Chapter 979: French Engineering Design Institute
Joseph patiently explained the concepts to his father.
"You see, the power for a hydraulic forge comes from the flow of water. However, the speed and intensity of that flow shift constantly. This causes the forge's output power to fluctuate, which severely impacts its precision.
"Because of the unpredictability of the current, highly precise gear and crankshaft structures cannot be used. They would likely be shattered the moment a sudden surge of water rushed through the system.
"A steam engine, on the other hand, provides a consistently stable output. This allows every strike of the hammer to be controlled with exact distance and force.
"At the same time, by using precise valves to regulate the amount of steam, the intensity of the blow can be finely adjusted. By simply releasing the steam, the forging process stops instantly."
Joseph glanced at his father, who was already lost in thought, and continued, "Ten tons is the absolute upper limit for a hydraulic forge. For a steam forging machine, however, ten tons is merely the beginning.
"Once we make a breakthrough in high-power steam engine research, we can easily build machines of thirty tons, fifty tons, or even over a hundred tons."
Upon hearing the phrase "over a hundred tons," Louis XVI lost all interest in the fencing match. He grabbed his son and began pulling him toward the Royal Workshop. "You must at least draw a schematic for me first! This thing sounds absolutely miraculous!"
As he stepped down from the stands, he suddenly looked at Joseph with a conflicted expression. "But the revolver you mentioned earlier was also very interesting... Good Heavens, which one should we start with first?"
"The work of ten to twenty hydraulic hammers can be accomplished by a single steam-powered forge."
"Exactly!" Louis XVI nodded repeatedly, excitedly gesturing with his hands. "And it isn't restricted by rivers. It can be used anywhere. For instance, we could forge right next to the iron smelting plant. Yes, that's it! No more transporting heavy iron ingots back and forth. Efficiency will increase manifold!
"Yes, I've decided. We shall build the steam forging machine first!"
Joseph wore a satisfied smile. His intention in bringing up the steam forging machine was precisely to pique his father's interest.
In the age of steam, the steam forging machine was a productivity booster second only to the train.
Only with such a machine could large-scale metal parts be mass-produced with precision.
Whether it was producing bearings, metal frames, ship anchors, boilers, or heavy cannons, the speed would be dozens of times faster than current methods, and the quality would be significantly higher.
Furthermore, there was another crucial item that required the steam forging machine for production.
That was the iron rail.
If hydraulic forges or manual labor were used to produce iron rails, the cost would be astronomical and the output would never meet the demand. This was one of the reasons why the expansion of railways was so slow in the early days of history.
Moreover, once the steam forging machine technology matured, simple modifications could turn it into a pile driver or even a stamping machine.
The former would drastically accelerate infrastructure construction, while the latter was an essential piece of equipment for the second industrial revolution.
Therefore, the steam forging machine was a strategic piece of high-tech equipment.
In comparison, while the revolver could slightly improve the combat effectiveness of the cavalry, it was limited by the manufacturing precision of this era. The airtight seal between the cylinder and the barrel could not be made very tight, meaning its lethal power was mediocre at best.
Generally, its effective killing range did not exceed twenty-five meters.
Furthermore, the cavalry of this era remained obsessed with the saber. In fact, even by the time of World War I, the saber remained the most important weapon for the cavalry, bar none.
An hour later.
Inside the Royal Workshop, Louis XVI ignored the music and cheers drifting in from the window, focusing intently on several blueprints spread out before him.
These were the schematics Joseph had just drawn for the steam forging machine. In truth, Joseph only remembered the general principles.
After a long silence, the King exhaled heavily and looked at Joseph. "My dear boy, to be frank, this thing... is a bit complicated.
"I estimate it will take seven or eight years to actually build it, assuming everything goes smoothly."
Joseph wasn't surprised by this assessment.
The steam forging machine was essentially the "high-end microchip lithography machine" of this era.
Every single component had to be repeatedly designed, prototyped, tested, then modified and prototyped again... This cycle might need to be repeated hundreds or even thousands of times to achieve the desired result.
And this machine consisted of hundreds of such parts.
Of course, Joseph never expected his father to develop the steam forging machine alone.
In history, James Nasmyth was able to invent this machine independently because steam machinery technology was already mature by the mid-nineteenth century, providing him with a wealth of off-the-shelf components. Those conditions did not exist yet.
Joseph nodded. "Yes, this is indeed a highly challenging task. Therefore, we need to gather a group of excellent technicians to assist you in completing the design."
Louis XVI might not necessarily be the most talented designer of steam machinery in France, but having the King himself manage the project ensured that the enthusiasm of all participants would be at its peak. Furthermore, there would be no concerns regarding information leaks.
Louis XVI pondered for a moment. "Aymeric and Monsieur Martin can come to help."
Joseph shook his head. "That is far from enough."
"Ah, I don't seem to have any other suitable candidates here. What about you?"
Joseph shrugged.
"I am not sure who is qualified either, but we can take this opportunity to establish a proper engineering design department.
"You will serve as the overall head, with several sub-departments under you responsible for screening and recruiting talent, managing funds, reviewing projects, and ensuring security. On top of that, we will have numerous project teams.
"Each team will handle a specific design project, such as the 'Steam Forging Machine Project Team' or the 'Revolver Project Team.' Each leader will guide their technicians through the design process, and each will have its own independent production and testing workshop.
"Oh, let's call it the 'French Engineering Design Institute.' What do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Louis XVI waved his hands dismissively. "The name is excellent, but you should find someone else to be the head of the institute.
"I would be perfectly happy just being the leader of the 'Steam Forging Machine Project Team.'"
The King had no desire to waste his energy on recruiting talent or managing budgets. He only wanted to focus quietly on his mechanical designs.
"As you wish," Joseph replied with a helpless nod. "I will look for a suitable Director for the institute."
Louis XVI pointed impatiently toward the Royal Armory to the southeast. "Let's put the institute there. We can build a new set of workshops nearby..."
A vision immediately flashed through Joseph's mind: the roar of machinery in the design institute's workshops drowning out the court orchestra, and thick black smoke turning the Palace of Versailles into a giant block of coal.
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