31x04 - Steamer Baskets; Three-Wheel Scooters; Prefabricated Conservatories

[bunniefuu]

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Narrator:
people have been steaming food
for thousands of years.

Once upon a time, steamers were
made out of clay pots

With perforated floors.

Today, we've come up
with all sorts of metal

And plastic innovations.

The traditional bamboo steamer
is a perfect balance

Between the old
and the new.

Perfected by generations
of craftsmen,

Traditional bamboo steamers
are lightweight, strong,

And durable.

They look like simple
cooking tools,

But building them requires
enormous artisanal skill.

The craftsman buys lengths
of bamboo from local farmers.

He uses a traditional planer
he crafted himself

To smooth the bamboo joints.

A customized chopper tool helps
him split the bamboo lengthwise.

He inserts a bamboo stick
to hold the split open.

After removing the chopper,
he pulls on the stick

To split
the entire length of the bamboo.

The craftsman splits
the sections again.

To assemble the steamer base,

The craftsman will split
the bamboo into 32 pieces.

The cover will require


A custom-made knife knocks down
the intersections of the bamboo.

For the steamer's cover,

The craftsman splits
the bamboo horizontally.

Next, the craftsman uses this
slicing tool to cut the wood.

He sets the desired width

And slices a thin sheet
of wood lengthwise.

He uses this section of wood
to form the base of the steamer

And slides a bamboo ring
over it to hold it in place.

Then he punches small holes
with a drill...

...and reinforces the joint
with stainless steel wire.

The installation process begins.

First by installing a series
of inner rings

Which will serve to reinforce
the structure of the steamer

And to support multiple levels
of steamers inside it.

The craftsman uses special
techniques to ensure

That each joint is perfectly
aligned for maximum strength.

Working almost entirely by hand
with skills acquired over time,

He meticulously creates
a strong,

Yet lightweight piece
of kitchen equipment.

The basket still needs a bottom
to rest dumplings in.

The craftsman begins building
the basket floor

By custom fitting
a series of rugged cross pieces.

He ensures that each piece fits
perfectly before proceeding.

Then he inserts thin,
more pliable pieces of bamboo

To hold
the cross pieces in place.

Next, he lays the final layer
on top,

Placing the pieces
with their outer sides

Facing up to form
a smooth surface for food

To sit on while steaming.

With the floor of the steamer
in place,

It's time to secure
the upper pieces

By binding them
to the support pieces.

To do this, he threads
a stainless steel wire

Through the cracks,

Twisting the ends tightly
to the base.

Then he gives the inner support
rings under

The steamer floor a few taps,
securing them in place.

The basket's base is now
complete.

Next, the craftsman begins
weaving the bamboo pieces

Together
that will form the cover.

He uses a traditional pattern
called a twill weave.

Then he inserts paper before
adding a second layer of bamboo.

The paper will help prevent
steam from escaping

The basket too quickly.

He then snaps in a series of
carefully sized reinforcements

To keep the layers in place.

Finally, he custom fits another
interior ring

Under the reinforcements
to hold everything together,

Tapping it
carefully into position.

The steamer cover
is now complete.

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Narrator:
a three-wheel motorized scooter
provides the rider

With more stability
than a two-wheeled scooter.

By utilizing three points
of contact with the ground,

This scooter is less likely
to skid or fall over

When making a sharp turn,

Or while driving
on an unpaved surface.

This high-end, three-wheeled
scooter

Has the look and comfort
of a motorcycle

Without the high price tag.

It can reach speeds of up
to 85 miles per hour

And travel about 186 miles
on a full tank of gas.

At the factory, mechanics begin
assembling the engine

By pressing two ball bearings

Into the left side
of an aluminum crankcase.

They insert a third ball
bearing that's assembled

To the gear shaft.

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Then the crankshaft is installed
on the opposite end.

In between the two cases,

A gasket is mounted to prevent
oil from leaking out.

Mechanics fit the right side of
the crankcase to the left side

And bolt them together.

They place one end of the drive
chain around the crankshaft,

And then another.

This gear is installed
for the oil pump.

As the crankshaft rotates,

The interior of the engine
is greased with oil.

This gear rotates
the crankshaft,

Which starts the engine.

And this gear,
assembled to a generator,

Goes on the crankshaft.

