HIST4702 (2023-24) Digital History Project: 火攻挈要
Cannon Production Tools
鐵心 Iron Core
Description:
The Iron Core (鐵心) was one side punched into a square hole for mounting the rotating rod, which was used to tie the rope and install the mold core.
木模 Wood Pattern
Description:
The Wood Pattern (木模) was to make a mold for the cannon. It was used with a rotational rack.
鏇架 Rotational Rack
Description:
The Rotational Rack (鏇架) was used for the Wooden mold core (木制模芯) because the mold core of Western artillery is mostly wooden mold. The manufacturing method of the wooden mold is to brush a layer of fine coal ash on the wooden mold core in order to facilitate demolding. Then, the yellow mud, fine sand, and water are stirred and mixed into the wool. The above actions should keep repeating during the process. A Rotational rack is used in this clay mold-making process.
下模安心 Modelling and Installation Machine
Description:
The Modeling and Installation Machine (下模安心) included two main processes which were called “mold installation (下模 Xiamo)” and “core installation (安心 Anxin)” When the model of the cannon was transformed into the shaft kiln(井窰), Iron Qia (鐵掐) would be prepared and put into a part of cannon which was called “Fire Door 火門處”. This process was to help fix the model in the shaft kiln. In addition, the machine had a Rotary Machine that looked like a cross. It should be put on the columns on either side of the shaft kiln. The purpose was to assemble the cannon.