Millwright

Last updated
Millwright
Occupation
Occupation type
 Vocational
Activity sectors
 Construction
Industrial manufacturing
Description
CompetenciesPatience, steady hand, ability to read plans, physically strong
Education required
 Industrial Training Institute, Apprenticeship
Fields of
employment
Construction
Industrial manufacturing
Related jobs
 Machinist, Maintenance Technician

A millwright is a craftsman or skilled tradesman who installs, dismantles, maintains, repairs, reassembles, and moves machinery in factories, power plants, and construction sites. [1]

Contents

The term millwright (also known as industrial mechanic [2] ) is mainly used in the United States, Canada and South Africa to describe members belonging to a particular trade. Other countries use different terms to describe tradesmen engaging in similar activities. Related but distinct crafts include machinists, mechanics and mechanical fitters.

As the name suggests, the original function of a millwright was the construction of flour mills, sawmills, paper mills and fulling mills powered by water or wind, made mostly of wood with a limited number of metal parts. [3] Since the use of these structures originates in antiquity, millwrighting could arguably be considered one of the oldest engineering trades and the forerunner of modern mechanical engineering. [4]

In modern usage, a millwright is engaged with the erection of machinery. This includes such tasks as leveling, aligning, and installing machinery on foundations or base plates, or setting, leveling, and aligning electric motors or other power sources such as turbines with the equipment, which millwrights typically connect with some type of coupling.

History

Before the modern era

Originally, millwrights were specialized carpenters who completely designed and constructed mills. Having a working knowledge of drive shafts, bearings, gearing and mechanical belts, they executed every type of engineering operation in the construction of these mills. They designed the patterns of the water wheel systems, carved their gear mechanisms, and finally erected the mill machines. [5]

In the Hellenistic period, Greek millwrights invented the two main components of watermills, the waterwheel and toothed gearing. Greeks, along with the Romans, were the first to operate undershot, overshot and breastshot waterwheel mills. [6]

Muslim millwrights adopted the Greek watermill technology from the Byzantine Empire, where it had been applied for centuries in those provinces conquered by the Muslims. They used several solutions to achieve the maximum output from watermills, by either mounting them to piers of bridges to take advantage of the increased flow or by using a shipmill, a type of watermill powered by water wheels mounted on the sides of ships moored in midstream. [7]

In Medieval Europe, millwrights built the first industrial mills which introduced new innovative uses of waterpower. A survey of the types introduced in Western Europe was conducted by Adam Robert Lucas. [8]

In China, in the late 14th century, the millwrights were known as jiang and kong (a special term for artisan-engineers) and existed at an early age. They learned their craft on the shop floor, in a kind of apprenticeship scheme. [9]

Sir William Fairbairn, a millwright of the late 19th century, wrote in his "Treatise on Mills and Millwork", "...the millwright of the late centuries was an itinerant engineer and mechanic of high reputation. He could handle the axe, the hammer, and the plane with equal skill and precision...he could set out and cut in the furrows of a millstone with an accuracy equal or superior to that of the miller himself." [10]

Modern era

The introduction of the steam engine and the increasing importance of iron and steel changed the global industrial landscape. It created specialisation and the birth of new trades (turners, fitters, machine makers, and mechanical engineers). It also changed the traditional job of the millwright.

As James F. Hobart wrote in his book Millwrighting, "The ancient type of millwright has passed away. He has gone with the old time carpenter and obsolete shoemaker - the former with 500 pounds of molding planes and woodworking tools, the latter with nothing but pegging and sewing awls, hammer, and knife..." [11]

Through the 20th century, the trade adapted to the change. Modern millwrights work with steel and other materials and must often combine the skills of other mechanical trades in order to successfully install industrial machinery or to assemble machines from pre-fabricated parts. Modern millwrights must also be able to read blueprints and other schematics to aid them in the construction of complex systems. Millwrights are frequently unionized, with estimated numbers of around 45% in the US. [12]

Modern millwrights

General characteristics

Millwrights install, maintain, repair and troubleshoot stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment in sites such as factories, production plants and recreational facilities. However, the exact duties of a millwright vary depending on whether they are unionized or not, with union rules typically being more restrictive than non-union situations, which may have their own job description.

On a typical job millwrights: [13]

Modern standards of practice for millwrights also require working:

Areas of specialty

Millwrights by nature of their profession have to be extremely well versed in many aspects of construction/demobilization. They may install a conveyor system at an airport one week and the following week work at an industrial wastewater treatment plant.

Power industry

Millwrights in the power generation industry can assemble, set, align and balance turbines or rotors, as well as install pumps, valves, cranes, fans, and travelling screens. Millwrights also perform critical lifts involving major components to be flown level at up to and within .005 inch (5 thousandths of an inch). Because of their training and expertise, Millwrights are generally chosen to work on tasks associated with flying and setting heavy machinery.