When the generator rotates,
it provides electric current

To run the scooter's lights
and other electrical components.

Technicians close up
the right side

Of the crankcase with a cover...

...install the water pump...

...and cap the generator.

Next, mechanics install
reduction gears

Onto the ball bearings

That were placed in
the left side of the crankcase.

Reduction gears lower the
rotation speed of the crankshaft

To make it more manageable
for the drive shaft

Which turns the wheels.

A pulley-based automatic
transmission system

Called a cvt is assembled.

It's powerful, fuel-efficient,
and runs smoother

Than a standard, gear-based,
automatic transmission.

Technicians attach the piston
to the piston rod

And place it into
the engine's single cylinder.

The bottom of the piston rod
is linked to the crankshaft.

They place an aluminum cover
over the transmission

And install the cylinder head,

Which is equipped
with several sensors

For fuel injection
and other functions.

Next, mechanics mount the
rear wheel onto the drive shaft.

This aluminum swing arm
supports the wheel and engine.

The steel frame is pained black

And is engraved with
the scooter's vehicle

Identification number.

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Technicians bolt the frame
to the front of the engine

And to a pair of shock
absorbers at the back.

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They install part of
the front suspension system,

One on each side of the frame.

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Then they mount the three
wheel hubs

And install each integrated
brake disc with a brake caliper.

Back to the front
suspension system,

Mechanics connect a shock
absorber to each triangular arm.

They install the handlebars,

Brake levers
with hydraulic cables,

And switches for the lights,
signals, and horn.

Once the ignition switch
and vinyl seat is built in,

Mechanics
install the rear lights

And turn signals,
the l.e.d. Headlights...

And mount the three wheels
and tires.

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The last step is to run
the scooter

Through a series of tests.

The test evaluates
the functionality of the lights,

Turn signals, front
and rear brakes, acceleration,

And the accuracy
of the speedometer.

There is no question
this scooter provides

A ton of stability.

With a front suspension system

Designed to keep both
front wheels on the ground,

The rider is guaranteed a smooth
and enjoyable ride.

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Narrator:
a conservatory is designed
to let in sunlight.

It's often referred to as
an extension of the home,

Allowing people to enjoy
the warmth of the sun

Without ever having
to step outside.

A prefabricated conservatory
can be assembled in three days,

So you can quickly have
an indoor place in the sun.

Producing a prefab conservatory

Starts with a customized
computer-generated design.

First, a designer selects
the parts for the framework.

This piece of vinyl cladding
will be part

Of a decorative ridge.

Then all the materials
are placed on racks.

There can be 50 to 500 pieces,

Depending on the size
of the conservatory.

Using a circular blade,

The metal cutter trims
aluminum components

To various lengths and angles,
according to his measurements.

Another designer welds aluminum
parts to build a gutter system.

He makes tight welds
for waterproof joints.

Next, a team assembles the frame
to confirm

That the parts connect together.

If successful, the framework
will be taken apart

For reassembly on site.

After the roof's ridge beam
is set on stands

In the center of the frame,

Technicians bolt one end
of a load beam to the eaves

And the other
to the elevated ridge.

More beams are added to create
a truss system

To support the roof.

The stands supporting the ridge
beam are removed.

A designer measures and maps out
roof panels on polycarbonate.

The polycarbonate has a hollow,
waffle structure

That gives it
insulating properties.

He cuts out the panels
according to his measurements.

After sealing the edges
with felt,

The panels are mounted
to the roof.

Vinyl cladding on the exposed
structural bar

Secures the panels.

The designer tapes the vinyl
with a hammer

To flare it against
the polycarbonate.

Then he installs
the vinyl ridge gap.

The elaborate, molded finials
make a statement

While stopping water
from dripping

Into the top of the roof.

He peels off
the protective liner

To reveal the translucent
polycarbonate panels.

On another production line,

An automatic saw cuts
vinyl components

For the walls
at the specified length.

Routers carve holes
for hardware.

Saws cut notches
in specific locations,

Enabling them to join the rest
of the building framework.

A technician arranges the vinyl
posts and beams

In a thermal welder.

The machine melts the parts
where they intersect

And fuses them together.

Each part of the wall frame
is welded separately,

And then joined together.

The welding leaves the seams
a bit rough,

So a machine trims off
any excess vinyl.

