Can you solve it? The forgotten Dutch invention that created the modern world

The Forgotten Dutch Invention that Created the Modern World

Imagine a time when constructing a simple merchant vessel required an entire team of sawyers working tirelessly for months - in contrast, with wind-powered mechanized sawmills, the same quantity of processed timber could be produced in under a week. This groundbreaking innovation was pioneered by Cornelis Corneliszoon in 1593 and had far-reaching consequences on Dutch maritime dominance.

At its core, Corneliszoon's machine was a masterclass in industrial engineering - "mankind's first true industrial machine." A windmill turned a wheel, which converted rotary motion into up-and-down motion for the cutting blade. Another component transformed the rotary motion into sideways motion, feeding the log to the blade. The ratchet system moved the log forward one precise increment per cycle.

The genius of Corneliszoon lay in his ability to combine these modest components into a perfectly controlled sequence, allowing for efficient and effective cutting on every downward stroke and advancing on every return stroke. This ingenious use of basic components paved the way for an astonishingly intelligent solution.

Now it's your turn. Design a machine that turns rotary motion to up-and-down motion using only a rotating disc, two pins, two rods, and a guide - essentially a cylinder or sleeve into which one of the rods will fit perfectly. The challenge is on! I'll reveal my solution at 5pm UK, but for now, it's your turn to shine.

If you think you have what it takes to solve this puzzle, why not take a stab at suggesting an alternative contender for the world's greatest invention? There are countless contenders out there - and one of them might just be the key to unlocking our collective future.

Jaime Dávila's book "Forgotten: How One Man Unlocked The Modern World" is set to be published on December 18, giving us a glimpse into the fascinating story behind this groundbreaking invention.

I mean can you even imagine building something like that from scratch? Like it would take months for just one sawyer, and then suddenly you've got a machine that's cutting through wood like it's nobody's business . And I'm thinking about what would happen if we took this technology forward - maybe they could've made ships that could travel even faster than the Dutch ones, or houses with better insulation. It's crazy to think about how one little invention can have so many ripples in the world.

OMG u guys I'm so stoked about this ancient Dutch tech! Can u believe it was invented back in 1593? Like, whoa... Corneliszoon's machine was literally mankind's first true industrial machine . It's crazy to think that with just a few simple components like windmills, sawmills, and ratchets, they could create an entire new way of cutting timber .

I'm totally down for the challenge! Designing a machine that turns rotary motion into up-and-down motion is like, super cool . I've got some ideas already ... but I need to brainstorm more before 5pm UK when I'll reveal my solution .

And omg Jaime Dávila's book "Forgotten" sounds AMAZING ! Can't wait to read about the story behind this invention and how it changed the world .

OMG, can you believe how game changing that Dutch invention was?! I mean, just think about it - no more sawyers working for months! That's like, totally mind-blowing Cornelis Corneliszoon is like a genius inventor or something! His machine was literally the first true industrial machine And now they're asking us to design our own machine using super simple components? I'm all about it! I've been trying to figure this out and my idea involves, um, let's just say it's a bit of a work in progress...

omg can you even imagine if we had these wind-powered sawmills in our time lol - it would be insane how much faster and more efficient they are compared to modern machinery i'm actually really inspired by corneliszoon's genius and the fact that he used basic components to create something so revolutionary... anyway, i'd love to give this challenge a try but i think i need some time to brainstorm ️ can we maybe extend the deadline to like next week or something? and btw has anyone read Jaime Dávila's book yet? i'm definitely adding it to my reading list

I'm so hyped for the new book release ! I mean, can you believe that one guy's machine changed the game and made construction way more efficient? It's crazy to think about how it had such a big impact on Dutch maritime dominance.

Now, for this puzzle... Hmm, using just those components is kinda hard. I'm thinking maybe we could use the rotating disc as a wheel, with the two pins acting as kind of like a pivot point? And the rods could be like, attached to the guide in some way? But then I'm not sure how it would turn into up-and-down motion... Maybe I need to think outside the box (or cylinder?)

I'm intrigued by Cornelis Corneliszoon's wind-powered mechanized sawmill innovation . It makes sense how it revolutionized timber processing and had a significant impact on Dutch maritime dominance. I wonder if Jaime Dávila's book will provide more insights into Corneliszoon's creative process and the challenges he faced during its development .

As for designing a machine that turns rotary motion to up-and-down motion using simple components, I'd love to give it a try . Here's my attempt:

Using the rotating disc as the base, attach one of the rods to the center with the guide pin . Then, position the other rod parallel to the first one and attached at both ends by pins . Now, here's where it gets interesting: when the disc starts rotating, the top end of the longer rod will move up and down due to its pivot point on the rotation axis .

The short end of the rod will be connected to a small cam that converts the linear motion into up-and-down motion . The combination of these components should create the desired effect with minimal parts . What do you think? Can it work?

Umm, I'm not sure about all this fuss over some Dutch guy's sawmill ... like, yeah it's cool that he figured out how to make cutting logs more efficient and stuff, but is it really that revolutionary?

I mean, we've got drones doing the same thing now, just with tiny rotors and sensors . And what about all those other innovations that actually changed the world, like the internet or mobile phones? Sawmills just seem so... basic .

And don't even get me started on the whole 'mankind's first true industrial machine' claim ... sounds like some marketing hype to me. Still, I'll give it a go and try to come up with my own solution . Wish me luck!

I gotta say, I'm low-key impressed by Corneliszoon's innovation . It's wild to think about how far-reaching its impact was, and how it paved the way for all sorts of modern machinery. But, as awesome as that is, I gotta admit that I'm a bit skeptical about this design challenge .

I mean, it's not every day you get to invent something from scratch with only a few simple components . And those specs - rotating disc, two pins, two rods, and guide? That's like trying to MacGyver a machine out of thin air .

I'm thinking my solution is gonna involve some serious creativity , but I'm also super worried that it'll be way overcomplicated or, worse, just plain wrong . But hey, I love a good challenge! Bring it on, 5pm UK!

Think about it, we're still using windmills over 400 yrs old in some parts of Europe...

omg i'm so down for that challenge ! i've been tinkering with DIY projects in my spare time and building something like this sounds like a total blast . i think i can come up with something pretty cool using just those basic components... i mean, it's all about the clever design right?

i'm actually kinda inspired by old clockwork mechanisms - you know, where they use levers and pulleys to make things move? that stuff is genius! maybe i can apply some of those principles to this machine... we'll see how it goes!

I gotta say, it's pretty wild to think about how something that simple can have such a huge impact on maritime history . I mean, who would've thought that some dude from 1593 could come up with an idea that makes sawmills a thing? And now we're thinking like "what if" for the challenge and stuff .

But you know what's crazy? The amount of people out there who are just waiting to see what others come up with . We've got all these geniuses who think they can solve this puzzle, but can we really do it in under an hour ?

I don't even know how I'm gonna top the complexity of Corneliszoon's machine ... I'm thinking maybe a way to use the rotating disc as a wheel or something? But at the same time, I don't wanna be one of those people who comes up with something that's basically just a rehash of what others have done .

I guess we'll just have to wait till 5pm UK to see what everyone else has come up with .

I just saw that thing about the Dutch guy making it possible for like, building ships in weeks instead of months... It's wild to think that something as simple as a machine can have such a huge impact on history. I wonder what other inventions are out there waiting to be discovered? Does anyone else know anything about this "Forgotten" book by Jaime Dávila? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgotten:_How_One_Man_Unlocked_The_Modern_World