Next week’s interview will feature Simon Winchester, the author of one of my favorite books: The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World. I’m quite excited for this one!

If you’ve ever been kept awake wondering how humans bootstrapped precision (“if you need a CNC to make a CNC, how did we make the first one?!”), The Perfectionists is an engaging history of humanity’s command of precision.

Speaking of precision, the most popular post last week was the explosive hydroforming of a steel sphere.

I’m always looking for interesting people to interview, have anyone in mind?

—Kane

The Week in Review

I tried really hard to figure out the manufacture of this rolling stock but was unsuccessful. Trainspotters, hit me up if you have tips and resources for this kind of thing.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Panoramic rail car of the Rhätische Bahn Bernina Express.

9:26 PM ∙ Dec 6, 2020

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733Likes83Retweets

Last week’s most popular post! This process is also known as High Energy Rate Forming, in following engineering tradition of making violent processes sound dull. Props to the welder.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Explosive hydroforming a steel sphere.

6:04 PM ∙ Dec 3, 2020

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18,842Likes3,395Retweets

I’m genuinely curious what’s going through the dog’s mind. Royal de Luxe has an incredible stable of massive puppets.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Another encounter between Xolo the Royal de Luxe dog puppet and a real dog.

6:19 PM ∙ Dec 2, 2020

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428Likes112Retweets

This is done with a da Vinci surgical system.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Robotic surgery on a banana by Dr. Kais Rona.

6:14 PM ∙ Dec 1, 2020

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1,333Likes243Retweets

I was surprised by how manual this process is.

MachinePix @MachinePix

Swaging a loop in steel wire rope with a 4,000 ton Z94 Down Stroke Swaging Press by SAHM SPLICE.

1:07 AM ∙ Dec 1, 2020

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999Likes119Retweets

Postscript

A very cyberpunk meeting I was in last week:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, forward it to friends (or interesting enemies). I am always looking to connect with interesting people and learn about interesting machines—reach out!

—Kane