Chapter 537: Pretty Good at Smearing, Huh?

The Saishi Company sent only professional technicians, and their tools were handy—electric jacks and air-cushion movers were all available.

So, very quickly, in about half an hour, the XRD was placed on its base.

As they were finishing the installation, Lin Sicheng gestured: sitting down, he couldn't reach it, and standing up, he had to hunch over; it was unusually awkward.

One could say this: in the entire Center, the XRD is the most frequently used, most useful, and most critical testing machine. Installed in this shitty way, how is it supposed to be used in the future?

He really wanted to ask Fang Yin and the two engineers: after paying the deposit and signing the contract, Professor Wang handed the Center's design blueprints and layout plans to the Saishi Company—did they not look at them, or did they look at them and not take them seriously?

If they had taken them seriously, could this machine have been installed like this?

The more Lin Sicheng thought about it, the more wrong it felt: they were an international giant, after all; even if they were unprofessional, they couldn't be this sloppy, could they?

As always, Lin Sicheng maintained a calm, water-like expression. But Fang Yin had read countless people and always felt the atmosphere was a bit off.

She forced a smile: "General Manager Lin, please forgive us: this machine is being installed in the country for the first time. Out of a sense of responsibility to the client, we must minimize unstable factors that could potentially affect testing or cause interference to the machine."

Which meant, caution is never a mistake.

The words were correct, but that is not how the work should be done.

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal and just nodded.

He prepared to wait until the debugging was finished and the Saishi Company people had left, then dismantle the base and reinstall it.

It wasn't him bragging, but if he were to install it, he would do it faster and better than Engineer Qin.

After making up his mind, Lin Sicheng stopped dwelling on it and turned his head to look at Engineer Xu, who was in charge of the calibration nearby.

Just one glance, and he was stunned again: Engineer Xu was calibrating the horizontal angle of the XRD.

For ray equipment like this, a zero-point offset of the goniometer directly affects the accuracy of all diffraction peak positions, and even more so, the results of phase identification and quantitative analysis.

Therefore, it is essential to ensure the instrument's optical path is collimated, with every angle precisely aligned on the standard geometric plane.

In Lin Sicheng's impression, Bruker Corporation had stipulated since the launch of their second-generation XRD: calibration of their XRD instruments must use a high-precision bubble level and a rotating laser collimator.

Yet, the one Engineer Xu was using was a cross-line laser level, two full versions behind.

The precision of the former is 0.1mm/m, while the latter two, when used together, can reach a precision of 0.02mm/m (4 arcseconds). The gap between them is a full five times.

Lin Sicheng could already foresee how ridiculously inaccurate the data would be when testing the performance of an instrument calibrated this way. Could it be that they would just adjust it again during testing?

That wasn't impossible, but at that point, the difficulty and time consumed would be several times greater than now: you would have to dismantle all the assembled components and calibrate them one by one.

It was very likely that the first pass wouldn't necessarily find the issue, and it might even require completely disassembling all parts and reinstalling them from scratch.

If it were to come to that, why not just do it right the first time?

Lin Sicheng finally couldn't hold back and prepared to ask.

Because the level of skill shown by these two engineers didn't have a shred of connection to the "dedication and persistence" or "standards first" spirit that an international giant like Saishi boasted.

Just as he was about to squat down, he heard Zhu Kaiping's voice in his ear: "Junior Brother Lin, come over and take a look—how do you use this mirror?"

Lin Sicheng turned back: Zhu Kaiping and Qin Tao were standing next to a machine.

At first glance, it was just a microscope plus a display screen.

But this was no ordinary microscope; it was an integrated 3D digital microscope, also known as a video microscope.

Its biggest difference from an ordinary microscope is that one doesn't need to climb up to the eyepiece and squint with one eye; instead, it transmits the image to a computer via an internal camera.

Furthermore, it has powerful measurement and analysis capabilities: this machine can create 2D/3D image stitching based on measurements of integrated area, length, angle, roughness, contour, and height difference.

To put it plainly, this mirror can not only observe the surface but also use depth-of-field expansion to reconstruct the height map and contour map of an object's surface, generating a 3D model.

For example: as long as the database is comprehensive enough, if you give it a porcelain shard, it can restore a complete vessel shape diagram for you.

Does that sound familiar?

It should sound familiar: this thing already has the prototype of Ai Technology. And right now, it is only 2009.

So, it's no wonder the two core researchers didn't recognize it; in Lin Sicheng's impression, this thing wouldn't hit the market until 2010. It wouldn't enter China until early 2012.

The one ordered by the Forbidden City was the first, and Lin Sicheng had used it quite a bit.

Therefore, this was effectively the first integrated intelligent digital microscope to enter the country, and it was three years ahead of the original history.

