RPAGF Chapter 710 The Eye of the Red Dragon?
Chapter 710 The Eye of the Red Dragon?
Why is it said that Master Weng's "magical hand" was the "final step" in completing this calculator?
Is a circuit board not enough? Is an LED digital tube not enough?
This is terrible! The problem lies in the "connecting" step!
Not to mention the messy flying wires designed by the little guy, even the ten pins of the LED digital display tube are beyond the capabilities of this guy who only knows how to do "chicken shit soldering".
……
Just then, Old Wang walked over with the signed documents, a relaxed smile on his face: "Brother, it's done! Master Weng will go and complete the formalities this afternoon!"
"What's this? It's bright red and looks really good, kind of like a bicycle taillight..."
Jiang Xia checked the time and looked at Master Weng with some hope: "Master Weng, I'd like to invite you to lunch. Could you come to work a little earlier? Could you help me solder these things? By the way, do you know how to use a soldering iron?"
Yes! Yes!
Master Weng's weathered face was now beaming with a bright smile. He walked over to Jiang Xia and pointed to the LED digital tubes inside the small box. "Is this what soldering these things is all about? I can do it!"
“I reckon you can do it too, but let me explain. Don’t underestimate those 10 thin legs sticking out from behind this little square.”
Jiang Xia dumped several LED digital tubes from the box onto the table with a "whoosh," picked one up, and explained it to Master Weng in detail.
"See this? This circuit board is like its home. These small holes are its 'footholds'. If you want it to light up obediently, you have to 'stick' these 10 'legs' to the solder joints in its home, one more and one less, in the exact same position."
“This ‘sticking’ isn’t like plastering the wall! It’s done with this,” Jiang Xia picked up the soldering iron on the table, “The solder wire melts and is applied to the joint. What’s important is that the contact is solid, the conductivity is smooth, and the solder joint is smooth and small. The key is—each leg has to be handled individually! You can’t touch the neighbor’s next door!”
Jiang Xia flipped the circuit board over again, pointing to the large area of solder pads next to the integrated circuit and the equally dense pins on the driver circuit: "To make this 'eye' (LED) light up according to the 'translator' (driver circuit), you have to connect each of the ten pins of this 'eye' to these 'mouths' (digital circuit output pins) specified by the 'translator' one by one, with wires thinner than a hair, without any error!"
Moreover, our calculator needs to display several numbers, so we need several of these 'eyes' standing side by side! Each 'eye' has to be connected like this!
Jiang Xia picked up two thin, hair-like insulated wires and gestured among the dense solder pads and pins: "Master Weng, think about it, the space is only about the size of a palm, and there are so many thin wires, one after another, like a spider web. When soldering with the soldering iron, if your hand shakes even slightly..."
He made an exaggerated shaking motion, "Snap! This wire touched the wire it shouldn't have touched—short circuit! Smoke! The whole 'translator' might burn down!"
“Or,” Jiang Xia pinched the end of the wire again, simulating soldering, “the soldering iron temperature wasn’t controlled properly, it was heated for half a second too long—the solder pads were burned! Or the small transistors inside were burned! It’s ruined!”
“Or,” he pointed to two solder joints that were very close together, “the wires are connected, but the solder isn’t fully absorbed, it’s just a loose connection. It looks fine, but if you touch it or it gets heated—it breaks! Poor contact! The display will flicker randomly or not light up at all! This is called a cold solder joint, and it’s the most troublesome!”
Jiang Xia put down his things and looked at Master Weng earnestly: "This job requires steady hands, accurate eyesight, and mental focus. It's no less demanding than 'playing' with those 'ghost ball' or 'rubbing' that mirror steel!"
Even more tricky! Because the cable is soft and unruly! And the space is even more cramped! It looks difficult to even lift a finger!
"Can you... take this job?"
Master Weng did not answer immediately. Instead, he extended his right index finger and very slowly brushed it over the dense row of LED pins. After a moment, he nodded heavily.
"can!"
That's good. Jiang Xia knows that this kind of old craftsman is a man of his word. Once you agree, even if you tie his hands, he'll find a way to get things done for you.
