"...How many people are needed to use this?"
Shen Zhongming's expression remained unchanged: "This prototype has indeed proven that imprinting is feasible! The next step is just to improve it gradually."
Zhu Houcong withdrew his eyes from the giant thing, which was almost a story high, and looked at Shen Zhongming with complicated emotions.
The "printing press" in front of me is about the size of a small house, at least it is divided into two floors.
On the thick wooden frame, the studs were thicker than Zhu Houcong's legs. The pole connected to the nut needs to be pushed by standing on the upper level and nailed to the first floor of the bracket.
In other words, the person below who is responsible for the seal has a person walking around above his head while he is sitting there.
The lower floor is as tall as one person, making it easy for people to enter and exit.
Zheng Kui stood in the distance and looked at the emperor anxiously: His Majesty's face seemed dissatisfied.
"If you need to make them compact, the method of precision casting of stud nuts must be to build a new kiln, cast them with copper and iron and then carve them carefully. The spiral patterns on the studs must be as thin as silk and strong. If it is durable, then we need to conduct more experiments to find the best tempering method."
Shen Zhongming expressed the reason why it can only be made so big now - metal threads cannot be so fine now.
If you want the thread to be wear-resistant, you must either make the thread thicker or work harder on the metal formula.
It's really just a matter of proof of principle now.
Zhu Houcong only saw them demonstrate it first. When the person above pushed the connecting rod, the nut rotated and indeed pressed down on the wooden post connected to the nut. The flat plate nailed to the lower end of the wooden post squeezed towards the table.
"...The nut is carved in two halves and then tightened?"
Shen Zhongming nodded: "Since the stud cannot be precisely cast, the nut also needs a mold that is as fine as it, with yin and yang exactly opposite, so it is naturally equally difficult."
Zhu Houcong personally walked to the small platform and touched the wood-carved stud at close range.
The spacing between the threads can almost fit into a little finger.
With today's carpenter's skills, it is not impossible to carve finer threads. However, given the strength of wood, it will break down quickly if used for a long time.
Of course, if they just verify the principle, they should be able to do it very small.
So now... Zhu Houcong turned to look at Shen Zhongming: "How much money is needed to improve?"
I deliberately made it so shocking to save money, right? Shen Zhongming understands scientific research projects.
Shen Zhongming was shocked: "Your Majesty, I have considered two methods. One is direct casting, which requires molten iron, molds, and firing know-how. The other is engraving. If we can make fine steel knives again, , or you can carve threads on the iron rod. Dean Wang has already explained the principle to me. You only need to fix the fine steel tool firmly, and the key is to move evenly when the iron rod rotates evenly."
Zhu Houcong felt that the latter concept he proposed was a bit like a lathe.
Metal materials with different hardnesses 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 modification of the Western clock! You can try it by matching the large and small gears."
"...Then let's try them all." Zhu Houcong was about to ask him how much it would cost, but suddenly he was stunned again, "Wait a moment..."
He looked at the behemoth, then turned to look at Shen Zhongming strangely.
The two of them stared at each other, and then Shen Zhongming suddenly clapped his legs in an awkward manner: "I have thought of it too! The Huangming Bell is so delicate, why doesn't the printing press use gears to drive the plate downwards?"
By coordinating the large and small gears, the rotation speed can be adjusted to drive the pole to press down at a more precise speed and distance.
"While I was waiting for the test, I put another layer of pressing plate on the pressing plate and stuffed cotton wool in the middle to make the pressing force softer. However, the printer may be familiar with the force and it will be much easier to practice than before." Shen Zhongming regretted. He kept saying, "These days, I have spent all my time thinking about this thread."
Zhu Houcong went to the bottom layer of the ink pad and took a look. There was actually a layer of small cotton bags sewn flatly between the two layers of boards used for pressing down.
If the gear is driven and buffered by soft and hard materials, and a gear-turning device is placed next to it, one person can operate it, right?
"Try printing it and let me see."
"Zheng Kui, Wu Erqi, you two come here!" Shen Zhongming turned around and ordered, then introduced the two of them to Zhu Houcong, "Both of them are from the master craftsman training class, one is a printer from the original Sili Supervision Factory, and the other is from Heikiln A 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, I...and my classmates...have changed again..."
Zheng Kui's teeth chattered as he spoke, and he raised the plate with trembling hands.
Zhu Houcong said with a smile: "The font plate has been changed? How? Don't be afraid."