Training and education

Millwrights are also in demand as teachers for vocational programs, both at the high school level and in post-secondary institutions. Many high schools feature fabrication courses that include metal work, where the experience of a qualified millwright is valuable. Often, these millwrights are paid a premium based on their years of field experience.[ citation needed ]

Training

Millwrights must have a good understanding of fluid mechanics (hydraulics and pneumatics), and all of the components involved in these processes, such as valves, cylinders, pumps and compressors.

They are also trained to work with a wide array of precision tools, such as calipers, micrometers, dial indicators, levels, gauge blocks, and optical and laser alignment tooling.

Most millwrights are educated through apprenticeship programs where they receive a combination of classroom education along with a good deal of on-the-job training. For example, in Alberta, the term of apprenticeship for a millwright is four years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of technical training each year. [13]

Within the Steelworkers Union, known as the United Steelworkers or USW, the largest Industrial Union in North America, there is also a mix of both classroom and on-the-job training. Upon successful completion of required testing in blueprints, hydraulics, pneumatics, rigging, pipefitting, welding, burning, gears, couplings, and other various types of mechanical fasteners and machinery, as well as mobile equipment and other heavy machinery. A typical millwright serves a 4- year apprenticeship before becoming a journeyman.

Apprentices are usually paid a percentage of the average millwright's wage, and this percentage increases with experience.

A typical training course, to qualify as a millwright, may include, among others, the following: [14]

South Africa

In South Africa, the millwright trade (especially focused on the mining sector) enjoys a far more versatile description than in most other countries.[ citation needed ] Fields wherein South African millwrights may operate include:

At most trades training centers, prospective millwright artisans are required to have a certain level of theoretical certification (e.g. N3-Nated- certificate) and psychometric characteristics, judged by thorough testing, in order to qualify for the foundation practical and theoretical technical training.

After being trained in a multitude of different fields, novice, unqualified Millwrights enter in an apprenticeship for "on-the-job" training. There they work alongside all available artisans regardless of trade, depending on the institution. Once they meet a structured quota of experience and pass the necessary modules, apprentices have two months to prepare for their practical Trade Test. After they passed, they receive the certification and status of a qualified Millwright Tradesman. [15]

Once millwrights qualify, they have the opportunity to qualify as technicians, engineers, planners, foremen and many other routes requiring mainly electrical and mechanical expertise.

Many millwrights choose to enter the private sector to work on a contractual basis.

Prominent historical millwrights

A number of prominent early-modern civil engineers originally trained as millwrights, including:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydropower</span> Power generation via movement of water

Hydropower, also known as water power, is the use of falling or fast-running water to produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by converting the gravitational potential or kinetic energy of a water source to produce power. Hydropower is a method of sustainable energy production. Hydropower is now used principally for hydroelectric power generation, and is also applied as one half of an energy storage system known as pumped-storage hydroelectricity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water turbine</span> Type of turbine

A water turbine is a rotary machine that converts kinetic energy and potential energy of water into mechanical work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windmill</span> Machine that makes use of wind energy

A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, by tradition specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but in some parts of the English-speaking world, the term has also been extended to encompass windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications. The term wind engine is also sometimes used to describe such devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watermill</span> Structure that uses a water wheel or turbine

A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the production of many material goods, including flour, lumber, paper, textiles, and many metal products. These watermills may comprise gristmills, sawmills, paper mills, textile mills, hammermills, trip hammering mills, rolling mills, and wire drawing mills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water wheel</span> Machine for converting the energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power

A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of flowing or falling water into useful forms of power, often in a watermill. A water wheel consists of a wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving car. Water wheels were still in commercial use well into the 20th century, but they are no longer in common use today. Uses included milling flour in gristmills, grinding wood into pulp for papermaking, hammering wrought iron, machining, ore crushing and pounding fibre for use in the manufacture of cloth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mechanization</span> Process of changing from working by hand or with animals to work with machinery

Mechanization is the process of changing from working largely or exclusively by hand or with animals to doing that work with machinery. In an early engineering text, a machine is defined as follows:

Every machine is constructed for the purpose of performing certain mechanical operations, each of which supposes the existence of two other things besides the machine in question, namely, a moving power, and an object subject to the operation, which may be termed the work to be done. Machines, in fact, are interposed between the power and the work, for the purpose of adapting the one to the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tradesperson</span> Skilled specialist

A tradesperson or tradesman/woman is a skilled worker that specialises in a particular trade. Tradespeople (tradesmen/women) usually gain their skills through work experience, on-the-job training, an apprenticeship program or formal education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noria</span> Machine used to lift water into an aqueduct

A noria is a hydropowered scoop wheel used to lift water into a small aqueduct, either for the purpose of irrigation or to supply water to cities and villages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Line shaft</span> Rotating shaft historically used for power transmission

