Machine Thinking
2 HN recommenders · recommended in 4 months, 2020–2023
14:57 · 6.1M views · Mar 15, 2018
Machine Thinking argues the 1751 machine, a metal-cutting lathe associated with Vaucanson, triggered the biggest explosion of wealth in history by enabling precise manufacturing of other machines.
HN recommends the channel and this video as an explanation of how machine tools enabled modern manufacturing.
5 comments from Hacker News
How the screw of the wine press was the central part of Gensfleisch/Gutenbergs invention which allowed all the other previously existing ones to finally come together (though I also read that certain advances in metallurgy were also essential). Also see the previous video on screws, a much underappreciated invention. It then describes how the availability of books made propagation of existing technology and newer developments possible and faster. The only other comparable moments in history are probably the evolution of spoken language, the invention of writing and most recently the internet. Also much recommended from that Chanel are the videos on the "Origins of Precision"[1], and "The 1751 Machine that Made Everything"[2]. 1: [LINK] 2: this video
If you can't visit but are interested in the topic and the beginning of the industrial revolution in general, the YouTube channel "Machine Thinking" has a video about this[1][2] and related topics. E.g. in another video he explains how to get a perfectly plan surface from scratch: Rubbing two somewhat flat surfaces together until they are smooth enough does not work, you might end up with a subtly concave/convex combination. But do that with three surfaces and the result can only be perfectly flat, though it will take quite some time. [1]: [LINK] - Paris' Temple To Science - Part I [2]: this video - The 1751 Machine that Made Everything
Also Machine Thinking's videos "The 1751 Machine that Made Everything" ( this video ), "Origins of Precision" ( [LINK] ) and some others on his channel.
There's an argument to be made that the rapid advancement of human technology is down to the creation of the metal lathe: this video
“The 1751 Machine that Made Everything”? this video Of course, when I first saw that, I thought it was a Commodore that I’d never heard of before.