According to Lin Sicheng's original plan, he had ordered a second-generation machine from Keyence (an international optical equipment giant headquartered in Japan), specifically the Keyence VHX-600 series launched in 2005.

Although it was also an all-in-one machine, its resolution was lower, only 1.3 megapixels. It also lacked advanced 3D analysis algorithms and model construction functions. It was only when he opened the Keyence official website and saw the promotional page that he learned the third-generation machine, the VHX-1000 series with 4K resolution + advanced 3D analysis algorithms, had already begun testing. Then, Lin Sicheng ordered one without hesitation.

It was truly expensive: 290,000 USD, equivalent to just over two million RMB. It was more than twice as expensive as the one the Forbidden City bought three years later. The one at the Forbidden City only cost a little over 90,000 USD.

But that was the basic kit; this one was not only the high-spec version but also the full-analysis mode.

If compared to the second-generation machine, it was even more ridiculously expensive: the second-generation main unit plus lens, plus software, was barely 30,000 USD, equivalent to just over 200,000 RMB.

But there is a reason for the high price; this one machine can save three to four Zhu Kaipings. Just last year, Zhu Kaiping's salary plus bonuses was nearly 600,000. It meant that using this machine for one year would pay for itself.

While pondering, Lin Sicheng walked over: "This is a digital microscope; it can perform 3D imaging, and it can also reconstruct contours based on sample data to generate 3D models."

"Junior Brother Lin, we know that; it's written in the manual, but how do you use it?" Zhu Kaiping pointed at the screen. "Is it all touch-controlled?" "It is indeed all touch-controlled, but not this screen—there should be another operation monitor!"

Lin Sicheng pointed to the card slot at the bottom of the microscope. "Senior Brother Zhu, look here; you just plug the touch screen in here when the time comes!"

"Oh, oh..." Zhu Kaiping nodded vigorously. "I thought the operation was on this screen and the display was also on this screen!"

Of course that was impossible: for an international cutting-edge high-precision instrument, something worth two million, they wouldn't skimp on that little bit of money.

Just look at a researcher's hands—what kind of chemical reagents don't they touch? With current display technology, after less than a week of poking around, the image would lose fidelity. Zhu Kaiping was eager to try: "When can we test it?"

"Wait until it's calibrated! This thing isn't hard to operate; what's hard is recording the database, the 3D topography library, as well as the dynamic observation package and particle size statistics module." The two researchers were both stunned for a moment: "You mean, all the modules need to be rebuilt?"

"Of course, this is the first 3D imaging microscope in the country, and it's very likely the first in the international Cultural Relics Protection field. There are no functional modules to borrow from; we have to build them ourselves."

Qin Tao cupped his chin: "Junior Brother Lin, if it's just for researching porcelain, is it difficult?"

Lin Sicheng paused: "I don't think it's difficult!"

With the Forbidden City as an endorsement, the modules for Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasty Palace Porcelain could be built at any time.

In order to cooperate with Lin Sicheng in researching Hutian Yingqing Porcelain and Ming and Qing Dehua White Porcelain, both Jingdezhen and Dehua Kiln were waiting eagerly, just waiting for a firm word from Lin Sicheng.

As long as he was willing, the data from Jingdezhen Folk Kilns from the Song Dynasty to the Republic of China, and from Dehua Kiln from the Yuan Dynasty to the modern era, could be shared with him at any time. With these two kilns, he wouldn't dare say all of them, but at least he could collect half of the data modules for folk kilns after the Song Dynasty.

As for the remaining half, it didn't matter if they were built or not. Lin Sicheng estimated that even if the modules were built, he wouldn't have the time to research them.

Zhu Kaiping looked at Lin Sicheng with eager eyes: "What if it's Bronze or ironware?"

Lin Sicheng replied without hesitation: "A bit harder, but it's not a big problem!"

Compared to porcelain, the history of metal Cultural Relics is much older and more scattered.

From the Neolithic age to the modern era, it spans five or six thousand years. From the coast to the north, there isn't a single province where ancient metal Cultural Relics haven't been unearthed. This includes Qinghai, Tibet, and Hainan.

Furthermore, because of different ethnicities and cultures, the craftsmanship varies significantly. It is not like porcelain, where the emergence of a famous kiln can influence several surrounding provinces, with the craftsmanship being more or less the same.

Therefore, if one wants to conduct Artifact Research in this area, one can only investigate province by province and collect them one by one.

The reason Lin Sicheng said it wasn't a big problem is that the BTA Slow-Release Technology is about to be licensed. It is entirely possible to ask the Cultural Relics Research Institute for help and, when licensing the technology, require major Museums to share their data.

