Compared with the lathe in Du Zhongxiao's impression, the current lathe is extremely simple, and each machine can only process one specification. In order to ensure accuracy, the turning tool cannot be adjusted, and the diameter of the machined is fixed. One end of the shaft is clamped, and the top is used on the side, and the lathe cannot be adjusted, no matter how large the margin is, it is a knife down. After the processing is completed, turn the processed parts around and turn them again. A specification of shafts, rough turning, semi-finishing to fine turning, to use three lathes. Several specifications of bearings, lathes for processing balls, half of the room.

For machine tools, the biggest thing is control and regulation. Without that technical capability, there is not a single general-purpose machine tool here, all of which are used to process specific parts, specific specifications. Giving up control and adjustment, the machine tool mechanism is extremely simplified, the name is high, in fact, it is fixed and simple knife walking, and the operation of the machine tool has become a force work.

All the machines manufactured here, including machine tools, all kinds of parts, shafts, holes, etc., all have only a few specifications, and there is only one requirement for accuracy. Often, several specific machine tools are used for one part. If it is not an iron prison, it simply cannot afford the high cost.

Du Zhongxiao didn't want to do this either, but there was no way. In fact, this is the most uneconomical and inflexible way to use the special machines of the assembly line of later generations to produce small batches. But if you don't, you can't guarantee accuracy at all, and you can't guarantee that the parts are universal.

A steam engine, using machine tools lined up in several large rooms, one by one, is very spectacular to watch. In the past few months, the main work of these nearly 100 people is to manufacture these special machine tools, and sometimes they have to transfer people from the iron superintendent.

Du Zhongxiao looked all the way over, and sighed in his heart, these are all fixed assets. If the steam engine can't be made, how much money is wasted on these machines alone. Of course, once the model of the machine is determined, the speed of the explosion of production is also amazing.

There is no way to produce machines at such a large cost, the technology is not up to scratch, and it is not systematic. Of course, there are also benefits, which are difficult for others to imitate. Not to mention mapping according to the machine, that is, the drawings are made by others, and others can't build them, where do you buy these machine tools? In this era, if you want to make your own, let alone an individual, even the country has few such material and financial resources.

Comparatively speaking, there are relatively few machine tools for planing and milling, and they are highly versatile, unlike shafts and holes, which have as many specifications. Lathes, grinders, and boring machines are plentiful, and several are lined up in groups. Fortunately, the structure is almost the same, and the manufacturing is not particularly difficult, but the specifications are different.

After a long queue of lathes, and finally a place for some special parts, now they are dedicated to making gears.

Gears are an important part of the machine industry and have a long history. Specific to this era, cylindrical gears and bevel gears have been very common, some can be cast in batches, waterwheels and water mills, all of which are used in large quantities. However, in terms of technical details, the theory and processing are still primitive, and the tooth shape is basically all triangular teeth. For the machine industry of the iron supervisor, the original tooth shape of the triangular tooth can no longer meet the technical requirements.

The mathematical knowledge of gears to meet the requirements of meshing smoothness is not complicated, and the calculation of the approximate tooth shape is not beyond the scope of knowledge in the Iron Supervision Mathematics Booklet. Speaking of gears, Du Zhongxiao remembers the name involute in the end, and lists equations with algebraic knowledge. Theoretical knowledge is not difficult, but practical processing is difficult. This kind of complex curve is very difficult to use a machine, and the design is a difficult problem.

With hundreds of machine tools over there, these people are building machines capable of machining series gears. Again, the same way of thinking, each type of grid uses a set of special machines, and each machine only completes one process. The machine is still being manufactured, and most of the parts have to be ground by hand, which is very troublesome and the scrap rate is also high, so Du Zhongxiao does not dare to calculate the cost with them at all. Anyway, a large amount of steel was produced by the Iron Supervisor, and many of them could not be sold, so they went.

Gears are basically not used on steam engines, and in the past, Watt used planetary gears because of the patent for the connecting rod mechanism, and now there is no such trouble. However, the steam engine operates the general power machine and drives other machines, which requires a lot of gears, and this step must be taken after all.

After seeing the parts made and the various machines piled up in several large houses, Du Zhongxiao really didn't know what to say. With so many machines, the future generation will be a huge factory, and the machines should roar and the products will be thousands. But here is quiet, only one steam engine has been built, and the technology is not yet mature. Almost all of the stuff here is made with money. Of course, the sales channels of the iron supervisor have not been built, the product is backlogged, and it doesn't matter if the iron can't be exchanged for money.

At the end of the table, there was a booklet on it, and it seemed that the people here valued it very much, and made a cover of it out of a wooden board. However, there are too many people turning over, and there are still oil stains all over it, and it is obviously too late to wipe it.

