Riding the wind of rebirth

The project was divided into two parts. One part involved Mai Xiaomiao creating a virtual five-axis linkage machine tool in the system based on the engineering drawings and process parameters. Then, she led the team to write a nonlinear programming CAD system and a linear fitting system to control the system.

The non-linear programming CAD system was basically completed during the cavitation simulation experiment and the new propeller. The remaining linear fitting system and control system were completed in just four months.

After the final control system was completed, Mai Xiaomiao's software engineering team even joined Xu Anran's team to help them overcome engineering challenges such as precise motor servo control and automatic speed optimization using software control technology.

The team employed the most traditional approach in Chinese scientific research: if precision is insufficient, compensate with technology; if hardware is inadequate, compensate with software. When they couldn't rely solely on technical prowess, they sought out alternative solutions to overcome the challenges.

Anran's cousin's imagination is already admired by many inventors, but after Anran's cousin met Mai Xiaomiao, Mai Xiaomiao became Anran's cousin's idol in this regard.

By using software control to solve the problem of hardware precision, the five-axis machine tool R&D team solved a series of technical problems. No wonder Anran's cousin admired Mai Xiaomiao so much and was so surprised to see her.

"Is this the propeller that the Navy team made?" In a display case in the conference room on the second floor of the machining room, Zhou Zhi saw a propeller whose shape was rather strange compared to traditional propellers.

Rather than a propeller, it's more like a bizarre, large water droplet with spiral grooves, completely overturning the traditional understanding of propellers.

“Yes, this is it.” Anran’s cousin’s tone was full of pride: “However, this is the first generation. It is made using a very expensive special ductile alloy. Currently, everyone is actively looking for better alternative solutions, hoping to use cheaper titanium alloys, or even steel alloys and aluminum alloys to make it.”

Zhou Zhi believes that this should be the responsibility of subsequent military research units. The task of Clover and Jinan Group was to complete the research and development of five-axis CNC machine tools and verify the feasibility of the technical route. Now that this task has been completed, Clover Group has obtained the control system of high-end CNC machine tools, and even traced back to CAD, closely linking the two and forming a technological barrier, which will bring many benefits in the future.

Jinan Group has also completed the upgrade and iteration of its processing technology. In the future, relying on this five-axis CNC machining center, it will be able to complete the processing of some complex special door lock parts, as well as some automotive parts, which can be considered a considerable achievement.

However, we can't dampen Anran's patriotic enthusiasm, so we can't say these things. Zhou Zhi looked at the strange workpiece in front of him with great interest: "What principle does this propeller use to solve the propeller cavitation problem?"

"So-called cavitation is actually the vaporization phenomenon that occurs when water flows at high speed and the pressure suddenly decreases in an ultra-low pressure environment, forming bubbles," Anran's cousin said. "To solve this problem, the acceleration of the water flow needs to be a process. From the moment it enters the influence range of the propeller to the moment it is pushed out of the influence range by the propeller, there needs to be a uniform, controllable, and uniform acceleration process that does not produce cavitation."

"Compared to traditional propellers, the grooves on this propeller are actually channels through which water is drawn in and pushed out. Through clever control of the curvature and the change in the diameter of the channel, the water flow pushed by the propeller can achieve a near-uniform acceleration level within a certain speed range. This makes the mechanical environment and force curve experienced by the water flow uniform and smooth, which greatly reduces the generation of cavitation and also effectively controls the noise."

"This thing doesn't seem to be very useful, does it?" Zhou Zhi started letting his imagination run wild. "It would be quite suitable for submarines if it were made larger. But if it were mounted on a torpedo, torpedoes need a carrier to launch, and their attack range is limited. Even if it could be silent, the submarine would still be detected from a great distance, so it's basically useless, isn't it?" "That's why they say different fields are like different worlds." An Ran's cousin expressed his disdain for Zhou Zhi's idea. "With this thing, we could 'torpedo-ify' mines, drop them into areas that need to be blockaded, and let them lie in wait. When they detect an enemy ship with special sonar signatures passing by, they would quietly activate and strike it..."

Zhou Zhi felt a chill run down his spine. This didn't seem to contradict the old Sichuan saying, "A barking dog doesn't bite." But then, shifting his perspective, this thing did indeed seem a bit scary: "You came up with this?"

“How could that be? I just heard the military representatives discussing it like that,” An Ran’s cousin said. “However, silencing is only one aspect. To achieve the goal of not being detected by enemy ships, there are many other methods needed, but those are not issues we need to consider.”

Zhou Zhi nodded. Indeed, any small technological breakthrough has many potential applications. For example, he initially developed blockchain technology to faithfully record system operations so that the military could easily monitor projects. Now, it is about to be used in the financial settlement system.

Following his cousin Anran, who was showing off his treasure, Zhou Zhi and Mai Xiaomiao arrived at the processing workshop. For the first time, they saw a five-axis machine tool that looked like a cabinet.

This thing is completely different from the virtual thing in the system that uses blueprints. The one in the computer system is more of a chart and a set of parameters. Every time Mai Xiaomiao led the team to operate it, Zhou Zhi could only see a screen full of numbers jumping wildly. He had no intuitive impression of what it was doing.

This is quite different. Those fluctuating parameters actually correspond to the positions of the furniture platform and the other four axes in the five-axis system, as well as the type of cutter head, speed, etc., which can be seen intuitively.

Moreover, the machine tool itself has many auxiliary components, such as power box, tool disc, suction fan, etc.

These components are all installed in a metal box similar to a safe, and the workpiece processing inside can be observed from another room through cameras protected by thick explosion-proof glass.

Because the machining precision of the workpiece is too high, human movement is an unnecessary disturbance, and such situations should be avoided whenever possible.

“All of these high-hardness cutter heads were imported from Sweden.” Anran’s cousin said regretfully, “The high-power stepper motors and servo motors are also German products. In other words, a considerable portion of the key components cannot be replaced by domestic alternatives.”

Zhou Zhi was quite confident: "That doesn't matter, we'll take it slow. We can't replace their parts right now, but can they replace our parts? They still can't." (End of Chapter)