the process
of having machines follow a predetermined sequence of operations with little or no human
labour, using specialized equipment and devices that perform and control manufacturing
processes. Automation is achieved through the use of a variety of devices, sensors, actuators,
techniques, and equipment that are capable of observing and controlling all aspects of the
52
manufacturing process, of making decisions concerning the changes that should be made in
the operation and of controlling all aspects of it.
The word robot was coined in 1920 by the Czech author K. Capek in his play R.U.R.
(Rossum's Universal Robots); it is derived from the Czech word robota, meaning
"worker." An industrial robot has been defined as a reprogrammable multifunctional
manipulator, designed to move materials, parts, tools, or other devices by means of
variable programmed motions and to perform a variety of other tasks. In a broader
context, the term robot also includes manipulators that are activated directly by an
operator.
2 Complete the blanks in this scheme. Use the following words: elbow axis, teach
pendant, waist, wrist, forearm, waist axis:
53
3 Read the text and translate underlined expressions into Slovak.
Robot Components
To appreciate the functions of robot components and their capabilities, we might simulta-
neously observe the flexibility and capability of diverse movements of our arm, wrist, hand
and fingers in reaching for and grabbing an object from a shelf, or in using a hand tool,
or in operating a car or a machine. Described next are the basic components of an
industrial robot.
Manipulator. Also called arm and wrist, the manipulator is a mechanical unit that
provides motions (trajectories) similar to those of a human arm and hand. The end of the
wrist can reach a point in space having a specific set of coordinates, in a specific orien-
tation.
End Effector. The end of the wrist in a robot is equipped with an end effector, also
called end-of-arm tooling. Depending on the type of operation, conventional end
effectors may be equipped with any of the following:
� grippers, hooks, scoops, electromagnets, vacuum cups and adhesive fingers,
for material handling;
� spray guns, for painting;
� attachments, for spot and arc welding and for arc cutting;
� power tools, such as drills, nut drivers, and burrs;
� measuring instruments, such as dial indicators.
Compliant end effectors are used to handle fragile materials or to facilitate assembly.
These end effectors can use elastic mechanisms to limit the force which can be applied to
the workpiece, or they can be designed with a desired stiffness.
Power Supply. Each motion of the manipulator (in linear and rotational axes) is
controlled and regulated by independent actuators that use an electrical, a pneumatic, or
a hydraulic power supply. Each source of energy and each type of motor has its own
characteristics, advantages and limitations.
Control System. Also known as the controller, the control system is the commu-
nications and information-processing system that gives commands for the movements
of the robot. It is the brain of the robot; it stores data to initiate and terminate
movements of the manipulator. It is also the nerves of the robot; it interfaces with
computers and other equipment such as manufacturing cells or assembly systems. The
manipulators and effectors are the robot's arms and hands.
54
Feedback devices, such as transducers, are an important part of the control system.
Robots with a fixed set of motions have open-loop control. In this system commands are
given and the robot arm goes through its motions; unlike feedback in closed-loop
systems, accuracy of the movements is not monitored. Consequently, this system does
not have a self-correcting capability.
Classification of Robots
Robots may be classified by basic type, as follows:
a) Cartesian or rectilinear.
b) Cylindrical.
c) Spherical or polar.
d) Articulated, or revolute, or jointed, or anthropomorphic
Four types of industrial robots: (a) cartesian (rectilinear), (b) cylindrical, (c) spherical (polar), (d) articulated (revolute, jointed, or anthropomorphic).
Robots may be attached permanently to the floor of a manufacturing plant, or they may
move along overhead rails (gantry robots), or they may be equipped with wheels to move
along the factory floor (mobile robots). However, a broader classification of robots cur-
rently in use is most helpful for our purposes here, as described below.
Fixed- and Variable-Sequence Robots. The fixed-sequence robot (also called a pick-
and-place robot) is programmed for a specific sequence of operations. Its movements are
from point to point, and the cycle is repeated continuously. These robots are simple and
relatively inexpensive. The variable-sequence robot can be programmed for a specific se-
quence of operations but can be reprogrammed to perform another sequence of operation.
Playback Robot. An operator leads or walks the playback robot and its end effector
through the desired path; in other words, the operator teaches the robot by showing it
55
what to do. The robot memorizes and records the path and sequence of motions and can
repeat them continually without any further action or guidance by the operator.
Another type is the teach pendant, which utilizes hand-held button boxes that are
connected to the control panel; they are used to control and guide the robot and its
tooling through the work to be performed. These movements are then registered in the
memory of the controller and are automatically reenacted by the robot whenever needed.
Numerically Controlled Robot. The numerically controlled robot is programmed and
operated much like a numerically controlled machine. The robot is servocontrolled by
digital data and its sequence of movements can be changed with relative ease. As in NC
machines, there are two basic types of controls: point-to-point and continuous-path.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4 Answer the questions.
