The rise of great powers: starting from military industry

Production workshop.

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

Liu Tao also took matters into his own hands. More than an hour later, 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 assigned to Panshan Machinery Factory.

Although he was shocked that Liu Tao was proficient in CNC machine tools and could manufacture CNC machine tools, but he was previously a three-axis machine tool. No matter how shocked he was, he could understand.

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

Xie Jin knew that when China wanted to import three-axis CNC machine tools, they asked for a price of US$1 million. Because the three-axis CNC machine tools have very good processing accuracy, they began to be embargoed by Batumi.

As for the four-axis CNC machine tool, the asking price for one is at least 5 million US dollars, and even people are still reluctant to do so, and they have made huge losses.

And you have to know that this price is more than double the international price.

Because the control of four-axis machining centers in the world is very strict, and everyone has to be very careful for fear of being discovered and sanctioned.

The five-axis machining center is the most high-end in the world. Even if you have money, you can't buy it. Even if the price reaches 10 million US dollars or 20 million US dollars, people will shake their heads when they hear it, saying that they really can't do it, no matter how much money they give. Can't do it.

Five-axis machining centers are used to manufacture the most complex and top-notch 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 9 workers in the country, and manual production efficiency is low. No matter how hard and conscientious the Level 9 workers across the country are, it will be difficult for them to manufacture these most complex and top-level parts on a large scale.

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

"Well, it's not easy to make this thing!" Liu Tao nodded, "Professor Xie, I will teach you next. If you don't understand anything, just ask. It's up to you to teach 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 country's call and returned to participate in national construction.

Xie Jin was a participant in the development of China's machine tool field. He was a participant in the design of China's first CNC machine tool.

Later, he was sent to work in Beidahuang Labor Camp, and it was not until 1976 that he was able to return to Tsinghua University to continue teaching.

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 really blank, and there is a serious talent gap.

Xie Jin served as the leader of the CNC machine tool team and formed an expert group with several other university professors. Liu Tao handed over relevant CNC machine tool knowledge to them, and they then taught it to the technicians, both in terms of theoretical knowledge and how to operate it. Also responsible for manufacturing CNC machine tools.

Three days ago, they had just successfully set up 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 could not produce it was because Xie Jin and others provided the basis for his judgment.

Liu Tao took out a titanium alloy blade. This was a cast blade, but it still had to be processed with high precision.

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

Immediately, the five-axis machining center began processing work.

On the screen, you can see the processing surface, as well as the corresponding coordinates and data.

Liu Tao explained.

When the blades were processed and taken out, Liu Tao took out the titanium alloy blades. 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 questions from Xie Jin and others, Liu Tao said: "Next, we will produce tank engine blades, and this aspect will be left to you."

"The information on the five-axis machining center will be given to you later."

The identities of these people are kept secret, but it is not easy for them to go abroad, let alone be approached by spies.

Everyone involved in CNC machine tool research is carefully selected and has signed a confidentiality agreement.

Even if they leave Panshan Machinery Factory in the future, they will often be followed by guards.

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

"Made in China." Liu Tao smiled and said, "This is produced by our Panshan Machinery Factory. We have the technology."

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

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

But he didn't take it out because the chip performance was too advanced, too appalling, and too unbelievable.

As for the "Loongson 1" chip, because the manufacturing process is not up to par and the materials are not up to standard, many domestically produced control components such as sensors cannot compare with the world's first-class chips. Although they are manufactured, the qualification rate is very low and the cost is quite high.

The ‘Loongson No. 1’ produced by Panshan Machinery Factory is now sufficient for its own use.

As the core processor of the CNC system, such a 'Loongson 1' chip is sufficient for a short period of time.

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

Xie Jin was amazed in his heart. He did not expect that the technology of Panshan Machinery Factory was higher than he imagined.

Xie Jin also knows something about chip development. After all, machinery and automation are often inseparable from semiconductors.

Since semiconductor technology was listed as an important national science and technology project in 1956, China has begun a long national battle against semiconductors. In 1960, the Chinese Academy of Semiconductors and the Hebei Institute of Semiconductors were formally established, marking the initial establishment of China's semiconductor industry system.

But while countries around the world are 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, advanced technologies such as integrated circuits cut off China's technological exchanges with the world. . Furthermore, the ten-year special period also severely damaged the semiconductor industry. At that time, exaggerated slogans appeared on the streets: A random old lady on the street could make semiconductors by pulling up a stove in an alley.

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

By the time reform and opening up began, China Semiconductor was far behind the world.

But he didn't expect that Panshan Machinery Factory, which is located deep in the mountains and old forests, would develop world-class chips. This is simply incredible.

Although it had been more than a month since he arrived at Panshan Machinery Factory, Xie Jin felt that Panshan Machinery Factory seemed to be shrouded in a layer of fog and seemed mysterious.