No matter how long one has been in the sign business, and we are going on our 40th year at Rick's Sign Co., there is always more to learn and ways to improve the way we accomplish the various tasks required of us who earn our living making and installing signs.
我在Rick这家标识公司已经工作了四十年了，然而我发现，不论你在标识领域经验有多丰富，但总会有一些方法不断地出现，来刷新我们的既定认识。行业在不断发展，而我们也必须适应这种潮流。
I have noticed that even on types of jobs that we've done many times over the years, I still find new methods or simple ideas that can speed up the process, make the work easier and simpler, and by doing so certainly improving the bottom line. After all, the sooner I get done with a particular project, the sooner I can get started on the next one. Improved productivity equals improved profits.
我已经意识到，尽管这么多年来，我已经能够熟练地面对操作过程中不同类型的工作，然而我还是能发现一些比以往更加简单的方法，这样可以加快我们的工作效率并提高行业最低标准。毕竟，我越快结束，就能越快开始新的项目。提高了生产率也就等同于提高了利润。
This month I worked on a job that was a complete duplication of one we'd done a couple of years ago, and very similar to quite a number of jobs we've done through the years. It involved some flat cut letters and a logo, all fairly large, installed high up on an industrial building several miles from the shop.
这个月我正在做的一个产品，恰巧与我几年前做过的一个产品非常类似。在工作中，你会发现你手头正在做的东西，很有可能你之前也做过。就拿我现在正做的这个产品来说吧，它需要制作一些平面切割的发光字以及标识，他们的规格都非常的大以便于安装在离店几英里的工业建筑上。
It was a duplication because after installing the signs the first time, the company moved and I re-installed the entire display at their new location. Still expanding, they took back their old location in addition to the new one, and hired us to make and install the same signage again.
这是一个重复性的工作，是因为在初次安装完这个标识后，这个公司搬迁到了新的地址，所以我们需要再做一个同样的标识在公司的新址。随着这个公司的不断发展，他们又搬迁了新的地址，所以标识的制作过程仍然要继续重复之前的流程。
The part I want to look at is the installation part of the project. This job was not at all complicated, yet I clearly realized that I did it quite a bit faster this last time than I had the first time, though only minor changes had been made. But, on this job and others it becomes obvious that it's typically small improvements that have been learned over time that make everyday installs go like clockwork, just what we want.
这里我要着重提到的是项目的安装部分，这项工作并不是很复杂，但我依然清楚地感觉到了我的效率相比于第一次接手这份工作来说，更加的娴熟而且效率也有所提升。通过一些小的改进，能够使得日常安装变成像发条装置一样，有序而迅速，而这样的结果正是我们乐于看到的。
Of course, a trouble-free installation really starts at the very beginning of a project. Before starting the fabrication of this job, we worked up an accurate-to-scale drawing showing exactly how the design would fit on the building at hand. Mistakes at this point are dramatically critical, so much care is taken to double check sizes and positioning, since this drawing will guide us through the entire process.
当然，如果要保证在安装过程中没有失误，在项目一开始的时候就要有所准备。在开始产品的制作之前，我们会草拟一个图，用来方便地展示标识如何和这座建筑相结合。如果在这一点上出错将会极为严重，所以一定要小心地检查尺寸以及位置，毕竟这张图将对于整个过程至关重要。
And, when we go out on the job we are not going to take time to make full size patterns, or produce any more detailed notes than we actually need. The drawing shown in photo #2 was the only instructions I took to the worksite. These few simple measurements, no more than needed and no less, gave all the details needed to complete the job.
并且，当我们开始执行整个过程的时候，我们也不会花时间去制作完整比例的图案或者是比我们实际需要更为详细的说明书。这张图将是我在整个过程中所需要的唯一的一张操作书，这几个测量的数据刚好满足我们安装的需要。
The large 10' globe was made in several pieces, but I made sure the joining line of the pieces was on a true vertical, which made getting the orientation of this circular object exactly correct as easy as using a level even though no shape or line in it could be leveled otherwise. The first time I cut this shape, the pieces were more random, and orienting them was difficult and inaccurate. But this time, thinking through how the job will go on the installation part, even before parts are made, was very important indeed and saved real time up in that bucketlift.
一个直径为10英寸的球状物体将被分为几个部分来制造，但我要确定这些结合线要足够垂直，这样才能使得这个圆形物体能够被正确的安装，尽管这个物体并没有被内置一些测量线或是模型，当我们依然能够很好地完成这部分工作。我第一次切割这种外形的，我切割的部分都大小不一从而导致将它们组合在一起是不准确的。但是这次，我已经开始思考每个部分将会以怎样的方式组合在一起，即使在每个部分还没有真正被制造出来时，而这将会为我节省大量时间。
Some of the smaller letters could be visually spaced, but most of the spacing was clearly and exactly indicated in the drawing. Even still, all the parts would initially be secured with as few screws as possible, so if any corrections had to be made there would be minimal unscrewing and few holes to fill. Only one letter needed a slight correction, but this element of caution is still a good idea.