1. What are the basic robot components?
2. Can you explain the functions of each of the components of the robot?
3. Which part is called the brain of the robot?
4. What is the difference between the fixed-sequence robot and the variable-
sequence robot?
56
Language spot
Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs consist of a verb + an adverb such as down, off, on, out, up. Some of these
words can also be used as prepositions.
Many phrasal verbs have two meanings:
Look up, then look down. (a doctor speaking)
Look up any new words in a dictionary. (a teacher speaking)
1 Study these phrasal verbs. Put each one in the correct sentence.
carry out
close down
cut down
find out
give up
plug in
print off
set up
shut off
switch off
switch on
work out
1. In future robots will____________________ operations instead humans.
2. Will we _____________________ cars and use public transport?
3. We’ll be able to use the Web to ____________________ the answers to almost
every question.
4. It’s important that we ___________________ pollution in cities.
5. If you don’t have a dictionary, you can often ___________________ the
meaning of a new word from the words around it.
6. When you ________________ the petrol engine, the electric motor starts
running.
7. It’s my job to ___________________ all the equipment before the concert
begins.
8. Old industries will ___________________ but new industries will take their
place.
9. The first step is to __________________ and ___________________ the
equipment.
10. Click “Print” and select the number of copies to __________________.
11. To avoid electrical damage, always ___________________ the machine when
it’s not in use.
57
Reading
The future of technology
For robots to function less like machines and more like humans, they need to be covered
in artificial or synthetic skin. Which features of human skin does robot skin need to
copy? Choose from a-d.
a) sensitive to touch
b) sensitive to heat
c) stretchable
d) all of these
1 Now read the text and check your answer.
Robots are very good at doing the same task in the same place over and over again. In
factories and nuclear power stations more than a million robots behave in this way
every day.
For robots to work with people, for example caring for the old, they need to be much
more like humans. They need to be able to move like humans and adapt to new places.
They also need to be more sensitive to touch and temperature. In humans it is skin
which provides important information on pressure and heat.
Engineers at the University of Tokyo have developed an artificial skin for robots which
is sensitive to pressure and temperature thanks to a large number of sensors. In addition,
because it uses a mesh or net structure, it can be stretched by up to 25% and still retain
its sensitivity. This means it can be used to cover moving parts like joints.
This E-skin opens the way for much more sensitive robots. For example, walking robots
could use feedback from their feet to adjust to different surfaces. Robots in future may
be able to grasp different tools and use them as humans do. Domestic robots could pick
up and bathe a baby without hurting it. They would also be less likely to damage
themselves.
A lot remains to be done. E-skin will provide much more information than the robot
requires at any one time. Human brains can select only the important information.
Before robots can act like humans, they need to have brains like humans.
58
2 Read the text again to find the answers to these questions.
1. What sort of tasks are robots good for?
2. Typically, which industries make use of robots?
3. What do robots need in order to work with people?
4. How does E-skin stretch?
5. Why is stretchability important?
6. How could walking robots use information from E-skin in their feet?
7. How could E-skin help robots not to damage themselves?
8. What two features of E-skin would be important in bathing a baby?
Vocabulary
� Compound nouns Compounds nouns are often used in technical English. They consist of two nouns
working together. Study these examples.
car bodies = bodies of cars
plastic baths = baths made of plastic
injection moulding = moulding by injection
gas oven = oven which uses gas
gas canister = canister for gas
1 Explain compound nouns 1-8 in the same way.
computer covers ____________________
vacuum forming ____________________
pvc pipes ____________________
plane wings ____________________
power supply ____________________
wind pump ____________________
steel bearings ____________________
control system ____________________
59
Problem – solving
Discuss the following predictions relating to technology. Decide which ones are most
likely to happen and when they will happen.
1. Medical robots will carry out operations, controlled by surgeons who may be
hundreds of kilometers away.
2. Tiny robots will be injected into our bodies to deliver medicine and to perform
surgery from the inside.
3. Jobs like teaching children or nursing will continue to be done by people, but
most other jobs will be done by robots and computers.
60
Použitá literatúra
GLENDINNING, E. H. - Mc EWAN, J.: Oxford English for Information Technology.
Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.
GLENDINNING, E. H. - GLENDINNING, N.: Oxford English for Electrical and
Mechanical Engineering, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
GLENDINNING, E. H.: Technology 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
GREASBY, L. – GREENE, T.: Dictionary of Information Technology, 1997.
HORNBY, A. S.: Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English, Oxford,
2005.
MOFFATT, W.G., et al.: The Structure and Properties of Materials, 1976.
SMITH, E.H.: Mechanical Engineer’s. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1998.
Autor: PhDr. Marta Gluchmanová, PhD. Názov: Anglický jazyk v technickej praxi pre inžinierske externé
štúdium Vydanie : prvé Počet strán: 61 Náklad: 50 Vydavateľ: FVT TU v Košiciach so sídlom v Prešove
Rukopis neprešiel jazykovou úpravou. Za odbornú a jazykovú stránku zodpovedá autorka.
ISBN 978-80-553-0457-1
