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Narrator: today on
"How it's made"...
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Ambulances...
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00:00:32,068 --> 00:00:34,275
...Dining room tables...
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...Diatonic accordions...
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And acrylic awards.
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Historians believe
The notion of ambulance service
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Grew out of
The 11th-century crusades,
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00:00:57,965 --> 00:00:59,482
When the knights of st. John
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Transported wounded soldiers
To treatment tents.
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Today's ambulance technicians
And paramedics
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Carry on that tradition
In state-of-the-art ambulances
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Equipped to provide lifesaving
Care en route to a hospital.
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There are three types
Of vehicles
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Commonly transformed
Into ambulances --
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Minivans, trucks
With a closed driver's cab,
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And trucks with an opening
Between the driver's cab
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And the back storage area,
Like this model.
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The most important
Structural addition
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Is a stabilization bar
To diminish rocking
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When the vehicle
Is racing at high speed.
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Otherwise,
It's mostly a question
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Of retrofitting
A regular vehicle
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To give it the features
An ambulance needs.
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Workers begin
By cutting a hole in the roof.
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00:01:48,724 --> 00:01:52,068
This allows them to install
A raised, aerodynamic roof.
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The angle of the new roof
Lessens air resistance,
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Enabling the ambulance
To run more efficiently
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With more control.
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00:02:02,137 --> 00:02:06,000
Inside, meanwhile, they install
Fiberglass insulation panels
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With a fireproof metal surface.
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This insulation keeps the
Medical area warm in the winter
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And cool in the summer.
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Workers affix the raised roof
With adhesive caulking.
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The roof has integrated lights.
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Protruding lights
Would ruin the streamline.
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Workers measure carefully
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To ensure they center the roof
Perfectly.
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Now they spray glue
On the back of sheet vinyl.
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This highly durable
Antibacterial flooring
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Goes on top
Of a plywood subfloor
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They've installed on top
Of the truck's aluminum floor.
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00:02:44,827 --> 00:02:46,827
Now for the electrical system.
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They start by replacing
The truck's original grill
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With an ambulance grill
That incorporates lights,
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A siren, and loudspeakers.
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The truck comes equipped
From the automotive plant
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With certain options designed
For conversion to an ambulance.
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00:03:01,689 --> 00:03:03,862
For instance, instead
Of two regular batteries,
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00:03:03,862 --> 00:03:06,172
The truck
Takes four batteries --
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Two to power
The truck accessories,
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The other two to power
The equipment in the back.
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Now they assemble
The front console --
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An array of buttons and switches
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That control
All the nonmedical equipment,
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Such as the emergency lights,
The siren, and the headlights.
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There's also
A battery-life indicator
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And other system gauges.
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Once assembled,
The console goes into the dash,
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And workers test everything out.
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00:03:49,103 --> 00:03:51,172
The heating
And air-conditioning systems
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In the original truck
Aren't strong enough,
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So the ambulance factory
Adds an extra system of each
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To work in tandem
With the existing systems.
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The frame of the medical cabinet
Is made of aluminum --
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A metal that's lightweight
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00:04:05,379 --> 00:04:07,448
And, therefore,
Won't weigh down the vehicle.
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00:04:07,448 --> 00:04:10,413
The cabinet shelving is made
Of either plastic or fiberglass.
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It's molded to the contour
Of the vehicle,
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Maximizing storage space.
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After installing the suction
And oxygen systems,
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Electricians run the wires
For the cabinet lighting.
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Once the main
Electrical panel is in place,
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They can mount the cabinet and
Hook up the oxygen equipment,
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00:04:29,931 --> 00:04:32,724
The suction machine,
And the lighting.
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00:04:42,586 --> 00:04:44,586
A divider between the cab
And the back
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Gives the patient privacy.
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Vinyl-covered foam padding
On the ceiling
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Protects ambulance workers'
Heads when the vehicle jerks.
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This ambulance model
Has rotating lights.
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The red cover, called the lens,
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Is made of
Virtually unbreakable plastic
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So that it doesn't crack
From the air pressure
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When the ambulance is speeding.
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00:05:05,965 --> 00:05:08,655
The medical area
Has a swivel chair
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Positioned where
The patient's head will be.
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Within reach of the chair
Is the suction machine.
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The factory thoroughly tests it,
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Along with
All other medical equipment.
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A safety net
By the three-seater squad bench
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Protects the crew should the
Ambulance come to a sudden stop.
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This mechanism
Holds the stretcher in place
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While the ambulance is moving.
