1959Siheyuan, a Turnaround

The first to enter were a group of sophomore students from the mechanical manufacturing major, whose work was a new type of manual stamping machine.

Several young men, with flushed faces and beads of sweat on their foreheads, worked together to place the stamping machine steadily on the display stand.

This stamping machine has a simple and practical shape. Due to the limitations of the materials and craftsmanship at the time, the metal shell was not as smooth and flat as it is today. However, after repeated wiping and polishing by the students, it appears spotless. Under the focus of the light, every operating lever and every transmission chain are clearly visible.

The team members gathered around, their eyes showing both nervousness and anticipation. They squatted down from time to time to check the connections of each component again, and whispered the key points of operation, for fear of any mistakes.

One of the more shy team members was so nervous that he kept rubbing his hands, his cheeks slightly flushed. Seeing this, another team member patted him on the shoulder, gave him an encouraging look, and whispered: "Don't panic, we are well prepared, there will be no problem, this is to make our new China's industry proud!"

The technologies they use are all based on traditional stamping processes. By improving the stamping structure, the stamping accuracy has been improved to a certain extent compared with the past, and they strive to meet the factory's growing demand for parts processing under limited conditions.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Wanqing's team walked into the competition venue with confident steps.

Lin Wanqing, as the team leader, walked in the front. She had a light figure, her long black hair tied into a neat ponytail, and bright and determined eyes, revealing a spirit of a woman who is as good as any man.

In this relatively conservative era, it is rare for girls to engage in the field of mechanics, but she has become the core of the team with her solid professional knowledge and tenacious perseverance.

The team members behind her, some holding documents, some carrying old tool kits, moved in an orderly manner, obviously a well-trained team.

At that time, automation technology was still in its infancy. Especially for those who were still studying mechanical engineering on campus, the reference materials and technologies were extremely limited.

Under the guidance of the teacher, Lin Wanqing and her team members studied the existing mechanical devices in the factory day and night, and found that in traditional mechanical processing, the polishing process of parts is not only labor-intensive, but also difficult to ensure uniform precision standards.

Therefore, they focused their research on designing a semi-automatic grinding machine.

The main structure of this semi-automatic grinder is made of cast iron, which was common at the time. Although it is a bit bulky, it is extremely stable.

Its design cleverly combines the principles of mechanical transmission. Through an improved pulley device, the power of the motor is accurately transmitted, driving the grinding wheel to rotate at a uniform speed.

On the operating table, an adjustable clamp is carefully designed, which can be flexibly fixed according to the shapes and sizes of different parts to ensure precise positioning during the grinding process.

After placing the grinder in the display area, the team members quickly gathered around it. Lin Wanqing squatted down and carefully checked the tightness of the transmission belt. She whispered to the team members, "Confirm the condition of the belt again. This is related to the stability of the grinding. We must let this big guy perform well in the competition and explore the way for the country's mechanical processing precision improvement."

The design inspiration of this semi-automatic grinder comes from an in-depth analysis of the mechanical processing and grinding process in traditional factories. It aims to use mechanical technology to optimize existing processes, reduce the labor intensity of workers, improve product quality, and outline a blueprint for the future upgrading of the machinery manufacturing industry.

At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the entrance, where Li Weiguo and his roommates made a brilliant appearance.

Their steps were steady and orderly. Although their clothes bore stains and wear and tear from fighting day and night, they seemed like medals of honor, highlighting their efforts during this period.

In order to perfect the design of this work, they often stayed up late, consulted limited information under dim light, repeatedly tested and improved it. When they were hungry, they ate a few bites of cold steamed buns, and when they were sleepy, they lay on the table and took a nap. They really put in a lot of effort.

Li Weiguo walked at the front of the team, with an upright posture and a firm and calm look, like a general about to go to war, radiating confidence.

His roommates followed closely behind, each of them with concentration written all over their face, their hands steadily pushing the work that carried their countless efforts - a fully automatic machining machine that integrated multiple innovative technologies.

This device is huge but ingeniously designed. The complex mechanical structure shines coldly under the light, and various sophisticated sensors and controllers are distributed in an orderly manner, making its extraordinaryness visible at a glance.

As they slowly pushed the works to the display area, the audience couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"Why does this machine look so different?"

"I heard that they improved the original semi-automatic machine, and now the machine is fully automatic."

"Fully automatic!"

An old professor of mechanical engineering in the crowd saw the machine suddenly lean forward, pushed his glasses up, and his eyes were full of surprise.

He turned to the middle-aged man beside him and whispered, "This group of students is not simple. Looking at the design, they definitely put in a lot of effort. It is full of innovations and has great potential. If it can be promoted, it will be a great help to our country's industrial development."

The middle-aged man nodded in agreement: "Well, this design is indeed very advanced, it surprises me when I see it!"

Just as the groups entered one after another and nervously made final preparations, there was another commotion at the entrance of the competition venue.

Several judges, dressed in dark Zhongshan suits and with solemn expressions, walked in one after another with steady steps.

These judges are all authoritative experts in the field of mechanical engineering in the school. Some of them have participated in the construction of early national industrial projects and have rich experience and solid theoretical knowledge.

Some have been committed to mechanical teaching and research for a long time, working hard to cultivate a new generation of mechanical talents.

Leading the group was judge Mr. Zhang from the Ministry of Industry, who walked in the front with sharp eyes scanning the entire arena. Seeing the carefully prepared works by the students, his eyes revealed satisfaction and expectation.

He held a thick notebook in his hand, which was used to record the highlights and shortcomings of each entry.

Following closely behind was the school's principal, Mr. Li, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses. His eyes behind the lenses revealed rigor and professionalism. From time to time, he whispered with the teacher next to him, exchanging initial impressions of the layout of the competition venue and the entries.

The judges walked slowly along the aisle towards the first row of seats. Along the way, the students cast respectful glances at them and some even bowed slightly.

The judges also responded with smiles and nods, encouraging the students.

As they took their seats in the first row one by one, the atmosphere became more solemn and dignified.