Chapter 54 CNC System

Inside the Watchtower Research Institute, He Xingzhou was unlocking new technological knowledge.

Quantum Optical Brain: "Cost 500 units of energy, unlocked basic mechanical design knowledge."
"Cost 600 units of energy, unlocked basic intelligent control technology."
"Cost 1000 units of energy, unlocked basic mechanical manufacturing technology."
……

He Xingzhou used up all the energy he had accumulated over the past few days, unlocking more than a dozen minor categories of technological knowledge.

"The special metals required to manufacture machine tools can already be produced. Next, we need the machine tool structural design and the critical numerical control system."

The numerical control system is inseparable from the overall machine tool; both need to be designed simultaneously.

He Xingzhou headed to the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute to discuss with the team.

"These are our existing materials." Lu Jianye, the head of the research group at the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute, handed the documents to He Xingzhou.

"In general machine tool manufacturing technology, we are no longer inferior to foreign countries. For example, we can now manufacture five-axis linkage machine tools. However, compared to foreign countries, there is still a significant gap in precision."

These documents were extremely complex, but He Xingzhou directly had the Quantum Optical Brain read them, enriching its information database.

"Machine tools are the mother of industry—the machines that make machines. From upstream steel and foundry industries to downstream automobiles, railways, energy, aerospace, maritime transport, and national defense, machine tools are indispensable," He Xingzhou said in a deep voice.

"For the smooth execution of the Xuanwu Project, ultra-precision machine tools are the prerequisite for the birth of all technological creations!"

Lu Jianye sighed with emotion: "In 1958, with the assistance of the Soviet Union, our country developed its first numerical control machine tool. We started researching back then, but by the 1960s, related technologies were restricted, and machine tool development suffered a devastating blow."

"The ultra-precision machine tools used to process the mirrors of the Hubble Space Telescope were already manufactured in 1990, and such machine tools are more than sufficient for processing aerospace engine blades and aircraft carrier components. Yet, decades later today, we are still chasing this level of machining precision!"

"Filled with youthful passion back then, when the country said we also needed ultra-precision machine tools, I plunged headfirst into this industry. Now, my temples are gray and I am growing old, yet I have still been unable to manufacture a truly military-grade ultra-precision machine tool. I am ashamed, deeply ashamed!"

"You flatter yourself, Elder Lu," He Xingzhou said. "The fact that Divine State's machine tools can now compete on the world stage is the greatest contribution of scientific researchers like you."

"As for the top-tier ultra-precision machine tools, aren't we in the process of manufacturing them right now?"

"Let me review the plan and discuss it with you in a few days." He Xingzhou held a confidential document in his hand—the structural blueprint of the ultra-precision machine tool designed by Lu Jianye's team.

It was incomplete and could not be manufactured directly; it required modifications.

Watching He Xingzhou discuss the plan with other experts, Lu Jianye sighed inwardly, "I believe we will certainly be able to manufacture the world's top-tier ultra-precision machine tool; I only fear I won't live to see that moment."

……

After talking with the experts, He Xingzhou roughly understood their predicament.

The issue of the required metals had already been resolved by He Xingzhou. As for mechanical design, their research over the years had also yielded fruitful results, requiring only minor adjustments.

The biggest problem was the "core" of the numerical control machine tool—the controller!

It was equivalent to the human brain and a computer chip!

And the controller was precisely the key technology monopolized by foreign countries. Eighty percent of the world's controller market was controlled by Siemens of Germany and Fanuc of Sakura Country!

It is worth mentioning that Sakura Country's Fanuc Corporation had previously cooperated with the Beijing Machine Tool Research Institute and even established a joint venture.

However, as soon as they learned that He Xingzhou's team was going to focus on machine tool manufacturing technology, their expert team withdrew.

"Isn't it just a controller?"

"In the future, I am going to build a stellar management intelligent system that controls the entire solar system. Can a machine tool control system stump me?"

Under the lamplight, He Xingzhou worked late into the night.

Not long ago, he had studied the basic intelligent control system on the Quantum Optical Brain, and now he was combining the machine tool research team's experience with numerical control system and machine tool design to make improvements.

Days later, at 3:00 AM, He Xingzhou looked at a piece of code in front of the computer and let out a long sigh: "Finally done! So exhausting!"

Working under high intensity continuously was a bit too much to handle, even for a young man like him.

The Quantum Optical Brain reminded him: "Your body has been over-consumed and requires rest."

"I have been using energy to repair your body, such as your brain absorbing information streams and memory cells retaining memories. However, given that you are still only a Level 0.7 civilization organism, your body cannot continuously sustain such a work intensity. Reasonable rest and exercise are required."

"I know about exercise, but when I get to work, who has the mood?" He Xingzhou complained. In his spare time, he did participate in some physical exercises with Ding Yue and Xu Zhilan, as well as firearms practice.

However, He Xingzhou belonged to the type of personality who forgot to eat and sleep once he started working; if he didn't do a job well, he couldn't sleep in peace.

"Optical Brain, is there any way to solve this problem?" He Xingzhou asked.

The Quantum Optical Brain replied: "Currently, there are three options available."

"Option A: Unlock artificial intelligence technology and create advanced artificial intelligence to assist you with your work."
"Option B: Unlock neurology and chip technology, manufacture a quantum chip to implant in the brain, and become a cyborg."
"Option C: Unlock biology and biochip technology to create biochips and biocomputers, giving yourself a second brain."

"There are also other options, such as unlocking genetic modification technology to perform targeted mutations on your own genes, making your limbs and brain more developed, and so on."

He Xingzhou: "……"

He checked the technology tree and saw that these technologies required at least several million units of energy to unlock, not to mention various prerequisite technologies.

"No matter how I look at it, AI assistance seems the most reliable," He Xingzhou thought to himself. "Once I successfully manufacture this ultra-precision machine tool, I'll go unlock artificial intelligence technology; it will surely improve my work efficiency."

He Xingzhou slept for a full twelve hours. The moment he woke up the next day, he immediately headed to the Machine Tool Research Institute to present his new design.

In the conference room, Lu Jianye and other key machine tool technology researchers were gathered here. He Xingzhou was going to present his improvement plan.

"As above is my improvement on the mechanical structure design of the machine tool. I have improved the motor, increasing its rotational speed tenfold! This will bring its machining speed to the world's top level."

"The precision compensation system added here can make the machining precision more stable. According to the formula calculation, it should be able to achieve micrometer-level machining precision."

"And the high-speed milling center and high-speed machining center design here, applying multi-axis linkage machining technology, makes the machining methods more diverse, capable of meeting the machining needs of multiple scenarios and molds such as aerospace, automobiles, and military industry."

As He Xingzhou lectured, the experts in the audience listened. Their expressions were solemn and their attitudes extremely earnest. Even an eighty-year-old veteran expert like Lu Jianye sat upright like a student, occasionally showing expressions of contemplation or astonishment.