Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

Just as the Institute of Microelectronics made a breakthrough, another crucial battle concerning the nation's vital equipment entered its most critical sprint stage in the "Ultra-Precision Machining Workshop," located at the other end of the factory area and with a higher level of security.

Inside the workshop, the temperature and humidity were constant, and the floor was as smooth as a mirror. Two three-axis CNC machine tools, which had undergone preliminary modifications, stood like silent behemoths on earthquake-resistant foundations. Wang Huanbo, wearing a dustproof suit, was leading the best level-eight fitters and milling machine operators, drawn from across the country, in the final precision compensation and adjustments to the machine tools. Their goal was to steadily improve the repeatability of the machine tools from the current ±3 micrometers to within ±1 micrometer, in order to meet the almost demanding machining requirements of some core components of the "596 Project".

This is an extremely meticulous and time-consuming craft, requiring immense patience and experience. Improving precision by even one micrometer is an incredibly difficult task. It involves the coordinated optimization of dozens of aspects, including the scraping precision of the machine tool bed guideways, the elimination of ball screw preload, the response characteristics of the servo motor, and the thermal deformation compensation of the spindle.

Master fitter Zhao Yonggui, with his gray hair and rough but remarkably steady fingers, was meticulously inspecting the straightness of the machine tool guideway, inch by inch, using a grade zero granite straightedge and an electronic level. Whenever he found a tiny dent or bump, he would manually scrape it off with a scraper under Wang Huanbo's guidance. This was a task where "a miss is as good as a mile," relying entirely on feel. Too much scraping would decrease precision; too little would leave the problem unresolved. Wang Huanbo, however, relied on the superior microscopic perception granted by his "light gene" and the scanning data from his Ironblood Mask to accurately determine the location and depth of the scraping, much like a human-shaped coordinate measuring machine.

"Chief Engineer Wang, look here, aren't there two more (micrometers) of bow?" Master Zhao pointed to the light gap shining through the contact surface between the straightedge and the guide rail.

Wang Huanbo focused his attention and nodded, saying, "Master Zhao has a good eye! Right here, gently scrape three more times, using your wrist strength, not your arm strength."

Master Zhao took a deep breath and moved his wrist steadily, the scraper making an extremely faint "shh" sound. After three strokes, he checked again and found that the light gap had disappeared and the contact points were evenly distributed.

"Amazing!" Master Zhao exclaimed sincerely. He had been a fitter all his life and had never seen anyone with such precise perception.

On the other side, Xiao Sun, a young technician with an electrical background, was debugging the linear encoder feedback system under the guidance of Wang Huanbo. This was the core of improving accuracy. They needed to ensure that the linear encoder was installed perfectly parallel to the guide rail and that the signal from the reading head was stable and free from interference. Wang Huanbo simplified some basic signal processing algorithms from the Pangu microcomputer and wrote them into a debugging program, which was then injected into the CNC system through an external device, significantly improving the system's anti-interference capability and positioning stability.

"Engineer Wang, the X-axis backlash is still a bit large, it's reached 2.5 micrometers," Xiao Sun reported.

"Adjust the backlash compensation parameters in the servo drive, try giving it a compensation of 3 pulses first," Wang Huanbo ordered. He had integrated his knowledge of future CNC technology and had a thorough understanding of the "temperament" of these old systems.

The debugging process was not without its challenges. During a test cut, the spindle suddenly experienced low-frequency vibrations at high speed, causing chatter marks on the workpiece surface. After much troubleshooting, the problem was finally discovered to be a slight wear on the bearing of a seemingly insignificant belt tensioner. Replacing the bearing resolved the issue. This experience made everyone acutely aware that ultra-high precision machining is an extremely demanding system engineering process, where even the smallest flaw can be magnified infinitely.

After nearly a month of tireless work day and night, countless measurements, adjustments, trial cuts, and readjustments, the two "precious" machine tools finally achieved their expected goals! Final testing with a laser interferometer showed that the repeatability of the X, Y, and Z axes reached ±0.8 micrometers, 0.9 micrometers, and 0.7 micrometers respectively! This completely met and even exceeded the task requirements!

When the first complex ring-shaped precision component for "Project 596" was successfully machined on the modified machine tool in one go, and the metrology laboratory confirmed that all dimensional and geometric tolerances exceeded the highest level required by the drawings, the entire workshop erupted in cheers! Experienced workers were moved to tears, while the younger generation embraced and celebrated. This was not merely a technical victory, but a testament to the solid foundation of the great cause they had participated in, forging the strongest "industrial backbone"!

Looking at the cheering crowd, Wang Huanbo felt a sense of accomplishment. These two precision machine tools, which have reached the top level in China and are close to the advanced level in the world, along with this ultra-high-precision machining team that has grown through trials and tribulations, will become the most valuable spark for the future high-end manufacturing industry of the Republic.