Jingming

Chapter 288

"... How many people are needed for this?"

Shen Zhongming didn't change his face: "This prototype has indeed proved that imprinting is feasible! The next step is to gradually improve it."

Zhu Houcong turned his eyes away from the giant, which was almost one floor high, and looked at Shen Zhongming with complicated emotions.

The "printing machine" in front of me was about the size of a small house, at least divided into upper and lower floors.

On the thick wooden frame, the studs are thicker than Zhu Houcong's legs.The rod connected to the nut needs to stand on the upper layer and nailed to the first layer of the bracket to push it.

That is to say, when the person in charge of printing was sitting there, there was a person walking around on his head.

The lower floor is as tall as a person, which is convenient for people to enter and exit.

Zheng Kui stood in the distance, looking at the emperor anxiously: His Majesty's expression seemed dissatisfied.

"If it is necessary to make it compact, the precision casting method of the stud and nut must build a new kiln, cast it with copper and iron and then carve it carefully. The thread on the stud should be as thin as a hair and firm. If it is durable, more experiments are needed to find the best tempering method."

Shen Zhongming expressed the reason why it can only be made so large now-the metal thread can't be so fine now.

If you want the thread to be wear-resistant, you must either have a thick thread or work hard on the metal formula.

Now it is really just a proof of principle.

Zhu Houcong saw them demonstrate first. When the person above pushed the connecting rod, the nut turned and indeed pressed down on the wooden column connected to the nut, and the flat plate nailed to the lower end of the wooden column pushed towards the table.

"...Is this nut divided into two halves and carved, and then tightened?"

Shen Zhongming nodded: "Since the studs cannot be precisely cast, the nut needs to be molded with the same precision and opposite yin and yang. Naturally, it is equally difficult."

Zhu Houcong walked up to the small platform himself, and touched the wooden stud up close.

The threads are spaced so far apart that a little finger can almost be tucked into it.

With the craftsmanship of today's carpenters, it is not impossible to carve finer threads.But with the strength of wood, if it is used for a long time, it will be broken soon.

Of course, if it is just to verify the principle, they should be able to make it very small.

So now... Zhu Houcong turned his head and looked at Shen Zhongming: "How much money do you need to improve?"

Doing it so shockingly on purpose is to ask for money, right?Shen Zhongming understands scientific research projects.

Shen Zhongming was shocked: "Your Majesty, I have considered two methods. One is direct melting and casting. The key lies in molten iron, molds, and firing know-how. The other is engraving. If you can make fine steel knives , or screw thread on the iron rod. Dean Wang has already explained the principle to the minister, just fix the fine steel knife firmly, and the key lies in the uniform movement of the iron rod when it rotates evenly."

Zhu Houcong felt that the latter idea he proposed was a bit like a lathe.

Metal materials with different hardness naturally already exist, so it cannot be said that his idea is not feasible.

But how does he do it evenly?Manually even?

Facing the question raised by the emperor, Shen Zhongming said confidently: "Use the gears from the previous transformation of the Western clock! Use the gears to match the size, you can try."

"...Then let's try it all." Zhu Houcong was about to ask him how much he wanted, but suddenly he was stunned again, "Wait a minute..."

He looked at the behemoth, then turned his head to look at Shen Zhongming strangely.

The two stared at each other, and then Shen Zhongming suddenly patted his legs in a rather vague manner: "I also thought of it! That Huangming clock is so delicate, why doesn't the printing machine use gears to drive the plate down!"

The large and small gears cooperate to adjust the rotational speed and drive the pole to press down at a finer speed and distance.

"When I was experimenting, I put another laminate on the press plate, stuffed with cotton batting in the middle, which is enough to make the force of the press softer. Even so, the printer may be familiar with the force, and it is much easier to practice than before." Shen Zhongming regretted Can't stop, "These days, I've been thinking about this thread."

Zhu Houcong drilled to the bottom layer of the printing pad and took a look. There was really a layer of small cotton bales sewn evenly between the two layers of boards used for pressing down.

If the gears are driven, there are soft and hard materials for cushioning, and a gear-turning thing is placed next to it, so one person can operate it, right?
"Try printing, let me see."

"Zheng Kui, Wu Erqi, you two come here!" After Shen Zhongming turned around and ordered, he introduced the two of them to Zhu Houcong, "Both are from the master craftsman training class, one is a printer from the original Si Li Jianjing Factory, and the other is a black kiln. kiln worker in the factory."

Zhu Houcong nodded, and saw one of them walking up to him tremblingly, holding a plate in his hand.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, the villain...and fellow...students...have changed again..."