Zheng Kui pursed his lips and gritted his teeth, and carefully placed the set of test fonts on the ink pad.
Zhu Houcong saw him first take out the upper cover, then lift off a layer, and then pick up the character stencils one by one.
"...So that's it, it's very original!" Zhu Houcong praised and picked up a typeface in his hand.
The typeface now produced is very different from the original square rectangular typeface. Both the first and last sections have a slender section that has been thinned out.
This way, the base has neat square holes that it can fit into. There is another layer of metal mesh on top, which can cover the thinner parts of these character molds, fix both ends of them, and press them flat.
"Young boys... put a layer of wax under this grid so that the ink won't... run down." Zheng Kui was elated when he heard the emperor's praise, and then explained, "There is a corner missing here near the top of the font. If it's not in the right direction, the Geiger won't be able to buckle down."
Zhu Houcong admired the small details of this design very much and praised it repeatedly. Then he lowered his head and glanced at the flatness of the character mold, and asked: "Has this character mold been polished carefully by manpower after it was cast?"
"...Your Majesty, no. This lead is mixed with other materials and is easy to burn soft. The molds made by the young and classmates using the lost wax method can cast a lot of characters at one time. This set of character molds only uses one set. The mold, the bottom of the mold and the top cover can be used to engrave many characters on both sides of the inscription, and then take out the character molds one by one."
"This is a good thing!" Zhu Houcong was about to go back and look at their molds. "It would be simpler if a set of molds only engraved one character. Many character molds of the same character could be cast at one time, with one mold for each character. , if you cast them all once, you can cast several sets, and if you use frequently used zigzag characters, you can cast more sets!"
"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"
There is a mature method for casting copper type molds. Now they have improved it a bit, successfully cast lead type molds, and also improved the printing plate for typesetting.
Wu Erqi then began to skillfully apply ink on the surface of the characters on the printing plate, and he quickly said: "Your Majesty ordered that the lead be used as the mold. It is easier to ink than the copper characters, and the ink marks printed are also thicker." It’s smooth and really sage. When I chatted with everyone, I was really impressed.”
Zhu Houcong only smiled slightly. After all, before electronic printing, type was used later.
It turns out that its advantages are not only easy and cheap casting, but also better coloring.
When Wu Erqi was ready, someone above started turning it like a mill, and Wu Erqi was directing from below: "Take another step...half a step...stop!"
Zhu Houcong was confused. If this printing press cannot be operated by one person, how can it be called efficient?
It actually requires the cooperation of two people, and it is voice controlled.
Wu Erqi held up the printed paper as if it were a treasure: "Your Majesty, please take a look at it!"
As expected of a craftsman who was once in charge of the Li Supervisory Factory, he always used the same words when he spoke.
Zhu Houcong took it and looked at it. The effect was indeed very good, although it was probably because they had practiced it many times.
He nodded: "Now all that's left is to make the printing machine compact. If you want to print quickly, you still have to use only one person to operate the machine. After you become proficient, you can put paper and press in three to five seconds." It’s just one piece, that’s all.”
"I will discuss with them how to improve it with gears!" Shen Zhongming immediately promised.
Zhu Houcong thought for a while: "The two methods mentioned earlier are also arranged to be studied. If this iron thread can be made, it will still be of great use. How much silver and two hands are needed for each of the three methods? You can come back and draw up a strategy. , I will consider it myself.”
"I accept the decree!" Shen Zhongming was overjoyed.
Zhu Houconn handed the piece of paper with the first hundred words of the thousand-character text printed on it to Huang Jin: "I will keep this copy. You are all very good. We have a prototype in more than twenty days. You can think about it and are willing to do it. Be brave! I am not asking you to come here to study, so that you can become officials and waste your skills in the future. It is just so that you can learn more knowledge and continuously 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: "These typefaces and printing plates are very ingenious. They will save a lot of mistakes and manpower in the future. Is your name Zheng Kui?"
"Exactly the little one."
Zheng Kui was extremely excited, the emperor remembered his name!
But the emperor is still asking.
"Where is your family name?"
"Back to Your Majesty, my ancestral home is Huining County, Shaanxi Province."
"Which village?"
Zheng Kui replied nonchalantly: "Baicao Plateau Hougou Zheng..."
Why did the emperor ask so carefully?
