Decouple The Machines Behind The Machines
Apr 8, 2025
Join precision machinist Noah Rettberg on a riveting journey through the world of machine tools. He passionately discusses the evolution of metalworking, linking ancient Roman techniques to modern precision machining. Explore unrealized innovations in steam and the socio-economic factors that shaped technology. Noah also highlights how global trade and geopolitical shifts impact manufacturing capabilities, revealing the strategic responses of nations like Russia amid sanctions. It's a fascinating blend of history, craftsmanship, and the future of technology!
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Craftsmen Scarcity Blocked Steam Engines
- Metalworking limitations hindered early steam engine adoption in the Roman era despite abundant labor.
- The scarcity of skilled craftsmen made metal machines impractical against cheap peasant labor at the time.
Guilds Shaped Metalworking Skills
- European craftsmanship evolved through guilds and apprenticeships that preserved esoteric skills.
- These traditions ensured high skill but limited mass production until wider knowledge diffusion.
Denis Papin's Steam Engine Struggles
- Denis Papin succeeded in building a working steam engine but failed due to poor metalworking and hostility.
- Local guilds destroyed his work, forcing him to flee in poverty to London.