Zheng Kui's teeth chattered as he spoke, and he held up the plate with trembling hands.

Zhu Houcong said with a smile: "The font plate has been changed? How did you change it? Don't be afraid."

Zheng Kui pursed his lips and gritted his teeth, and carefully placed the set of experimental fonts on the printing pad.

Zhu Houcong saw that he took out the upper cover first, then lifted one layer, and then picked up the fonts one by one.

"...So that's how it is, very creative!" Zhu Houcong praised, holding up a font in his hand.

The lead type model produced now is quite different from the original square and square rectangular type model. Both the first and last sections have a long and thin part that has been thinned.

This way, there are neat square holes in the base to put it in.There is another layer of metal grid on the top, which can cover the thinner parts of the fonts, fix both ends of them and flatten them.

"Little ones... put a layer of wax on the underside of this geiger, and the ink won't... run off." Zheng Kui was elated when he heard the emperor's praise, and then explained, "The font is missing a corner near here. If it's not set in the right direction, Geiger won't be able to buckle it down."

Zhu Houcong admired the small details of this design very much, praised it again and again, then lowered his head to glance at the flatness of the set of characters, and asked in his mouth: "After the characters were cast, have they been carefully polished by hand?"

"...Return to Your Majesty, no. This lead is mixed with some other materials, so it is easy to burn soft. The molds made by Xiao and his classmates using the lost wax method can cast a lot of characters at a time. This set of fonts only uses one set The mould, the bottom and the top cover of the mould, can engrave many characters at one time, and then take out the characters one by one.”

"This is a good thing!" Zhu Houcong was about to go back and look at their molds again, "If only one character is engraved on a set of molds, it would be easier. Many characters of the same character can be cast at one time, and each character has a set of molds , you can cast several sets once, and you can cast more sets of commonly used characters!"

"Your Majesty Shengming!"

There is a mature method for casting copper type molds, and now they have improved it a bit, successfully cast lead type molds, and improved the printing plate for typesetting by the way.

Then Wu Erqi began to skillfully put ink on the surface of the typeface on the printing plate, and quickly said in his mouth: "Your Majesty intends to use lead to make the mold, and it is easier to ink than copper type, and the printed ink is also easier. It’s flat, it’s really holy. When I chat with everyone, I really admire it.”

Zhu Houcong only smiled slightly. After all, before electronic printing, typefaces were used later.

It turns out that its advantages are not only easy and cheap to cast, but also better to color.

When Wu Erqi was ready, someone above turned it like a millstone, and Wu Erqi commanded from below: "Take another step...half a step...stop!"

Zhu Houcong was numb. If this printing machine cannot be operated by one person, what efficiency can it be called?
It actually requires the cooperation of two people, and it is still voice-activated.

But Wu Erqi held up the printed paper like offering a treasure: "Please read it, Your Majesty!"

It is worthy of being a craftsman who used to be a craftsman of the Lijianjing Factory, and he used a set of words.

Zhu Houcong took it over and took a look. The effect was indeed very good, although there may be reasons why they had practiced it many times.

He nodded: "The only thing left to do now is to make this printing machine compact. If you want to print fast, you still have to operate this machine with only one person. After you are proficient, you can put paper and press in just three to five breaths." It's one, that's all."

"The minister will discuss with them how to improve it with gears!" Shen Zhongming promised immediately.

Zhu Houcong thought for a while: "The two methods mentioned above are also arranged to be researched. If this iron thread can be made, it will be of great use. The three methods will cost two hands, and you will come up with a strategy and present it. , I will consider it myself."

"The minister accepts the decree!" Shen Zhongming was overjoyed.

Zhu Houcong handed Huang Jin the piece of paper on which the first hundred characters of the Thousand Characters were printed: "I've put this one away. You are all very good. You have a prototype in more than [-] days. You can think about it, and you are willing to do it. Have a heart! I ordered you to come here to study, not to let you become officials in the future and waste your skills, but to let you learn more knowledge and continue to improve your skills."

After glancing around, he said, "Dean Shen, the professors, priests, and craftsmen who have made contributions this time will all be reported later."

Finally, he looked at Zheng Kui: "This type mold and printing plate are very ingenious, and will save a lot of mistakes and manpower in the future. Is it called Zheng Kui?"

"The small one is right."

Zheng Kui was very excited, the emperor remembered his name!
But the emperor is still asking.

"Where is the family?"

"Return to Your Majesty, Xiao's ancestral home is Huining County, Shaanxi."

"Which village?"

Zheng Kui replied nonchalantly: "Zheng in the back ditch of the White Grass Plain..."

