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losmonteren

English translation: assemble loosely / securely

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:losmonteren
English translation:assemble loosely / securely
Entered by: Anne Key

10:57 Feb 1, 2007
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Engineering (general)
Dutch term or phrase: losmonteren
I am currently working on a technical translation (assembling / adjusting lamp modules), and am struggling with the above term.

There is very little context provided in the instructions unfortunately:

"Monteer (los/vast) met (4x) Screw M2.5X8 [47] en (4x) INSULATION SLEEVE M2.5 [48] de DC/DC coverter van de LS LAMP MODUL CONTROL MK3 PPCA [50] op de LS LM HOUSING MARK3"

Can I simply use "loosen" in this context?

All suggestions welcome - KudoZ points will be awarded within 72 hours.

Many thanks,

Anne
Anne Key
Local time: 04:26
*interpretation*
Explanation:
Logically, 'losmonteren' would mean 'disassemble', but that can hardly be what is meant here.

At a guess, this telegraphic instruction means 'assemble ... loosely at first and then securely'. This is standard practice in mechanical assembly of parts fitted using a set of fasteners: all the fasteners are first fitted (screwed in, in this case) loosely, and then they are tightened after they have all been fitted. Otherwise (if each one is fully tightened when it is fitted) it may be difficult or impossible to fit the remaining or final fastners without loosening the ones already fitted.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2007-02-01 11:49:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Incidentally, this instruction should be superfluous for any experienced mechanical assembler, and for persons not experienced with mechanical assembly it probably should be spelled out in a separate sentence. You thus need to know the intended readership.
Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 05:26
Grading comment
Very detailed and extremely helpful answer - many thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4*interpretation*
Ken Cox
3secure (loosely/tightly)
Els Spin


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
*interpretation*


Explanation:
Logically, 'losmonteren' would mean 'disassemble', but that can hardly be what is meant here.

At a guess, this telegraphic instruction means 'assemble ... loosely at first and then securely'. This is standard practice in mechanical assembly of parts fitted using a set of fasteners: all the fasteners are first fitted (screwed in, in this case) loosely, and then they are tightened after they have all been fitted. Otherwise (if each one is fully tightened when it is fitted) it may be difficult or impossible to fit the remaining or final fastners without loosening the ones already fitted.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 52 mins (2007-02-01 11:49:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Incidentally, this instruction should be superfluous for any experienced mechanical assembler, and for persons not experienced with mechanical assembly it probably should be spelled out in a separate sentence. You thus need to know the intended readership.

Ken Cox
Local time: 05:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 108
Grading comment
Very detailed and extremely helpful answer - many thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Harry Borsje: second that//just thought of yet another interpretation: use the screws to keep the converter in place but *without* tightening them (e.g. to allow for thermal expansion)
23 mins
  -> well, maybe (but that's a long maybe) -- I'd certainly flag such an interpretation to the client (since it presumes there is some other mechanism to retain the screws).
agree  Jack den Haan: My take too.
1 hr
agree  vixen
4 hrs
agree  CJG (X)
6 hrs
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
secure (loosely/tightly)


Explanation:
I believe that the user of this technical text won't need any long phrases here to understand the instructions.
In Technical Studies the combination of loosely-tightly (or loosely-firmly) is a regular one, but since I outsource anything that goes beyond my understanding :-), I can't help you with any further info. Sorry!


Els Spin
Netherlands
Local time: 05:26
Native speaker of: Dutch
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