Chapter 541

Early the next morning, Lin Shengli and Lin Zhengcheng set out on time for the Heavy Machinery Research Institute.

Lin Zhengcheng sat in the passenger seat, a thick stack of materials on his lap, the machining parameters for the core components of the variable‑cycle engine that he had organized overnight, plus an annotated equipment demand list, the edges worn from his repeated flipping.

"Don't be too nervous." Lin Shengli turned the steering wheel, catching in his peripheral vision his son's tense profile, his tone relaxed, "The inspection isn't about you immediately producing a solution; it's about gauging the other side's equipment capability, clearly stating our needs, and incidentally learning their core technology."

Lin Zhengcheng nodded, his fingertip lightly tracing the paper: "Dad, I know. I'm just worried our demands are too stringent; their equipment might not meet the precision requirement. For the variable‑cycle engine's high‑temperature alloy blades, the machining tolerance must be held within 0.001 mm, which places excessively high demands on equipment stability."

"Only when there's difficulty do we need joint R&D." Lin Shengli chuckled, "For technologies we can't handle ourselves, we must learn to leverage others, but not rely on them. When we see Director Wang later, you should first proactively present our needs; I'll add from the side. Speak up, ask questions—that's the purpose of the inspection."

After more than half an hour, the car arrived at the Heavy Machinery Research Institute.

The institute's gate stood open; Director Wang had already brought several core engineers to wait at the entrance, wearing dark‑blue work clothes and holding safety helmets.

"General Lin, it's about time you arrived!" Director Wang strode forward, shook Lin Shengli's hand, his tone warm, "I've long heard you're undertaking a big project and need our help; we've already briefed the engineers here, and today we'll lay all our cards on the table."

"Thank you for your trouble, Director Wang." Lin Shengli replied with a smile, pulling Lin Zhengcheng to his side, "This is my son Lin Zhengcheng, responsible for liaising on the variable-cycle engine machining equipment for this project; I'll trouble you further with guidance."

Lin Zhengcheng hurried forward, handing over the materials he had organized: "Director Wang, fellow engineers, this is our equipment demand list and the machining parameters for the core components; please review them."

Director Wang took the documents, flipped through a few pages, and his expression grew grave: "A variable‑cycle engine? That's a tough nut. The precision you require is indeed a notch above that of regular aerospace parts. Come on, let's first go to the workshop to look at the equipment, and we can talk as we go."

Stepping into the production workshop, the roar of the huge machine tools was deafening.

Director Wang led the group to a large five‑axis linkage machining center and gestured with his hand:

"This is our newly introduced equipment; its precision can reach 0.002 mm, currently the highest‑precision machine tool in the institute. We've previously machined satellite core components for the aerospace department, and its stability is sound."

Lin Zhengcheng immediately stepped forward, carefully observed the machine tool's operating condition, then took a machined sample handed by a technician and repeatedly measured it with the caliper he carried.

"The precision is indeed good." He lifted his head, tone serious, "But we need a tolerance of 0.001 mm, and we're machining high‑temperature alloy, whose high hardness imposes stricter rigidity demands on both the cutting tools and the machine tool."

Li Engineer, in charge of equipment R&D, took over: "Engineer Lin is right; machining high‑temperature alloy is indeed the difficulty. We've tried similar attempts before, and rapid tool wear is the main problem. To achieve your precision requirements, we need to optimize the machine tool's spindle and guideways, and also custom‑make dedicated cutting tools."

"We can provide high‑temperature alloy samples and conduct tests together." Lin Zhengcheng said immediately, "As for the cutting tools, we also have some preliminary R&D ideas; perhaps we can join forces to tackle this."

He opened the documents, pointed to one page, and said, "This is our simulated cutting‑tool material formula, incorporating tungsten carbide and cobalt, which can raise hardness by 30%; you may refer to it."

Li Engineer leaned in to look, his eyes lighting up: "This approach is feasible! We've tried similar formulas before, but we never got the proportions right. If you can provide technical support, the tooling problem should be solvable."

Lin Shengli stood to the side, watching Lin Zhengcheng and Li Engineer engaged in lively discussion, a relieved smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He didn't interject, merely occasionally picking up a machined sample from the workshop to flip through; his eyes full of approval—Lin Zhengcheng could now independently handle technical issues and even propose viable solutions, exactly what he hoped to see.

Afterward, Director Wang led them to inspect several other key pieces of equipment; Lin Zhengcheng took diligent notes throughout, occasionally raising questions—from equipment parameter settings to maintenance and upkeep—asking in great detail.

The several engineers also patiently answered, and they produced related technical documents for his reference.

After the tour concluded, everyone returned to the conference room.

Director Wang picked up the demand list, his tone solemn: "General Lin, Zhengcheng, based on our earlier exchange we preliminarily judge that your requirements can be met. We intend to set up a special task force, headed by Engineer Li, to cooperate with you in optimizing the equipment and developing dedicated cutting tools."

"Excellent!" Lin Zhengcheng exclaimed excitedly, "We will also station a team here to cooperate with your testing work at any time."

Lin Shengli nodded and added, "Director Wang, we can work out the cooperation details later. I have only one request: the core technology must remain in our own hands. The joint R&D process is also a learning process for us; I hope you can give the younger generation more opportunities."

"Rest assured!" Director Wang slapped his chest in promise, "We're all working for the nation's defense cause; we will absolutely not withhold technology. Moreover, this young man Zhengcheng is full of ideas; cooperating with him, we too can learn a great deal."

At noon, Director Wang had them stay for a meal in the institute's cafeteria.

A simple spread of four dishes and one soup, everyone ate while chatting, the topic extending from equipment R&D to the future of national defense research.

Lin Zhengcheng proactively exchanged contact information with Engineer Li, agreeing to send a team over next week for liaison.

On the return journey, Lin Zhengcheng leaned back in his seat, still clutching a heap of technical documents, excitement evident on his face:

"Dad, this inspection went incredibly smoothly! Engineer Li said that as long as our tool‑material formula is sound, optimizing the equipment will take at most two months. By then, the machining of the variable‑cycle engine's core components will have a solution."

"Not bad, you did very well." Lin Shengli praised with a smile, "Back in the workshop, you proactively put forward the tool‑material idea—showing real initiative. From now on, handling such technical liaison will be entirely your responsibility; I'll only help you keep the big picture in view."

Lin Zhengcheng felt warm inside, he nodded firmly: "Thank you for your trust, Dad; I will certainly not disappoint you."

When the car drove into the Lin Family Courtyard, it was already afternoon.

Lin Qinhua and Chen Mo were in the courtyard organizing the preliminary data from the coating tests; seeing them return, they immediately went up to greet: "Dad, Second Brother, how did the inspection go?"

"Very smooth!" Lin Shengli got out of the car, stretched, his tone relaxed, "Your second brother did a great job; from now on, equipment R&D will be handed over to you youngsters. I, for my part, ought to go make a date with Aunt Lou to try some new dishes."

Watching Lin Shengli's cheerful departing back, Lin Zhengcheng and Lin Qinhua exchanged a glance and both burst into laughter.

Chen Mo also laughed: "General Lin is truly going to enjoy his blessings; we'd better redouble our efforts so as not to let him down."

As the sun set westward, the red lanterns in the courtyard lit up again.

Lin Zhengcheng took the documents into the study and began collating the inspection report; Lin Qinhua and Chen Mo, meanwhile, continued researching the coating test data.

Everyone was busy working toward the common goal, and Lin Shengli's act of 'letting go' is steadily passing this national‑defense‑research endeavor into the hands of the younger generation.