Why did the emperor ask such a detailed question?
"The first one, the first one. Your name is correct." Zhu Houcong looked around for a week, and then said, "I have realized the avenue of physics, and I am about to extend it. This typeface and printing plate are both in line with physics and in line with physics." Humanity. Although it is inconspicuous, I really don't know how much manpower, material and financial resources I can save in the future. The credit is not small. Huang Jin."

"The servant is here!"

"After returning to the palace, we will wait for the edict to be drafted, and it will be reported to the Ministry of Officials. Zheng Kui will be named Hougou Township Lord."

One word shocked the spot.

This is a thousand dollars to buy a horse bone, and the first big reward related to the trial production of printing presses actually fell on the head of a craftsman who fired the kiln, and he was granted the title of Xiangjue.

The emperor's intention to encourage craftsmen is fully manifested.

Even a printing plate of typefaces has been sealed as a country lord, so where will the real practical printing press be?

This title was originally only the responsibility of the Ministry of War. After all, the original titles were basically for military merit.

But now, the Ministry of Officials also has to record and record those who were not conferred for military merit.

The leader is the first.

The first craftsman in the Ming Dynasty who was knighted for his contribution to the creation of utensils appeared.

Is this still a craftsman who was regarded as an inferior person in the past?

Shen Zhongming's heart beat unconvincingly: Although His Majesty also thought of it, that's why he looked at him like that, but Shen Zhongming also realized that gears can be used now!
Can it be credited?
……

The power of role models is infinite. Because of the appearance of a craftsman Xiangjue at Huangming University, many people frantically began to think about how to participate in the improvement of printing presses.

The gears used on casting presses?That's much easier than threading, with experience!

Moreover, His Majesty obviously attaches more importance to the screw thread. Even if the printing press has a transitional plan for the time being, His Majesty will ask the Engineering College to prepare a memorial and present the method of casting gold and iron screw threads.

Ming Pao Bank, Baojin Bureau, Jiang Zuojian...

The news spread, why not be moved?

Now there are too many tools and methods for making office equipment. According to His Majesty's will, if there are improvements in each, and you can save manpower, trouble, and money, it will be a credit.

All of a sudden, many memorials came to Zhu Houcong.

He felt the enthusiasm of declaring a project.

"...Talk to all eighteen! They are enterprises. If they want to improve any tools and techniques, they should pay for it themselves. Didn't I give people money or property before? Huangming University is different!" Zhu Houcong was a little confused So angry, each of them will open their mouths.

But at the same time, Zhu Houcong was also seriously thinking about it.

After the establishment of the Prime Minister and Minister of State, he only needs to keep paying attention to some important political affairs and grasp the direction.

As for the promotion of technology, Zhu Houcong is irreplaceable due to his forward-looking.

So should we think about setting up some major projects with far-reaching influence and a very solid foundation, and gather relevant personnel to develop them?
This matter was included in his plan, so he couldn't beat his head.

The giant printing press in the physical sense reminded him that where the current technical level and personnel base are, the projects to be prepared now must be both strategic and feasible.

Don't think too much about steam engines.

At first, Zhu Houcong thought it was just a boiler, but later he figured it out: there is no rubber, and the airtightness of the cylinder is difficult to solve.

It can be seen from the fact that Daming mostly adopts wooden mortise and tenon structure, and there has been no idea of ​​threading for thousands of years. Many machines require a large number of complicated metal connectors.

Having enough to eat is the first prerequisite. Planting, fertilizer, and water conservancy are all critical.

In terms of clothing, there are actually looms now.Zhu Houcong asked the people in the Weaving Bureau that Hualou looms have more than a thousand components, and the folks also have small looms.To improve in the future is to work hard on motivation, but it is easy to destroy the low-cost family survival mode of folk men farming and women weaving.

Live... Zhu Houcong feels that firing cement and developing real transparent glass is of great significance to the improvement of the empire's communication efficiency and the emergence of chemistry and other disciplines.

There are also military and many other aspects.

Zhu Houcong's thoughts gradually came back.

After the implementation of the new law, if the people's life can be raised to a higher level in terms of food, clothing and housing first, then other things can be discussed.

In this process, it is better to focus on farming, military affairs, and technologies and tools to improve the ability to govern.

After sufficient food and salaries, strong troops and strong mobilization, what should be fought for is the basic resources needed to really lay down the industrial foundation in the future.

No matter what oil, it's too far away.

But rubber, coal, iron... Nanyang, Beimo, those are all good places.

There are some resources that Daming does not have, but mining is very difficult, so it is better to keep them for now.

It's just that it is a big problem to transport it back and reduce the cost at a time when it is far away.

Difficult!

(End of this chapter)