一些较小的字母，可以只通过简单的目视就确定好它们之间需要隔开多少距离，但是大部分需要分割的距离我们都清晰、明确地标注在了我们的草拟的图上。即便如此，所有的部分一开始都要用尽可能多的螺丝固定。因此，如果在安装过程中出现了一些瑕疵，也只需要通过几个螺丝或者是打一些钻洞来修正即可。但这一部分的安装仍然需要小心和谨慎。
The screws that were used were color coated to match beforehand, and no touch up painting was required on location. Coating the screws in advance is worthwhile and requires only that the screws be secured in a formed piece of sheet metal, wire brushed or blasted, and then well coated by whatever method. In this case the sign components were all powder coated, and so were the fasteners, providing a durable perfect match.
所用的螺丝都会预先涂好颜色，并且要保障没有它们接触到喷印的板材。提前给螺丝上色是非常必要的一个步骤，而且要被一块金属片、金属丝或是在喷砂的成型件上固定，然后再对它进行涂覆。如果这么做的话，标识在被安装之前，各部分就已经被喷涂好了，这样就能够使得产品更好地匹配在一起，并可以持久的使用。
On rare occasion, as with this job, we'll have a situation where some parts overlap each other. The first time we did this project, all the aligning of parts was done by measurements. With a circular shape and distorted (curved) letters, what do you measure from? In making the parts this time around, we intentionally put very small “tics” in the cut file where the different pieces overlapped, to show exactly how things would line up in the field. Note: the globe was installed first and minimally secured, and the letters were slid up under the globe and into place.
在极少数情况下，我们会有一些部分与其它部分重叠。第一次我们会做这个任务的时候，每个部分尺寸的校对都是经由测量来完成的，但这样做最大的困难就是，如果碰到圆形或者是扭曲的字母的时候，测量的难度就会被加大。在这次的制作过程中，我们特意把小的“部件”放置在切割的物件相互重叠到的部分中，用来展示在拼接的时候，它们是如何对直的，注：这个球体将会被首先安装并且用少量的物件来固定，然后字母会通过管道上滑到合适的位置。
The placing of these small registration marks, or “tics,” on the letters and the globe, which were invisible from the ground, made it nearly impossible to make mistakes in the field. This eliminated a lot of measuring and double-checking, saving real and valuable time on site. As the commercial says, it was so simple “a cave man could do it,” which suited this old Neanderthal signman perfectly fine.
这些在球体中或是字母上的小的标记、“物体”，如果从地面上来看的话，是无法看到的，避免了在现场产生一些失误。这样就不用后期花费大量的时间来进行测量以及反复的检查，节省在现场安装环节的时间。正如广告上所讲，做最合适标识，用最简单的方式。
The install was done from a good manlift provided by the client, and even if we had rented one, you can be sure there would not be a good place to put tools, hardware or anything needed for the job except in the floor of the bucket. There is never a basket or shelf to hold something at arms reach, so one ends up stooping to the floor over and over, a considerable waste of time (and a bit hard on the back).
标识安装的收尾阶段将从升降机上开始，不管是客户提供的还是我们租借的，都没有地方来放置安装所需的工具或者是硬件设备，所以只能用篮子作为工具来运输设备，而这就需要安装人员不断地升降来拿工具，这会浪费大量的时间。
So, a simple plastic organizer tub at each end of the bucket, merely taped in place with duct tape kept everything at an efficient height, no stooping. Planning ahead and bringing something for this little inconvenience saved several more minutes out in the field, and each minute really counts.
所以，在每个桶的两端都放置一个简易的塑料桶连接，这种方法奏效的最重要的一点，是要将两个部分里的东西放置在不同的高度，这样就避免了弯腰来回取工具所浪费的时间。
When trying to install any long bulky items that must fit together accurately, the part will have to be held steady at both ends to keep it accurately in place until secured with screws. Anyone who has tried this single-handedly (working solo) knows how difficult this can be, you simply can't be at both ends at the same time.
在安装一些体积比较大的物体时，它们必须要精确地被组装在一起，它们要被稳定、精确地放置在合适的位置，最后用螺丝将它们固定起来。如果你是一个人操作的话，确实会很累，毕竟你不能同时在两端进行操作。
But, the best way is to hold the clumsy part in place as accurately as possible and mark a spot near the end away from the joint. Then, simply put a screw at that end just under the bottom edge of the part to set it on, and then focus all one's attention at the joint, letting the far end simply rest in place.