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The stretcher simply locks in,
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Keeping the patient
Safely immobile
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Until the ambulance
Reaches the hospital.
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Narrator: there was a time
When the dining room
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Was for formal dining only,
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And the style of dining-room
Furniture reflected that.
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Not anymore.
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Today's dining-room sets come in
Both elegant and casual styles,
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And there's something
To suit every decor,
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From contemporary to country,
From traditional to ultramodern.
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This factory makes
Casual dining-room furniture.
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It uses only durable hardwoods,
Such as birch and beech.
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It buys the parts premade
From a supplier.
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The workers here
Assemble the pieces
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And finish the furniture to
The customers' specifications.
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We're going to see
How they make tables.
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The parts arrive already sanded,
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But they still
Go through a machine
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That gives them
An additional fine sanding.
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This prepares the wood
For staining.
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Workers sand the solid-wood
Parts for the apron by hand.
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The apron will go
Just under the tabletop.
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Workers closely inspect
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All the components
Under fluorescent light.
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They look for any flaws
In the wood
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That they might have missed
During sanding.
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00:07:13,758 --> 00:07:16,931
It's critical that every
Imperfection be sanded down.
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00:07:16,931 --> 00:07:19,724
Otherwise, it will show up
As a glaring defect
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00:07:19,724 --> 00:07:22,103
Once they stain the wood.
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After all the parts pass
Inspection, assembly can begin.
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00:07:25,931 --> 00:07:28,413
First, they remove
The tabletop's extension piece,
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Called the leaf.
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They make sure the two main
Sections fit together perfectly.
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Then, using a template
To ensure the exact positioning,
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They screw on the runners --
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00:07:38,965 --> 00:07:41,793
The sliding mechanism
For extending the table.
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00:07:49,206 --> 00:07:53,965
Then they mount support pieces
Called stretchers.
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00:07:55,862 --> 00:07:57,862
After marking the position
Of the apron,
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Workers screw in steel braces
To level
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00:08:00,689 --> 00:08:03,137
And align the three sections
Of the table.
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This table will have a pedestal
Base rather than four legs.
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00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:10,275
After installing a part
Called the assembly plate,
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They lay down a series
Of metal templates.
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These ensure that
They mount the apron precisely.
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00:08:37,413 --> 00:08:40,241
Now that they've finished
Assembling the tabletop,
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They check its stability
And test the mechanics.
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If everything is up to par,
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The tabletop moves on
To the finishing department.
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The factory buys wood stain
From a supplier.
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To ensure that the colors are
Consistent from table to table,
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The factory tests the stain
Before using it,
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Comparing it to a color sample.
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00:09:08,379 --> 00:09:12,517
The staining operation takes
Place in the part of the factory
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Known as the paint kitchen.
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Each tank has a mixer inside
To keep the stain well-blended
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So that the pigments
Don't settle
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To the bottom of the tank.
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00:09:21,793 --> 00:09:24,758
This ensures
The color will be consistent.
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00:09:30,551 --> 00:09:33,655
There is a separate spray gun
For each stain color.
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After spraying the stain
Onto the tabletop,
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A team of workers
Quickly wipes off the excess.
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They have just 30 to 90 seconds.
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00:09:48,965 --> 00:09:52,482
Otherwise,
The shade will be off.
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Another inspection
Under fluorescent light.
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00:09:57,034 --> 00:09:59,034
Any flaw in the wood
They missed before
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Would definitely show up now,
Thanks to the stain.
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Every imperfection
Will be sanded down.
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00:10:07,620 --> 00:10:10,379
Now they spray the table
With sealant.
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This protects
Against variations in humidity,
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Which would make the wood
Expand and contract
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And eventually split.
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00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,517
Then they sand the sealant
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To prepare
For a coat of clear lacquer.
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The lacquer plays two roles --
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One functional, protecting
The wood from scratches,
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One decorative,
Giving it a mild sheen.
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To cure the lacquer,
All the table components
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Go into an oven
At 300 degrees fahrenheit.
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This also
Strengthens the finish.
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This factory specializes
In personalization.
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You can choose your stain color
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Or two colors
For a two-tone effect.
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You can also select
The shape of your tabletop,
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The type of edge and apron,
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And, of course,
The style of table legs.
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Narrator:
A diatonic accordion
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Is much smaller
Than a piano accordion
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00:11:11,068 --> 00:11:12,931
And is structurally different.