Du Zhongxiao stepped forward and opened the booklet, only to see that each page was drawn with a graphic and an explanatory text written next to it. In the end, after training, the drawings in this booklet are very detailed, according to the three-view and axonometric drawings. Although this knowledge was taught by Du Zhongxiao, the level of these people's drawings is much higher than that of Du Zhongxiao now, and it is very accurate. There's no way, craftsmanship is a thing, and if you don't practice it often, you'll get started.

The booklet is a collection of various mechanisms, from crank connecting rods, to gear cams, to ratchet chains, both proposed by Du Zhongxiao and summarized by them, a dazzling array of them. The last half is a blank sheet of paper, which seems to have been summed up in practice and then added to it.

This is the basic skill of mechanical design, and only by mastering various mechanisms can we flexibly use them in machine design and complete various actions. This kind of work cannot rely on a whim, but on continuous study and practice, and actively summing up.

The value of this booklet cannot be estimated, without so many outstanding talents, without such a machine for them to learn and practice, without this atmosphere of unity and positive learning, it is difficult to produce.

A Tao Seventeen, who has been by Du Zhongxiao's side for several years, can make a lot of suggestions for improving the steam engine. These nearly 100 people were selected from the army of 10,000 or 20,000 slender men, and they were recruited and trained in many states, and they were selected at various levels. There are both those who learn everything and those who have particularly strong hands-on ability, helping each other, learning from each other, and learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses to achieve this achievement. Du Zhongxiao spared no expense, no matter what they thought, they supported it at any cost, rewarded if they were right, didn't ask if they were wrong, summed up experience, and attracted lessons. After this special period, it will be difficult to find such a group of people and provide the same conditions, and it will be difficult to do the same thing.

Closing the booklet, Du Zhongxiao slowly walked back to the original room. Nearly 100 people stood beside the steam engine that was already running, looking at Du Zhongxiao with blank eyes. During this period of time, everyone is obsessed with researching technology, and enters a realm of forgetting things and self, and I don't know what is in the eyes of my boss.

Looking at everyone, Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Okay, good, it's all good." You have been attentive and ordered the canteen to add food tonight. ”

Everyone looked at Du Zhongxiao, and everyone was confused. What does it mean to be good? There are so many machines, which one has any strengths, which one is insufficient, and how to improve, without mentioning a word, so that everyone has no bottom in their hearts.

How do you mention Du Zhongxiao? In the past, the things he made were simple, and he could see them at a glance, and with his own experience and knowledge, he could know the advantages and disadvantages. It's so complicated now, you can see it at a glance. I already don't have the energy to study every machine, and of course I don't have specific opinions. I don't know the details, you think it's wrong, maybe people are right. Messing up their thinking is technically a detour.

When starting, one person can push a car. But when the vehicle is driven, and you want to rely on manpower to drive the vehicle, it is the mantis arm blocking the car. The iron prison is like this, it is now up and running, and it is time for Du Zhongxiao to point out specific problems.

Looking at the steam engine running smoothly, just listening to the sound, it is much more pleasant than the original one.

After looking at it for a while, Du Zhongxiao pointed to the huge flywheel and said to Su Song: "If this machine wants to do better, it depends on you to take these people to do it." Now it's important how to use the machine. You see, the flywheel is spinning very fast, and the purpose of the day is to choose the right belt, which can be used to drive other machines. Connected to a forging hammer, it can replace hydraulics. It can be connected to the conveyed material and can replace manpower. If you have spare power, let these people make fans, and you can blow air without manpower. ”

Su Song nodded: "If there is a belt connected, the big wheel with the small wheel, and the small wheel to the big wheel, there will be fast and slow, which is very convenient." ”

"Yes, exactly. However, this belt should be chosen carefully and must be sturdy and durable. Don't want to use silk and satin, just choose those that are particularly strong, such as all kinds of linen, and you can also use many kinds of weaving. Try everything and choose the best. ”

As a general power, the steam engine mainly relies on the flywheel to output power, and the belt drives. Like trains, it is possible to drive the shaft directly, and of course gears and chains can also be used, but the scope of application is much narrower than that of belts.

Du Zhongxiao may have remembered what material the belt was made of, anyway, in addition to rubber, there should be many other materials. It's up to them to try what materials are suitable. It would be good to provide manpower and material resources and financial support.

Standing there and watching for half an hour, Du Zhongxiao ordered the machine to be stopped, and said to Su Song: "Two things. The first is not to be busy, but to find time every day to lecture and learn. Whoever has a new idea, tell it to others, and let others give their opinions. When one thing is done, summarize it quickly and teach it to others in time. The second thing is to do more steam engines, do it quickly, don't be afraid to make mistakes, just change it slowly. There are so many machines already made, and there are not a few steam engines left. Not only iron supervision and iron smelting, but many machines here, with steam engines, can also be used anytime and anywhere. Although it is right next to the reservoir, it is still inconvenient to use water. ”