So, I willingly took Master Weng to Nanyi for a sumptuous meal. Oh, and we also brought along the loyal Uncle Lu, and the watch factory manager, Mr. Wang, who was willing but unable to help.
Jiang Xia had initially assumed that Master Weng had come alone, but it turned out that the two of them had come together out of loyalty. However, the strict guards wouldn't let them into the factory, and when Master Weng went to find them waving the dispatch order, the two were still squatting in the corner.
Yes, it's an administrative transfer order. Jiang Xia is oversimplifying things when it comes to permanent employees.
It's important to understand that recruitment, hiring, and wages are now entirely determined by the state's "unified allocation" system, leaving virtually no room for negotiation between individuals and businesses. The number of people to be recruited each year, who to recruit, and their salaries are all included in the labor and wage plan, and are uniformly approved and assigned by the labor administration department. The employer simply needs to "receive" according to the plan.
Although Jiangxia had connections, the overall arrangements for this year have ended, and Master Weng can now only be considered a seasonal worker. However, Master Weng's benefits are still guaranteed. The only difference is that the materials originally provided by the state now have to be supplemented by the machinery factory itself, and the relevant departments will return a fixed rebate to the factory the following year.
Isn't that wonderful? This policy is also the origin of the term "iron rice bowl." The real labor contract system didn't come until 86.
We've digressed again, let's get back to the point. Anyway, the lunch was a pleasant one for both sides. During the meal, Jiang Xia even invited Master Qin and Master Lin over, allowing his "generals" to meet. Unfortunately, "Mirror Immortal" was still at the Academy of Sciences helping assemble the dual-platform lithography machine, so they wouldn't be able to meet for a while.
The fact that the factory manager, Yang Erlengzi, didn't show up was a bit of a disappointment for Master Weng, even though he heard his apprentice and Master Qin explain that the factory revolved around Xiao Jiang.
Old-fashioned Master Weng still felt that there was some exaggeration in those words.
Jiang Xia didn't care. As long as he could do the job well, it didn't matter if he was young or inexperienced.
Is Master Weng doing a good job?
That is inevitable.
The day before Jiangxia was to depart, Master Weng presented him with a flat, tablet-like object.
Yes, a flat plate.
However, the size of this "flat plate" is truly frightening, as big as an unfolded A3 drawing! Rather than a "flat plate", it looks more like a thick iron disc.
Its main body is a sturdy metal frame, covered with a fairly smooth sheet metal, and painted with a slightly rough gray anti-rust paint. On top of this huge iron plate, twelve large LED digital tubes are embedded in a row.
Each of these digital tubes is about the thickness of a child's little finger, glowing bright red, and even when unlit, they exude a clumsy industrial beauty.
Like twelve vigilant "red eyes," they were firmly fixed in the pre-drilled square holes in the iron plate, connected to Master Weng's amazingly precise flying wires, which passed through the thick iron plate and connected to the core below.
Below the digital display, occupying most of the iron plate area, are four rows of buttons arranged as neatly as drilled soldiers.
Each key is enormous, about the size of a mahjong tile, and covered with hardwood keycaps. The keycaps are engraved with large numbers 0-9, operators (+, -, x, ÷, =), and essential function keys. To accommodate this massive size, the keys are spaced far apart, ensuring that even when using thick gloves, accidental key presses are prevented.
When you press it, it makes a dull and loud "click" sound, providing a strong sense of feedback and exuding a reliable, clumsy, and robust feel.
The calculator is quite thick, about the height of two of the "dictionaries" that Secretary Liu holds stacked together. This thickness is partly to accommodate the complex internal circuit boards, flying wires, and dry cell batteries that provide enough space to drive the large LEDs, and partly due to the thick metal casing itself.
Its edges are polished to a fairly rounded shape, so they won't cut your hand, but its heavy weight and sharp industrial feel are overwhelming. Rather than a sophisticated electronic product, it's more like a heavy tool from a workshop, or a metal shield that can be used to stop bullets.
Of course, it also has glowing red eyes embedded on it.
How about calling it "Red Dragon's Eye"?