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It has 10 buttons, each of which
Produces two notes --
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One when
You push the bellows in,
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00:11:18,931 --> 00:11:21,620
The other
When you pull the bellows out.
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The diatonic accordion,
Also called a squeeze-box,
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Is a staple of cajun music.
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The accordion maker
Crafts the right-hand keyboard
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00:11:37,965 --> 00:11:40,896
From maple -- a hardwood.
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00:11:40,896 --> 00:11:44,551
He saws 10 slots,
Then drills 10 holes.
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00:11:44,551 --> 00:11:46,551
The keyboard has no keys,
Actually.
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It has 10 buttons.
They produce the treble notes.
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Now he turns the keyboard over
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00:11:52,034 --> 00:11:54,551
And hollows out the wood
With a router.
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00:11:54,551 --> 00:11:58,000
This creates space
For components to move.
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00:12:00,689 --> 00:12:03,068
Each slot in the keyboard
Will house a rocker --
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00:12:03,068 --> 00:12:07,862
A piece that links each button
To its corresponding air valve.
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00:12:07,862 --> 00:12:09,724
Now he builds the wind-chest --
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00:12:09,724 --> 00:12:12,034
The box
That houses the steel reeds
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That produce
The accordion's sound.
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00:12:14,655 --> 00:12:15,931
Moving the bellows in and out
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00:12:15,931 --> 00:12:18,413
Forces air through holes
In the wind-chest.
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00:12:18,413 --> 00:12:21,724
The buttons you push determine
Which reeds get this air,
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00:12:21,724 --> 00:12:23,758
Producing notes.
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00:12:23,758 --> 00:12:26,413
The longer and thicker the reed,
The slower it vibrates,
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00:12:26,413 --> 00:12:28,931
And the lower the pitch
Of the note.
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00:12:28,931 --> 00:12:30,586
The shorter
And thinner the reed,
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00:12:30,586 --> 00:12:33,413
The faster the vibration,
And the higher the note.
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00:12:33,413 --> 00:12:35,586
There are eight reeds
Per button.
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Pushing the bellows in
Activates four.
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00:12:37,758 --> 00:12:40,379
Pulling the bellows out,
The other four.
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00:12:40,379 --> 00:12:42,724
Using a hot iron,
The accordion maker
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00:12:42,724 --> 00:12:45,379
Seals the reed frames
With beeswax.
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00:12:45,379 --> 00:12:48,551
This prevents air from escaping.
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00:12:48,551 --> 00:12:50,551
Now back to the keyboard.
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00:12:50,551 --> 00:12:54,206
The accordion maker installs
10 valves made of maple wood.
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00:12:54,206 --> 00:12:57,068
Each one has a plastic rocker
On the end.
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00:12:57,068 --> 00:13:00,206
A spring ensures the rocker
Has just the right tension
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00:13:00,206 --> 00:13:02,448
To open
And close the valve properly
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00:13:02,448 --> 00:13:05,172
When the musician
Presses the button.
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00:13:07,241 --> 00:13:09,931
After staining
And varnishing the wood,
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00:13:09,931 --> 00:13:13,413
He glues a button into each hole
Onto the rocker inside.
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00:13:13,413 --> 00:13:16,310
Pressing a button
Triggers the rocker underneath
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00:13:16,310 --> 00:13:18,827
To lift the valve
And uncover the air hole,
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00:13:18,827 --> 00:13:21,482
Letting air
Hit the designated reeds.
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00:13:21,482 --> 00:13:24,965
The accordion maker now screws
The fully assembled keyboard
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00:13:24,965 --> 00:13:28,310
To the wind-chest.
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00:13:28,310 --> 00:13:31,655
Now he constructs
The left-hand keyboard.
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00:13:31,655 --> 00:13:34,310
He sets the reeds
Into the left wind-chest,
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00:13:34,310 --> 00:13:38,137
Using a hot iron and beeswax,
Just like before.
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00:13:38,137 --> 00:13:40,655
The valves in this keyboard
Are made of pine,
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00:13:40,655 --> 00:13:42,344
A more flexible wood,
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00:13:42,344 --> 00:13:45,448
Making them easier to install
In this enclosed space.
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00:13:48,689 --> 00:13:52,034
On the outside,
A decorative wood inlay --
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00:13:52,034 --> 00:13:55,517
A strip of ebony
And some rosewood detailing.
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00:13:57,689 --> 00:13:59,862
The left-hand keyboard
Has two buttons
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00:13:59,862 --> 00:14:02,137
Corresponding
To three reeds each.
