Are You Able to Crack It? The Forgotten Dutch Creation That Forged the Modern Globe
There are many contenders to claim the title of “planet’s greatest innovation.” The circular axle. The movable type. The combustion motor.
As per a new book, though, that honor should go to a mechanised timber mill invented through Dutchman Corneliszoon van Uitgeest in 1593.
“Prior to automated cutting, constructing a simple trading ship necessitated approximately ten lumberjacks working over 90 days,” notes Jaime Dávila. “With wind-driven sawmills, the same quantity of cut lumber could be produced in less than seven days.”
Thanks to this rapid automated cutter, that converted timber to planks using almost no manual labor, Dutch builders were able to construct vessels more quickly than any other nation, which unleashed one hundred years of Dutch maritime, economic and cultural dominance across the continent and the globe.
The First Genuine Manufacturing Machine
Corneliszoon’s sawmill, argues the writer, was “humanity’s first authentic factory machine.” A windmill turned a wheel. A single part converted the rotary motion to vertical motion to power the cutting blade. A separate mechanism changed the rotary motion into a sideway’s movement feeding the log toward the cutter. A ratchet system shifted the log ahead one precise increment each stroke.
“Each element seemed simple by itself. Corneliszoon’s genius was to combine these parts in order that the machine operated within a precisely synchronized order, cutting with each downward motion while moving on every upward stroke. It was a remarkably intelligent application of fundamental components.”
Which brings us up to the current challenge. The task is for you to reinvent a key the fundamental concepts behind Corneliszoon’s invention.
Circular to Vertical
Design a machine that turns rotary motion into up-and-down motion. You have these components only: A spinning wheel. Two pegs. Two bars. A “guide”, that is a cylinder or housing into which a single the rods will fit snugly. (Assume it is possible to mount components on a base, so the parts don’t collapse.)
The solution returns later today UK time with the solution.
In the interim, NO SPOILERS. Instead, please propose (less celebrated) contenders for the world’s greatest creation.
