The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 166 Five-axis machining center
Production workshop.

Early in the morning, workers were moving and installing equipment under the command of Liu Tao.

Liu Tao also did it himself, and after more than an hour, the five-axis milling machining center was finally installed.

"Director, is this really a five-axis machining center?" Xie Jin couldn't help but said in shock.

He is an expert in the field of machine tools and was transferred to Panshan Machinery Factory.

Although he was shocked to learn that Liu Tao was proficient in CNC machine tools and could manufacture CNC machine tools, his previous experience was with three-axis machine tools, so he could understand his shock.

But now it is a five-axis milling machining center, which is definitely the most advanced machining center in the world.

Xie Jin knew that when China wanted to import three-axis CNC machine tools, the other party asked for 100 million US dollars. Because the processing accuracy of three-axis CNC machine tools was already very good, they began to be subject to the COCOM embargo.

As for the four-axis CNC machine tools, the price of one unit is at least 500 million US dollars, and even then people seemed reluctant to buy it. It was a huge loss.

You should know that this price is more than twice the international price.

Because the international four-axis machining centers are strictly regulated, everyone has to be extremely careful for fear of being discovered and sanctioned.

The five-axis machining center is the most advanced in the world. You cannot buy it even if you have money. Even if the price is offered as 1000 million or 2000 million US dollars, people will shake their heads and say that it is really impossible and cannot be done no matter how much money you offer.

The five-axis machining center is used to manufacture the most complex and top-level parts.

In the past, China relied on those national treasure-level ninth-level workers to manufacture these most complex and top-level components.

However, there are only a few level nine workers in the country, and manual production efficiency is low. No matter how hard and conscientious the level nine workers are, it is difficult to mass-produce these most complex and top-level components.

And now Liu Tao has quietly developed a five-axis milling machining center.

"Well, it's not easy to make this thing!" Liu Tao nodded, "Thank you, Professor. I will teach you from now on. If you have any questions, just ask. It's up to you to teach the others later!"

Xie Jin is a professor of mechanical engineering and automation at Tsinghua University. He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. After the founding of New China, he responded to the call of the country and returned to China to participate in national construction.

Xie Jin was a participant in the development of China's machine tool industry. He was a co-designer of China's first CNC machine tool.

Later he was sent to work in the Beidahuang labor farm, and was not able to return to Tsinghua University to continue teaching until 1976.

This time he left Tsinghua University and came to Panshan Machinery Factory because of CNC machine tools.

In terms of CNC machine tools, China is completely blank and suffers from a serious talent gap.

Xie Jin served as the leader of the CNC machine tool group and formed an expert group together with several other university professors. Liu Tao passed the relevant CNC machine tool knowledge to them, and they then taught it to the technicians. They had to teach both theoretical knowledge and how to operate it. They were also responsible for manufacturing CNC machine tools.

Three days ago, they had just successfully built their first CNC machine tool.

Although the control system seems rough and simple, it is a good start.

The reason why Liu Tao previously judged that even if he provided the technology, the machine tool factory would not be able to manufacture it was because Xie Jin and others provided the basis for his judgment.

Liu Tao took out a titanium alloy blade, which was a cast blade, but it still needed to undergo high-precision processing.

Put the titanium alloy blade material into it, fix the front and back ends, then click the screen, select the set program, and press start.

Immediately, the five-axis machining center began processing. On the screen, you can see the processing surface, as well as the corresponding coordinates and data.

Liu Tao was explaining.

When the blades were processed and taken out, Liu Tao took out the titanium alloy blades, and Xie Jin and others couldn't help but marvel.

This efficiency far exceeds the meticulous craftsmanship of a ninth-level worker.

After explaining one by one and answering the questions from Xie Jin and others, Liu Tao said: "Next, you will produce tank engine blades. This aspect will be handed over to you."

"I'll give you the information on the five-axis machining center later."

The identities of these people are kept confidential, so it is not easy for them to go abroad, and it is even less likely for them to be approached by spies.

Each person who participates in the research on CNC machine tools is carefully selected and has signed a confidentiality agreement.

Even if they leave Panshan Machinery Factory in the future, there will often be guards following them.

"Director, I have a question. Is this chip imported or produced by ourselves?" Xie Jin asked.

"It's made in China." Liu Tao smiled. "This is produced by our Panshan Machinery Factory. We have all the technology."

The chip of the CNC machine tool is named "Loongson 1" by Liu Tao. Its performance is the same as that of the 68000 chip. The 68000 chip was launched by Motorola and has a CISC structure. After its launch in 1979, it was used in the earliest Apple computers and other devices. It has 32-bit internal registers, but can only transmit data on a 16-bit data bus. The processor can access 16M of memory, which is 8088 times that of the Intel 16 in the IBM PC.

Liu Tao has a more advanced chip, whose performance far exceeds that of the 'Loongson 1' chip.

But he didn't take it out because the chip's performance was too advanced, too shocking, and too incredible.

Even the 'Loongson 1' chip cannot compare with the world's best due to inadequate manufacturing process and substandard materials. Although it is produced, the pass rate is very low and the cost is quite high.

The 'Loongson 1' currently produced by Panshan Machinery Factory can only barely meet its own needs.

Such a 'Loongson 1' chip is sufficient as the core processor of the CNC system for a short period of time.

When the 'Loongson 1' chip technology matures and all aspects are improved and can be mass-produced, the 'Loongson 2' chip can then be released.

Xie Jin was amazed. He didn't expect that the technology of Panshan Machinery Factory was higher than he imagined.

Xie Jin also has some understanding of chip development. After all, machinery and automation are often inseparable from semiconductors.

Since semiconductor technology was listed as an important national scientific and technological project in 1956, China has begun a long nationwide battle to develop semiconductors. In 1960, the Semiconductor Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Hebei Semiconductor Institute were formally established, marking the initial establishment of China's semiconductor industrial system.

However, when all countries in the world were accumulating strength to develop science and technology, China showed a sense of powerlessness before the start of this technological war. Under the pressure of the international community, China cut off its technological exchanges with the international community for advanced technologies such as integrated circuits. In addition, the ten-year special period also seriously damaged the semiconductor industry. At that time, the streets were filled with exaggerated slogans: Any old lady on the street can make semiconductors by pulling a stove in the alley.

The speed of technological change is extremely rapid, and China has begun to fall behind.

By the time the reform and opening up began, China's semiconductor industry was far behind the world.

But he did not expect that the Panshan Machinery Factory, located in the deep mountains and forests, could develop world-class chips. This is simply unbelievable.

Although he has been at Panshan Machinery Factory for more than a month, Xie Jin feels that the Panshan Machinery Factory seems to be shrouded in a layer of fog and seems mysterious.

(End of this chapter)