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00:14:02,137 --> 00:14:04,724
It produces two bass notes
And two chords.
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00:14:04,724 --> 00:14:07,689
After staining
And varnishing the keyboard,
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00:14:07,689 --> 00:14:09,068
He hooks a spring
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00:14:09,068 --> 00:14:11,379
Between each valve
And the button that operates it.
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00:14:11,379 --> 00:14:15,034
He adjusts the spring tension
And checks the air seal.
241
00:14:15,034 --> 00:14:18,689
Then he stamps
The company name inside.
242
00:14:18,689 --> 00:14:20,689
Now he screws
The finished keyboard
243
00:14:20,689 --> 00:14:22,862
To the finished wind-chest.
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00:14:22,862 --> 00:14:26,275
Meanwhile, another worker
Prepares the bellows,
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00:14:26,275 --> 00:14:28,965
Which force air
Through the reeds.
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00:14:28,965 --> 00:14:31,310
The factory
Buys pre-folded cardboard,
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00:14:31,310 --> 00:14:34,379
Then cuts and assembles it.
248
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These diamond-shaped pieces
Of leather seal the openings,
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Preventing air from escaping.
250
00:14:47,827 --> 00:14:50,344
Now she glues fabric strips
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Inside the folds
Of the cardboard.
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This is purely for decoration.
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These stainless-steel covers
Reinforce the cardboard corners
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So that they won't perforate
From repeated movement.
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00:15:06,551 --> 00:15:10,896
Now she glues fabric strips
Onto the edges of the folds.
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This both decorates
And strengthens the cardboard.
257
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Now for the final assembly.
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The accordion maker
Nails the bellows
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To the left-hand keyboard.
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Why nails rather than screws?
Tradition.
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The left-hand keyboard
Has a hand strap.
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The right-hand keyboard,
A thumb strap.
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After nailing the right-hand
Keyboard to the rest,
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This $2,500 diatonic accordion
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Is ready
For a musical test-drive.
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Narrator: there was a time
When you'd be presented
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With a gold watch in recognition
268
00:16:18,344 --> 00:16:20,827
Of years of loyal service
To your employer.
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00:16:20,827 --> 00:16:23,103
Today, you're more likely
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To get a personalized memento
Cast in acrylic.
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Companies and organizations
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00:16:27,758 --> 00:16:30,586
Often choose to hand out
Custom-made acrylic awards
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00:16:30,586 --> 00:16:34,586
To recognize milestones
Or special achievements.
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00:16:38,241 --> 00:16:40,379
These aren't
Your run-of-the-mill plaques
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And trophies, but more
Like artistic sculptures.
276
00:16:42,896 --> 00:16:47,034
They're custom-designed
And cast in high-grade acrylic.
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00:16:47,034 --> 00:16:48,551
In the casting department,
278
00:16:48,551 --> 00:16:50,896
Workers make acrylic
By mixing monomer,
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00:16:50,896 --> 00:16:54,413
A clear, liquid chemical,
With polymer, a resin powder.
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Once cured, this thick, white
Mixture will be crystal clear.
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00:16:58,068 --> 00:17:00,724
To make colored acrylic,
They add colorants.
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00:17:00,724 --> 00:17:02,793
By creatively combining shades,
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00:17:02,793 --> 00:17:04,965
They can even
Produce special effects,
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00:17:04,965 --> 00:17:08,000
Such as a marble
Or granite look.
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00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:10,655
To cast simple shapes
With straight lines,
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00:17:10,655 --> 00:17:13,965
They use disposable molds
Made of thick cardboard.
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00:17:13,965 --> 00:17:15,862
This design
Calls for a blue base,
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00:17:15,862 --> 00:17:20,000
So they pour blue acrylic
To the first fill line.
289
00:17:23,172 --> 00:17:24,517
In two to three hours,
290
00:17:24,517 --> 00:17:28,137
The acrylic hardens
To a gelatin-like state.
291
00:17:28,137 --> 00:17:30,724
That's solid enough to bear
The weight of the next layer --
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00:17:30,724 --> 00:17:35,724
A clear one, which they pour
To the next fill line.
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00:17:35,724 --> 00:17:38,379
Now another two-
Or three-hour wait
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Until the acrylic can
Support a decorative object --
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In this case, a globe.
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00:17:44,034 --> 00:17:46,379
Once they ensure
It's properly centered,
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00:17:46,379 --> 00:17:48,206
They pour acrylic
To the next fill line
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00:17:48,206 --> 00:17:50,862
And wait two
To three hours again.