Of course, it won't be for free: if necessary, waiving a year or two of licensing fees is not a big problem.

There is also a clumsier method: digging through one Thesis after another.

Hearing the conversation between the three, Fang Yin's eyes flickered, and she looked at the two Engineers.

The two knew what Fang Yin wanted to ask and shook their heads in unison.

They were not surprised by Lin Sicheng's understanding of this machine. Even if he wasn't very good at English, he could at least look things up in a dictionary, right?

By translating most of the manual, one could know what functions this instrument has.

But knowing is one thing, and being able to use it—truly bringing out its full performance—is another.

There is no need to look far; just take the most recent example: do you know how long it took for the Artron Database to be built?

A full seventeen years: from starting to accumulate data in 1993 to initial application in 2004, Artron spent twelve years just on the storage of public art transaction data in China.

Among that, Artron spent nine years just on the Forbidden City Cultural Relics Treasury.

Afterwards, starting in 2004, Artron built its core architecture, first cooperating with Google to benchmark international data. Then it cooperated with the Forbidden City to complete data standardization and realize full industrial chain data integration.

Artron spent another four years on these few items.

It wasn't that Artron didn't want to be fast, but it was a systemic issue, and the key point lay with the Forbidden City: after all, the Forbidden City is a Level One cultural and museum institution directly under the Ministry, while Artron is a private enterprise.

Artron could only submit applications year after year, and the Forbidden City could only squeeze out toothpaste year after year.

If there were full cooperation, whether it was data accumulation or core architecture, it would take no more than three months at most to complete.

But it took a full seventeen years, until 2008, for Artron to dare to claim: it had initially achieved full coverage of domestic art pieces and realized full integration of blockchain certification and 3D reconstruction technology.

And this is for Calligraphy and Painting antiques, which are quite difficult to preserve, where over ninety percent of testing needs are concentrated on those from the Song Dynasty and later.

If it were porcelain, that would at least go back to the Eastern Han period. If it were pottery, well, that would have to go back to the Neolithic period.

Metal Cultural Relics are even older.

Therefore, Engineer Qin and Engineer Xu were not worried at all: for the so-called construction modules and 3D generation, without five to eight years of effort, one wouldn't even be able to touch the edges. By that time, this machine would have long been worn out.

If it is used for daily testing, there is not much difference between the first-generation integrated Digital Display and the third generation.

It is nothing more than slightly lower pixels, slower sensing, a slightly shorter standard lens distance, and slightly slower Software processing speed.

But to be honest, the imaging difference is not significant, at least not observable to the naked eye.

What's more, these people had never even seen what this kind of machine looked like before, let alone know how to use it. Never mind performance, power, and standard data?

Even if they discover doubts at that time, Saishi can push it onto them: your operation is not proficient, and your processing technique is not up to par, so of course you cannot meet the standard data requirements.

The two Engineers looked at each other and gave Fang Yin a reassuring look.

It meant not to worry: even if they look at it very carefully, they are just following the book.

If one could operate the machine just by following the manual, what would Engineers be needed for?

Fang Yin also knew this principle, but she always felt that the child was different from ordinary people.

If he didn't understand anything and was just blindly seeking the new and the complete, which is why he ordered such a batch of world-leading instruments, shouldn't he listen to the opinions of experts?

For example, the XDR anti-vibration base: rather than having non-standard data and having to redo the work later, why not install it correctly the first time?

That is one thing; the second is: I just feel this child is too casual?

It is also possible that it is confidence: no matter what he sees, he always has the appearance of having a plan in mind and being in control.

Just like the modules and Database he mentioned earlier, even Fang Yin, a layman, knows: this stuff is not just difficult.

Yet Lin Sicheng gives people an aura of, "Don't worry, I can handle it."

Unable to understand where Lin Sicheng's confidence came from, Fang Yin had a sudden inspiration and prepared to fish for information from Wang Qizhi.

As she passed by, Fang Yin paused.

Lin Sicheng was half-bent over, twisting his neck, with his face tilted at a forty-five-degree angle. He seemed to be looking at the objective lens, the mirror surface used by the microscope to illuminate the test sample.

She stopped subconsciously: "General Manager Lin, is there a problem?"

Lin Sicheng sighed inwardly: more than just a problem? The problem is huge.

If his eyes weren't failing him, this should be the first-generation Digital Display microscope launched by the Keyence company in 2002: Keyence VHX-200. In 2005, the second-generation VHX-600 series was launched, and this thing was discontinued.

It is two full generations behind the VHX-1000 he ordered.

It's not expensive; one could pick up a new piece of old stock for five or six thousand dollars.

Therefore, there is a full two hundred and eighty-five thousand dollar price difference in the middle.

Quite a swindle, isn't it?