A circular saw moves in and
cleans up the exterior corners.

To customize the color,

Designers spray the wall frame
with an acrylic paint

That chemically bonds to
the vinyl to prevent chipping.

Back to the white frame.

A team inserts a glass panel
in the ridged rim.

Strips of vinyl around the edges
hold the glass in

And keep water out.

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The team assembles a factory
display model.

The wall panels are installed
into grooves on the frame

And connected by aluminum posts.

Next, the doors are installed.

A technician tightly pulls
the wall

Frames to the aluminum posts
using nylon composite devices.

Vinyl casings cover the posts
and any nylon locks.

Using a crane, the team lowers
the roof onto the structure

And bolts it in place.

The conservatory is complete.

Now it's time to relax
while sitting indoors.

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Narrator:
people have used copper pots
and pans for thousands of years.

Copper is an ideal heat
conductor,

Allowing food to be
cooked quickly and evenly.

Copper pots allow for more
precise temperature control,

Which means dinner is less
likely to be served burnt.

In the culinary world,
copper is a precious metal.

Besides being a great conductor
of heat,

Copper pots
look good on the cooktop.

To cut out a round blank,

A craftsman places a centering
disk on a copper sheet.

He links it to a plasma torch
using a metal spindle.

The spindle holds the torch
at a specific distance

So that, as the torch cuts out
the circle, the radius is exact.

The coppersmith ensures
that the cutout is as close

To the edge of the copper sheet
as possible to minimize waste.

Next, he examines
the circular blank.

The plasma cutting has left
the edges frayed,

So he smoothes them by clamping
the copper blank in a lathe.

He taps the blank
with a rubber mallet

And centers it between
the clamping chucks.

The coppersmith uses a tool
to check

That the blank
is positioned correctly.

Then he adds oil
to the cutting tool

And moves it against
the spinning blank.

It trims the circumference,
creating a cleaner edge

And removes any flaws.

He files the rim of the copper
blank to make it smooth

And even.

Using sandpaper,
he finishes the edge.

With the imperfections removed,

The copper blank is formed into
a sauce pan with sloping sides.

Two craftsmen press a roller
against the copper blank

So that it conforms
to the shape of a mold.

That's part of one
of the clamping chucks.

This process is called metal
spinning.

While one craftsman moves the
roller across the copper blank,

The other applies pressure.

This shaping method takes eight
to ten rounds.

Finally, the pan has taken
shape,

But the forming process has left
fine lines on the surface.

So as it continues to spin,

The coppersmith
smoothes it down.

He applies lubricant
to a cutting tool

And trims
the rim of the saucepan.

This gives the pan
the desired height.

The cutting leaves the edges
very sharp,

So he files them down again.

The copper saucepan is ready
for the cast-iron handle.

Cast iron has less thermal
conductivity than copper,

So the heat from the pan

Will travel more
slowly up the handle.

The craftsperson clamps
the handle to the saucepan.

This holds it tightly in place
as he drills rivet holes

Through both the iron handle
and the copper pan.

The craftsman removes the clamp

And bolts the handle
to the pan temporarily.

This stabilizes it

For the drilling
of the second rivet hole.

A rivet is inserted
in the second hole

From the inside of the pan.

The coppersmith heats the tail
of the rivet to soften it.

Then the pan is transferred
to an anvil.

Using a pneumatic hammer,

The coppersmith flattens
the first rivet,

Removes the temporary bolt,
and installs the second rivet.

He heats the pan over a flame

And melts a tin bar
to the bottom.

He spreads the molten tin
up the sides of the pan

Using a rag that's been
soaked with a flux chemical.

The flux cleans the copper

And allows the tin
to flow more smoothly.

The tin lining
will prevent acidic foods

From leeching raw copper
into the food.

The heat from the tinning flame
has caused some discoloration.

The coppersmith removes
the stains by using

A cotton buffing wheel
and polishing compound.

As he continues,

The polishing takes
the copper to a high sheen.

This copper saucepan is now
ready for the stovetop.

But first, the craftsman pounds
a steel stamp

Into the bottom of the pan,

Imprinting it
with the company logo.

For cookware that only takes
a couple hours to make,

A copper pan
can last for decades.

And if it's well cared for,
it won't even show its age.