Once bitten, twice shy. This time, Liu Li was much better prepared. She pulled Fu Jingchen along, and based on the re-analyzed data and optimized plan, they disassembled and modified the "makeshift clamp" again. The main changes included adding two auxiliary support points so that the middle section of the thin aluminum plate was no longer "suspended," and making the fine-tuning screw mechanism more precise to facilitate her envisioned "step-by-step application."
When Ma, the foreman of the mechanics team, saw her fiddling with something again, he came over with a cigarette in his mouth, glanced at her, and saw that her modifications were all quite accurate. For once, he didn't pour cold water on her work, but instead muttered, "Hmm, this time it looks decent."
Zhou Wei somehow wandered over and stood not far away, watching without getting close. However, his eyes held less of the previous skepticism and more of curiosity.
Liu Li didn't care about anything else; she was completely focused on the second experiment. She used a thin aluminum plate of the same specifications, carefully clamping and aligning it. This time, she didn't add the prestress to the expected value all at once, but instead added it to 50% first, then started the lathe and performed the first round of trial cutting with extremely low parameters.
The dial indicator needle was still jumping, but the amplitude was much smaller. She stopped, carefully measured the dimensions after machining, and recorded the data. Then, based on the actual deformation in this first round, she once again turned the fine-tuning screw, precisely adding about 20% of the prestress, aiming to compensate for any additional deformation that might be caused by cutting heat.
Her movements were slow and steady, her entire focus concentrated on the sensations in her fingertips and the subtle changes in the dial gauge. The roar of the surrounding machines seemed to fade into the distance.
The second round of finishing began. The cutting tool contacted the workpiece again, emitting a uniform cutting sound. Liu Li's eyes were fixed on the dial indicator.
The pointer trembled slightly, but this time, it did not continue to deviate to one side as resolutely as before. Instead, it swung back and forth within a very small range, and the overall offset was kept at an extremely low level!
Her heart was pounding, and her palms were sweating again, but this time it was from excitement.
The machining was complete. She almost held her breath as she stopped the machine and unloaded the workpiece. Her hand, holding the calipers, was even trembling slightly.
Measurements! The critical dimension... is less than 0.01 millimeters larger than the theoretical value! Although it's not perfect and there are still traces of error, compared to the obvious bulging in the first experiment, and compared to the potential deviations that could have been achieved without taking any measures, this result is worlds apart!
The deformation was suppressed by more than 70%!
"It worked...it really worked!" Liu Li looked at the reading on the calipers, then at the perfectly sized aluminum part in her hand, and could hardly believe her eyes. A huge surge of warmth, a mixture of ecstasy and relief, rushed to her head, making her eyes well up with tears.
Fu Jingchen had somehow appeared beside her, looking at the workpiece and the recorded data with a bright smile on his face. He patted her shoulder forcefully: "Goodness! You actually managed to get it done!"
Even Zhou Wei, who had been watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but come over, pick up the workpiece and examine it carefully. Then he looked at the final stable reading recorded on the dial indicator, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face. He murmured, "It actually... works?"
Squad Leader Ma also came over, a rare smile appearing on his dark, thin face: "Not bad, Xiao Liu! Your 'homemade cannon' actually made a sound!"
The news of the successful experiment spread like wildfire throughout the team. The previous skepticism diminished considerably, replaced by astonishment and a renewed sense of scrutiny. While a perfect solution is still a long way off—such as standardizing this control method and adapting it to more complex parts and materials—this successful verification of the principle is undoubtedly a milestone.
It proves that the path of "active prestressing compensation" is not a pipe dream, but a practical and feasible one! The seemingly unattainable dawn has finally pierced through the thick clouds and cast a real ray of light.
Liu Li looked out the window and let out a long, thorough sigh of relief. For this second step, she finally took it, albeit unsteadily, but firmly!
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