"The leader, the leader. Your name is correct." Zhu Houcong looked around for a week, and then said, "I have understood the way of physics, and I am about to promote it. This typeface and printing plate are both consistent with physics. Human theory. Although it is inconspicuous, I really don’t know how much manpower, material and financial resources will be saved in the future. The contribution is not small. Huang Jin. "
"The slave is here!"
"After returning to the palace, we will wait for the edict to be drafted, and then report it to the officials. Zheng Kui will be granted the title of Nobility of Hougou Township."
The words shocked the spot.
This is a lot of money to buy horse bones. The first big reward related to the trial production of the printing press actually fell to a craftsman who originally fired the kiln, and he was granted a rural title.
The emperor's intention to encourage craftsmen was fully demonstrated.
Even a stencil printing plate has been awarded the title of country knight, so what about a truly practical printing press?
This title was originally only the responsibility of the Ministry of War. After all, the original title was basically for military merit.
Nowadays, the Ministry of Officials also has to record and register those who were not knighted for military merit.
The leader is the leader.
The first craftsman in the Ming Dynasty who was knighted for his contribution to creating utensils appeared.
Is this still a craftsman's job that was previously regarded as a lower class?
Shen Zhongming's heart beat unsatisfactorily: Although His Majesty also thought about it and looked at him like that, Shen Zhongming also realized that he can use gears now!
Can I take credit?
…
The power of role models is infinite. Because of the appearance of a craftsman Xiang Jun at Huangming University, many people started thinking like crazy about how to participate in the improvement of printing presses.
Casting gears for printing presses? That’s much simpler than threading, so you have experience!
Moreover, His Majesty obviously attaches more importance to the thread matter. Even if the printing press has a temporary transition plan, His Majesty also asked the Engineering College to draft a method for casting gold and iron threads.
Mingbao Bank, Baojin Bureau, will be the supervisor...
When the news comes out, how can you not be moved?
Nowadays, there are so many tools and methods for making things. According to His Majesty’s will, if there are improvements in each of them, manpower can be saved, trouble and money can be saved, then that will all be credit.
Suddenly, many memorials came to Zhu Houcong.
He felt what it means to be enthusiastic about applying for a project.
"...Talk to all the eighteen companies! They are enterprises. If they want to improve their tools and processes, they must first pay for it themselves. Haven't I given money and property to others before? Huangming University is different!" Zhu Houcong was a little confused. If you are so angry, everyone will open your mouth.
But at the same time, Zhu Houcong was also seriously considering 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.
In terms of promoting technology, no one can replace Zhu Houcong because of his forward-looking attitude.
So is it time to think about setting up some major projects with far-reaching impact and very basic foundation, and gather relevant personnel to develop them?
This matter was included in his plan and he couldn't slap him on the forehead.
The giant printing press in a physical sense reminded him that the current technical level and personnel base were there, and the projects to be prepared now must be both strategic and feasible.
Like a steam engine or something, don't overthink it.
Zhu Houcong thought it was just a boiler at first, but later he figured it out: there was no rubber yet, so the airtightness of the cylinder would be difficult to solve at all.
This can be seen from the fact that most of the Ming Dynasty used wooden mortise and tenon structures, and there was no thought of threading for thousands of years. Many machines require a large number of complex metal connectors.
Having enough food is the first prerequisite. Planting, fertilizer, and water conservancy are all crucial.
In terms of clothing, there are actually looms now. Zhu Houcong asked people in the Weaving Bureau that there were over a thousand loom components in Hualou, and there were also small looms among the people. If we want to improve it later, we will have to work hard on power, but this will easily destroy the low-cost survival mode of folk families where men farm and women weave.
Live... Zhu Houcong felt that firing cement and developing truly transparent glass were of great significance to the improvement of communication efficiency in the empire and the emergence of chemistry and other disciplines.
There are also military and many other aspects.
Zhu Houcong's thoughts gradually returned.
After the new law is implemented, if we can first improve people's lives in terms of food, clothing, housing, etc., then we can talk about other things.
In this process, it is better to focus on farming, military, and technologies and tools that improve governance capabilities.
After the food and wages are sufficient, the troops and horses are strong, and the mobilization is strong, what we should strive for are the basic resources needed to lay an industrial foundation in the future.
Don't worry about the oil, it's too far away.
But rubber, coal, iron... Nanyang, Northern Desert, those are all good places.
There are some resources that Ming Dynasty does not have, but it is difficult to exploit them, so it is better to keep them first.
It's just that it's far away, so it will be a big problem to transport it back and reduce the cost.
It’s difficult!
(End of chapter)