A line shaft is a power-driven rotating shaft for power transmission that was used extensively from the Industrial Revolution until the early 20th century. Prior to the widespread use of electric motors small enough to be connected directly to each piece of machinery, line shafting was used to distribute power from a large central power source to machinery throughout a workshop or an industrial complex. The central power source could be a water wheel, turbine, windmill, animal power or a steam engine. Power was distributed from the shaft to the machinery by a system of belts, pulleys and gears known as millwork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Roman engineering</span> Engineering accomplishments of the ancient Roman civilization

The ancient Romans were famous for their advanced engineering accomplishments. Technology for bringing running water into cities was developed in the east, but transformed by the Romans into a technology inconceivable in Greece. The architecture used in Rome was strongly influenced by Greek and Etruscan sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipefitter</span> Tradesman who works with mechanical pipes

A pipefitter or steamfitter is a tradesman who installs, assembles, fabricates, maintains, and repairs mechanical piping systems. Pipefitters usually begin as helpers or apprentices. Journeyman pipefitters deal with industrial/commercial/marine piping and heating/cooling systems. Typical industrial process pipe is under high pressure, which requires metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and many different alloy metals fused together through precise cutting, threading, grooving, bending, and welding. A plumber concentrates on lower pressure piping systems for sewage and potable tap water in the industrial, commercial, institutional, or residential atmosphere. Utility piping typically consists of copper, PVC, CPVC, polyethylene, and galvanized pipe, which is typically glued, soldered, or threaded. Other types of piping systems include steam, ventilation, hydraulics, chemicals, fuel, and oil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Greek technology</span> Tools and weapons used in Ancient Greece

Ancient Greek technology developed during the 5th century BC, continuing up to and including the Roman period, and beyond. Inventions that are credited to the ancient Greeks include the gear, screw, rotary mills, bronze casting techniques, water clock, water organ, the torsion catapult, the use of steam to operate some experimental machines and toys, and a chart to find prime numbers. Many of these inventions occurred late in the Greek period, often inspired by the need to improve weapons and tactics in war. However, peaceful uses are shown by their early development of the watermill, a device which pointed to further exploitation on a large scale under the Romans. They developed surveying and mathematics to an advanced state, and many of their technical advances were published by philosophers, like Archimedes and Heron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossary of mill machinery</span>

This glossary of mill machinery covers the major pieces of machinery to be found in windmills, watermills and horse mills. It does not cover machinery found in modern factories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hierapolis sawmill</span> Roman water-powered stone sawmill

The Hierapolis sawmill was a water-powered stone sawmill in the Ancient Greek city of Hierapolis in Roman Asia. Dating to the second half of the 3rd century AD, the sawmill is considered the earliest known machine to combine a crank with a connecting rod to form a crank-slider mechanism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gristmill</span> Apparatus that grinds grain into flour

A gristmill grinds cereal grain into flour and middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that has been separated from its chaff in preparation for grinding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocking Foundry</span> Historical industrial site

Cocking Foundry is an abandoned iron foundry in the South Downs of England. It was situated to the north of the village of Cocking, West Sussex and was active for most of the 19th century. The foundry's output included wheels for watermills, some of which remain in use.

References

  1. ↑ "Millwright". sokanu.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Industry Training Authority (ITA)". itabc.ca. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Evans, Oliver; Cadwallader Evans; Thomas Ellicott (1848). The young mill-wright and miller's guide, 12th edition. Lea & Blanchard.
  4. ↑ "Union Millwrights Machine Erectors". UnionMillwright.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. ↑ Oliver, Ron. "Millwright History". UnionMillwright.com. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Oleson 1984 , pp. 325ff.; Oleson 2000 , pp. 217–302; Donners, Waelkens & Deckers 2002 , pp. 10–15; Wikander 2000 , pp. 371–400
  7. ↑ HistoryofSciences.htm Archived 2007-12-25 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Adam Robert Lucas, 'Industrial Milling in the Ancient and Medieval Worlds. A Survey of the Evidence for an Industrial Revolution in Medieval Europe', Technology and Culture, Vol. 46, (January 2005), pp. 1–30 (17).
  9. ↑ Prak, Maarten; Jan Luiten van Zanden; et al. (2013). Technology, Skills and the Pre-Modern Economy in the East and the West, Essays Dedicated to the Memory of S. R. Epstein. Brill. ISBN   9789004251571.
  10. ↑ Fairbairn, William (1863). Treatise on Mills and Millwork, Part I. London: Longmans, Green and Company. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  11. ↑ Hobart, James F. (James Francis) (1919). Millwrighting (2nd ed., rev. and enl ed.). McGraw-Hill Book Company, inc.; [etc., etc.] Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  12. ↑ unionstats.com
  13. 1 2 Government of Alberta (September 2012). "Tradesecrets - Millwright". Tradesecrets. Alberta Government. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  14. ↑ millwright
  15. ↑ "Exxaro Integrated Annual Report 2010 - Human resources". FinancialResults.co.za. Retrieved 4 January 2017.

Sources

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