B. Machine-Building (Mechanical Engineering)

The mechanical engineering is highly intellectual creative activity.

Machine-building in Belarus is rather diverse. It includes: power engineering, electrical industry, machine tool and tool industry, instrument making, motor and bearing industry, tractor, agricultural machinery, machine-building for consumer goods and food industries and also household appliances. The leading sectors in the machine-building are motor industry, instrument-making and electrical industries, radio electronics, tractor and agricultural machinery engineering.

Do you know that tractors were first used during the 1870s? These tractors, called traction engines, were large, four-wheeled machines driven by steam. They were too awkward to be practical. Modern tractors have both speed and power, and are easy to operate. They runon either gasoline, or LPG, or diesel fuel. Power is transmitted through a rotating shaft to a gearbox having eight to 16 speeds and through a differential gear to the rear wheels. Many farmers prefer four-wheel drive, which improves traction in heavy soils, uses energy more efficiently, increases stability, and compacts the soil less as the tractor passes over it. Other contemporary tractor features include precision steering, electronic and microprocessor-based controls, reinforced cabsand frames (structures) for safety in case of rollover, seat belts, and air-conditioned cabs.

There are two major types of tractors: the wheel tractor and the tracklayer tractor, known as a crawler. Many farmers use all-purpose tractor because it does the variety of jobs, such as planting, cultivating and harvesting. It has high rear wheels. It also has either one or two front wheels placed close together. Crawler tractors are used for heavy jobs, for land clearing, and for work on soft or rugged land.

Both the tractor and the automobile are complex self-propelled machines consisting of separate interacting mechanisms and units that can be combined into certain groups. Irrespective of particular design features, all tractors consist of engine, driveline, running gear, steering mechanism, working attachments, and auxiliary equipment.

As agriculture developed, farmers applied machines to all operations. Farm machines have increased human productivity enormously. The machine-building enterprises of Belarus developed new types of commercial products. Truck tractors, side trucks, BelAZ dump trucks with a special body, heavy-duty trucks and a number of modifications of special vehicles were started up by the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant. The machine-building products account for a dominant share in the total exports of Belarus.

The Minsk Tractor Works produces various universal row-crop tractors, small tractors, motor units and mini tractors, municipal loaders, mine and forest operation vehicles. The other dominant enterprises in the sector is Production Association Gomselmash producing cutters, rippers, seeders, forest-planting machines, mini-tractors and grain harvesters, potato diggers, disk harrows, tractor ploughs, universal pneumatic seeders and other agricultural machinery.

The Machine-Tool Domestic Industry. The Belarusian machine-tool plants produce consumer goods, such as universal food processors, household wood workers, perambulators, high-security locks, cutting tools, kitchen sets, plastic products, farm appliances, car spares. Machine tools are known to be produced in many Belarusian cities: Molodechno, Pinsk, Homel, Orsha, Vitebsk and Minsk. Minsk plant MZOR (which was founded in 1908) produces machine tools which can perform various works. These are: turning lathes, grinding lathes, boring lathes, milling machines, slotting machines, mortisers, planersand other special and unique machines, etc.

Motor Industry. Belarus specializes in manufacture of various kinds of trucks and trains for interurban and international freight traffic, lumber carriers, trailers and semitrailers, city and international coaches, motor caravans.

And it also produces special-purpose vehicles and loaders. The industry has its own research designing and engineering institutes involved in developing new products, processes and equipment and develops cooperation with other countries.

Comprehension Check –II

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 1075