299
00:17:58,724 --> 00:18:02,103
Now they apply the client's name
And logo printed on acetate
300
00:18:02,103 --> 00:18:05,137
And pour the final layer.
301
00:18:05,137 --> 00:18:08,137
Once that hardens, it's off
To the curing department.
302
00:18:08,137 --> 00:18:10,758
There, workers load the pieces
Into a pressurized oven
303
00:18:10,758 --> 00:18:12,965
Called an autoclave.
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00:18:12,965 --> 00:18:14,793
It works somewhat
Like a pressure cooker,
305
00:18:14,793 --> 00:18:16,793
Forcing out
The trapped air bubbles
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00:18:16,793 --> 00:18:20,448
And curing the acrylic until
It's rock-hard and transparent.
307
00:18:20,448 --> 00:18:23,275
This takes 12 to 15 hours.
308
00:18:23,275 --> 00:18:25,620
Curved designs
Are cast and cured
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00:18:25,620 --> 00:18:28,448
In reusable metal molds
Like this.
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00:18:28,448 --> 00:18:30,793
The factory always casts a piece
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00:18:30,793 --> 00:18:33,275
Slightly larger
Than its final dimensions
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00:18:33,275 --> 00:18:35,793
To allow for shrinkage
During the curing process
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00:18:35,793 --> 00:18:38,379
And some loss through sanding.
314
00:18:38,379 --> 00:18:40,551
Workers sand each piece
Three times
315
00:18:40,551 --> 00:18:44,862
With progressively finer
Sandpaper to perfect the shape.
316
00:18:44,862 --> 00:18:47,517
Then to remove the marks
That sanding leaves behind,
317
00:18:47,517 --> 00:18:50,655
They buff the piece
On a cloth-covered wheel.
318
00:18:57,034 --> 00:19:01,034
Then they polish the piece
With an even softer wheel.
319
00:19:01,034 --> 00:19:04,931
This shines the acrylic
To a high-gloss finish.
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00:19:07,931 --> 00:19:11,586
When it's not viable to make
A mold for a particular shape,
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00:19:11,586 --> 00:19:16,275
They cast a starting shape, then
Machine it to the final shape.
322
00:19:16,275 --> 00:19:19,931
To make a sphere, for example,
They first cast a cube.
323
00:19:19,931 --> 00:19:22,586
They transform the cube
Into a cylinder,
324
00:19:22,586 --> 00:19:28,241
Then, working one side at
A time, into a perfect sphere.
325
00:19:28,241 --> 00:19:30,241
The automated tooling equipment
326
00:19:30,241 --> 00:19:33,724
Is all computer-guided
For ultimate precision.
327
00:19:58,379 --> 00:20:02,862
Some designs call for
Additional artistic features.
328
00:20:02,862 --> 00:20:05,689
For example, the factory
Can print artwork on paper,
329
00:20:05,689 --> 00:20:09,862
Acetate, or a metal plate,
Then embed it into the acrylic.
330
00:20:09,862 --> 00:20:13,862
Another option is to create
An opaque image on the surface.
331
00:20:15,931 --> 00:20:19,068
As we see here, once they finish
Machining the sphere,
332
00:20:19,068 --> 00:20:20,896
They apply tape
That's been laser-cut
333
00:20:20,896 --> 00:20:23,551
Into the shape of a world map.
334
00:20:23,551 --> 00:20:25,551
They sandblast
The exposed areas,
335
00:20:25,551 --> 00:20:28,724
Transforming the sphere
Into a globe.
336
00:20:31,896 --> 00:20:35,379
They can also engrave
The surface of a piece or,
337
00:20:35,379 --> 00:20:37,068
Using a special laser beam,
338
00:20:37,068 --> 00:20:40,896
Etch letters or a design
Right inside the acrylic.
339
00:20:45,793 --> 00:20:48,620
The creative possibilities
Are endless.
340
00:20:48,620 --> 00:20:51,793
The infinite combinations
Of shapes, colors,
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00:20:51,793 --> 00:20:54,137
Embedded objects,
And artistic features
342
00:20:54,137 --> 00:20:59,931
Make these acrylic awards highly
Customized and clearly unique.
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00:21:18,068 --> 00:21:20,241
If you have any comments
About the show
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00:21:20,241 --> 00:21:22,896
Or if you'd like to suggest
Topics for future shows,
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00:21:22,896 --> 00:21:25,000
Drop us a line at...
28198
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