Model Engineering Glossary

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c (centi)

The prefix c or centi indicates the unit should be multiplied by 10^-2.

See also: Decimal Prefixes.

Cadmium Sulphate

Chemical formula: CdSO₄

See also: Chemical Table.

Calcium

A silvery white metal which is obtained by the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride. One of the most abundant metal elements on Earth, but it never occurs as the pure element. more......

Caliper

A measuring instrument used to measure the distance between two points or the inside or outside dimensions of an object.

See also: Vernier Caliper.

Cam

A device for converting regular rotary motion to irregular rotary or reciprocating motion. Sometimes the effect of off-center lathe operations or the cam in an engine used to operate valves.

Camelia Metal

70.23 % Copper 14.75 % Lead 4.25 % Tin 10.2 % Zinc 0.55 % Iron

Capacitors

The basic laws relating to capacitors.

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Carbolic acid

Chemical name: phenol

Chemical formula: C₆H₅OH

See also: Chemical Table.

Carbide

Usually formed by fusing lime and hard coal in a furnace.

Chemical name: Calcium carbide

Chemical formula: CaC₂

See also: Calcium, Chemical Table.

Carbide Tools

Lathe cutting tools to which carbide tip inserts have been brazed or screwed, to provide cutting action on harder materials than the high speed cutters are capable of.

Carbon dioxide

A colourless gas exhaled by animals and absorbed by plants. It is formed by the complete combustion of carbon.

Chemical formula: CO₂

See also: Chemical Table.

Carbonizing

The process of adding carbon to the outer surface of steel to improve its quality by heat treating it in contact with a carbonaceous material.

See also: Case Hardening.

Carbon Steel

A broad term applied to tool steel other than high-speed or alloy steel.

See also: Colour Temperatures, Currie Point, Oil Hardening Steel, Steel.

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Carborundum

Used extensively as a grinding compound and in abrasive wheels.

Chemical name: Silicon carbide

Chemical formula: SiC

See also: Chemical Table.

Carriage

A principal part of a lathe that carries the cutting tool and consists of the saddle, compound rest. and apron.

See also: Lathes.

Cascamite

Trade name for a urea-formaldehyde glue. This is a waterproof resin based glue that comes as a white powder and is mixed two parts water to one part powder in a glass container. Note that it must be stirred thoroughly until it has a consistency of cream.

See also: Glue.

Case Hardening

A method for hardening low carbon content steels. more......

See also: Oil Hardening Steel.

Castigated Nut

A nut with grooves cut entirely across the top face used with a split pin to lock the nut and stop it from undoing. Often used in safety critical applications.

Cast Iron

Material properties. more......

Caustic potash

Chemical name: Potassium hydroxide

Chemical formula: KOH

See also: Chemical Table.

Cedar

A durable wood used in ancient buildings. Easy to work and strongly scented.

See also: Timber.

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Centres

The centre of rotation of an object.

or

A centre as used in a headstock or tailstock.

Centrifugal Starting Switch

A mechanism that disconnects the starting circuit of a motor when the rotor reaches approximately 75% of operating speed.

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Chalk

Chemical name: Calcium carbonate

Chemical formula: CaCO₃

See also: Calcium, Chemical Table.

Chestnut

Very durable and much like oak. Comparitavely easy to work and does not shrink much when drying.

See also: Timber.

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Chinese white

Chemical name: Zinc oxide

Chemical formula: ZnO

See also: Chemical Table.

Cinnabar

The ore of mercury. Occuring as red crystals.

Chemical name: Mercuric sulphide

Chemical formula: HgS

See also: Chemical Table.

Circle

See also: Conversion of Units, Sphere.

Ceralumin

2.5 % Copper 1.5 % Nickel 92.8 % Aluminium 1.2 % Silicon 0.8 % Molybdenum 1.2 % Iron

Chinese Silver

70.3 % Copper 13.93 % Nickel 13.33 % Cobalt 2.42 % Silver

Chromel

80 % Nickel 20 % Chromium

Coinage Bronze

95 % Copper 4 % Tin 1 % Zinc

Coinage Silver

7.2 % Copper 0.2 % Lead 92.59 % Silver

Colour Temperatures

The colour of a piece of steel may be used as a guide to it's temperature. These are particulalrly useful when hardening or tempering steel. more......

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Common Solder

50 % Lead 50 % Tin

Compound Wound Motor

• Operation is similar to shunt motor
• Powerful starting torque from main circuit winding

See also: Electric Motors.

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Conduction

This is the process by which heat flows from the hotter region of a substance to the colder region without there being any net flow of the material itself.

See also: Heat.

Constantan

60 % Copper 40 % Nickel

Convection

The heat is transfered from the solid or liquid by the surrounding gas. If the flow of gas away from the object starts by itself it is called natural convection. However, if the gas is forced past the object it is called forced convection. Note: convection may also occur within a fluid carrying heat away from a solid.

See also: Heat.

Conversion of Units

Conversion factors from Imperial to Metric to Imperial for length, area, volume, mass.

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Copper

Noted for being ductile and having good electrical and thermal conductivity. It forms the basis of a number of alloys e.g. brass and bronze more......

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Copper Sulphate

Trade name: Blue vitriol

Chemical formula: CuSO₄5H₂O

See also: Chemical Table.

Corronium

80 % Copper 5 % Tin 15 % Zinc

Currie Point

This is the temperature at which steel/iron loses its magnetic properties. For pure iron this is about 770°C.

Cutting Speeds

Tables of cutting speeds are useful when starting out in engineering or tackling a new material. A few tables are given in the following links for some typical materials.

See also: Drill Bits.

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Cyanoacrylate

Perhaps more commonly known as "Super Glue" or "Instant Glue".

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