但是，最好的方法还是要尽可能将那些不太得当的部件首先放在合适的位置，并在终端的部分做一个标记。然后将螺丝拧在这部分底部的边缘，也就是刚刚标记的地方。在确认过没有什么问题之后，这一部分就不要再做多余的改动了。
If the joint is slightly separating at the bottom, then put a screw at the top of the joint where it fits tight, go to the other end and lower the piece until the gap closes perfectly, then place a screw at the far end before returning to the now perfect joint. If the joint gaps slightly at the top, place a screw at the bottom of the joint where it fits tight and then raise the far end to close the gap and secure with a screw. Nothing to it and no way to miss!
如果联结的地方，它和背景部分没有那么契合的话，这时候就要在联结部位的顶端加上一个螺丝，并且还要去到另一端让这部分适当下降，就能使得联结部位之间的缝隙减小，从而更为坚固。另一种情况就是，如果顶部的联结不紧密的话，那么就要在底部安上一个螺丝，然后将离它较远的一端升起并加上螺丝固定，从而使得结构上更加的坚固。在做这份工作中，要尽自己所能来保证每一部分的稳定、坚固。
On virtually all metal buildings, the corrugations will be 12” apart, and the recesses will be 1” deep. This means that any part letter or component of the job, which, because of its position on the corrugations ends up being unsupported or loose at one end needs to have a support placed behind it to secure it to.
在几乎所有的金属建筑里，波纹都将分开12”的距离，凹槽也为1”深。这意味着在产品中字母或者波纹的部分前后都要被支撑以保证稳定性。
We make small “z-clips” from aluminum strips cut 1” wide and 3” long, which are bent on a brake two times to form the shape of a “Z”. Aluminum something near the color of the wall is preferred, and in this case we used white .063 aluminum for making these clips or brackets. They are made in advance, of course, and I often make enough for a couple of jobs at least and keep them in stock.
我们用小型的“z型夹”将铝条切成1英寸宽，3英寸长的的形状，在制作的过程中，同时要将它弯曲两次以将它变为“Z”形的形状。制作出来的产品的颜色要尽量符合周围墙的颜色，用来保证产品的一体性，所以这次我们用了白色.063铝型材来制作这些夹子亦或是支架。他们要被提前制作好，在数量上我往往选择会多制作几个，以保证需要用的时候，有足够的库存以备不时之需。
Holes are placed in them on one of the base legs so zipping them into the wall is easier, and they won't try to spin in your fingers while screwing them to the wall, which is hard on the fingers. They can be coated with spray can paint if they need to be another color.
在基底的支架上会被提前打好洞，这么做是为了方便它们往墙上装的时候会更加方便，并且在拧螺丝的时候，这个步骤并不会扭伤你手指。而这些螺丝如果需要换色的话，它们也可以被喷涂成其他颜色。
One other thing worth mentioning for installs like this one is to bring several cordless drills or screw guns to the job site. Depending on the types of screws to be removed or moved on the surface of the building, and the type being used on the install, at least two types of driver bits will be needed, if not three. Never waste time changing bits in one tool, keep as many tools as required, each equipped with a different driver. Also bring lots of freshly charged batteries, and perhaps a charger as well.
还有一种更值得提的情况就是，你要带几个无线电钻以及螺丝枪到工作现场。而至于带哪种设备则取决于产品上需要哪种类型的螺丝，这里可能会使用到两到三种螺丝。不要浪费时间在思考我到底需要哪种螺丝上，而需要什么样类型的螺丝与其进行配套这种问题上。省时的办法就是去尽可能地带更多的工具，并且每个都要装好不同的应用程序。并带上足量的电池或是充电器。
There is always electricity somewhere, or keep a small voltage converter in your truck.I virtually empty the shop of batteries and screw guns, and never want to be caught out on a job with less than I need, even if I just dropped one out of a bucket 40 feet up over concrete (which has happened before!).
如果没带够这些也不要担心，在你的车上装一个小的电压转换器就可以，毕竟现在能用电的地方太多了。我的工作方法是，尽可能的把我公司所有可能用到的东西都带上，我不想因为工具带的不足从而影响安装过程，尽管我身上发生过在混凝土以上40英尺的高空掉落工具箱的情况。
The installation job that day, with a 10' diameter globe in five pieces, 4’ tall letters and a number of smaller letters supported by Z-clips, took only four hours for one man working alone, a fun afternoon out on the jobsite. Fun? You bet. When installs like this go smoothly and efficiently, and you realize you are making money, they are fun (especially if you turn your cell phone off and enjoy an afternoon doing work that signmen do best).
在我进行安装工作的那天，我一个人将一个分成五部分的巨大的球体，以及4英寸高的字母以及通过Z型剪切割的小字母组合在了一起，这些大概只花了我4小时。当这些安装过程都高效、流畅地进行时，你会意识到你已经通过这些过程赚得了你该赢得的酬劳，而这是在安装过程中最为有趣的部分。
