Hello. Have you ever wanted to speak like a highly skilled tradesperson but could never quite find the right words? Conversational Tradespeak 101 will help you talk-the-talk with no trades experience necessary. Each week we will look at some common, and not so common, trade terms. We will define the term before putting it to use in everyday conversation. We will also misuse the term for no particular reason other than a mild form of entertainment.
Term: Carbon Fibers
Trade: Mechanical Engineering
Definition: Carbon fibers or carbon fibres are fibers about 5–10 micrometres in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. Carbon fibers have several advantages including high stiffness, high tensile strength, low weight, high chemical resistance, high-temperature tolerance and low thermal expansion.
Proper usage: Carbon fiber is very popular in aerospace, civil engineering, military, and motorsports, along with other competition sports.
Improper usage: “The nutritionist told me I needed more carbon fiber in my diet and asked me what I thought about bran cereals. That’s was my cue to leave.”
Term: Archimedes’ screw
Trade: Mechanical Engineering
Definition: An Archimedes’ screw, also known as the Archimedean screw or screw pump, is a machine historically (and also currently) used for transferring water from a low-lying body of water into irrigation ditches. Water is pumped by turning a screw-shaped surface inside a pipe.
Proper usage: Archimedes screws are also used in chocolate fountains.
Improper usage: Lisa ordered a round of Archimedes Screws for all the women in her bridal shower. This was just before the police arrived.
Term: CNC
Trade: Mechanical Engineering
Definition: CNC is the abbreviated form for Computer numerical control, which is the automation of machine tools by means of computers executing pre-programmed sequences of machine control commands.
Proper usage: CNC is in contrast to machines that are manually controlled by hand wheels or levers, or mechanically automated by cams alone.
Improper usage: “I’ve stopped watching CNC. It’s all fake news bullcrap. One guy on there said the earth was flat and he could prove it by drawing the whole world on a flat piece of cardboard.”
Term: Fusible plug
Trade: Mechanical Engineering
Definition: A fusible plug is a threaded metal cylinder usually of bronze, brass or gunmetal, with a tapered hole drilled completely through its length. This hole is sealed with a metal of low melting point that flows away if a pre-determined, high temperature is reached.
Proper usage: The initial use of the fusible plug was as a safety precaution against low water levels in steam engine boilers
Improper usage: “Woah, Check out Ken with all that luxurious hair. The last time we played darts he was bald as a cue ball. I guess he finally got those fusible plugs that he was talking about.”
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