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--captions by vitac--
Www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
Discovery communications, inc.
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Narrator: today
On "How it's made"...
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Kitchen knives...
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...Mannequins...
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...Socks...
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...And hypodermic needles.
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Any good cook knows that you're
Only as good as your tools,
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So using the right kitchen knife
For the job is essential.
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From chef's knives and cleavers
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To boning knives,
Filleting knives,
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00:01:03,689 --> 00:01:05,206
And paring knives,
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00:01:05,206 --> 00:01:08,172
A serious cook buys
Only quality cutting utensils
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And stores them in a block
To keep their blades sharp.
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Today's blades are truly
A cut above
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The stone tools
The cavemen used.
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Knife-making is now a science,
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Producing tools that really give
You that edge in the kitchen.
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First, they roll out steel
By the sheet from a big coil.
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Then this machine,
Called a press,
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Cuts out the blades
With a punch.
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And it really does pack a punch.
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It presses down
With 110 tons of pressure
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In order to make
These steel cutouts.
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Next, things get really hot.
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They roll baskets
Full of the blade cutouts
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Into a high-temperature furnace.
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The blades bake at almost
1,600 degrees fahrenheit
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For 2 hours.
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This hardens the steel.
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Out of the fire
And into the freezer,
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The blades chill out
At subzero temperatures --
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Negative 56 degrees fahrenheit
For two hours.
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This freezer is cooled
By liquid nitrogen.
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Now we have what they call
"Cold, hard steel."
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Next, they douse each blade
With water
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While a belt grinder
Smooths the back of the blade
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And sparks fly.
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Continuous water
Keeps the steel cool and hard
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While a sander smooths
The back of the blade.
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Now a robot moves in.
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This robotic arm has vacuum
Grippers like an octopus.
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It picks up a blade
By suctioning,
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Then it transports it
To a grinding machine.
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The machine grinds the blade
To give it that cutting edge.
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Water flows continuously
Through the grinder,
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Again to keep the steel cool.
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The robot
Keeps everything moving,
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Putting a paring blade through
The grinder every 12 seconds.
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00:03:34,724 --> 00:03:38,793
The automated process for this
Bigger blade is a bit different.
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This robotic arm holds
The blade in a grip,
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Rather than through
Fast-action suctioning.
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That's because it takes more
Time to grind this big blade,
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Called a cook's knife.
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So this arm holds onto this
Blade a few seconds longer.
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But if this makes you nervous,
Relax.
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The robot doesn't have a habit
Of dropping them.
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Some blades require
A personal touch,
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Like this shiny chef's knife,
Used for chopping vegetables.
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The worker runs the blade
Over the grinding stone
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Very carefully.
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This gives it a very thin edge.
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Then a laser burns the brand
Name onto the side of the blade.
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Next, a piece of wood
Goes into a clamp,
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And a router shaves it
Into the shape of a handle.
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The end of the blade now fits
Neatly into the handle.
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A worker clamps the knife
Onto a riveting machine.
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Those things that look like
Bullets on an ammunition belt
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Are actually the rivets.
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The machine forces the rivets
Into the handle from both sides.
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The rivets lock together
Inside the handle
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So they can never be
Taken apart.
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Now they grind down
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Any protruding steel
From the handle.
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This makes the wood flush
With the steel from the blade.
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The piece of metal that extends
Into the handle
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Is called the tang.
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It gives the knife
Weight and balance.
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Finally, they hone the knife
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Between two stone
Grinding wheels.
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With this kind of an edge,
These knives will slice paper.
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But these knives will do their
Best work on the cutting board,
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Where they'll make the cook's
Life easier and meals tastier,
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No matter how you slice it.
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Narrator: they strike
Alluring poses in store windows,
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Motionless models
Flaunting the latest fashions.
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For clothing retailers,
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Mannequins
Are a vital sales tool.
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They come in fixed
Or flexible versions,
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The bodies realistic
Or abstract.
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And they can be made
Out of a range of materials,
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From wood to fiberglass.
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Meet lady swing and mr. X --
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Not flesh and bone,
But polyurethane foam.
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These fully flexible
Fashion figures
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Start out as humongous blocks
Of soft polyurethane foam.
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Using a band saw, workers
Divide them into smaller blocks,
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About the size
Of a large refrigerator.
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A worker creates
A pressed-wood mold
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Using both a grinder
And a sander
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To soften the inside.
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She applies a layer of putty
Over rough or damaged areas.
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This will harden and prevent
The foam from clinging.
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She'll make separate molds
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For the arms, legs,
Head, and torso.
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A 3-square-foot slab of foam
Goes on top of the mold,
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Then a slab of harder foam,
Called a pattern,
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On top of that.
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The foam layers and wood mold
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Now go through what's called
A pressure cutting machine.
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Pressure
Forces the slabs together,
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While a thin blade
Slices the excess foam away.
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Exactly how much pressure
The machine applies
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Is a closely guarded
Trade secret.
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The foam arms pop right out
On the other side.
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For the head and torso,
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They use a foam slab
Measuring 58"X17"X5 1/2",
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And a foam pattern
That includes shapes for breasts
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And a belly button,
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And grommets
To shape the nipples.
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This foam pattern
Is impressionistic.
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This mannequins are not meant
To be anatomically correct.
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Here's the pressure-cutting
Machine close up.
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Nine rollers compress the mold,
Soft foam,
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And pattern slabs together,
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Forcing them
Through a paper-thin opening,
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And slicing away
Up to six inches of foam.
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True to form, lady swing pops up
On the other side.
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Her flexibility
Is her best trait.
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She and mr. X are often
Displayed on sports equipment,
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Like snowmobiles and bikes.
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Their manufacturer first named
Them in the 1970s,
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And the monikers just stuck.
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Workers inspect the mannequin
And trim the excess material.
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They extract her easily
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Because they sprayed the empty
Mold cavity with lubricant.
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Next, a worker assembles
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A quarter-inch-thick
Steel skeleton
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To give the mannequin
Some structure.
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Workers will insert the skeleton
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Between the half-sections
Of the foam body.
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A welder fuses together
16 joints
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In the ankles, knees, thighs,
Hips, elbows, and shoulders.
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Another worker sprays
Slow-drying, water-based glue
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On the skeleton and on the foam
Body sections that'll cover it.
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This will make them
Adhere together snugly.
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00:09:00,413 --> 00:09:03,965
The hand skeletons are thin
And pliable, like coat hangers,
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So they'll bend.
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A worker places the skeleton
Between the torso halves,
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Positioning the foam
So the edges meet evenly.
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These dummies don't come cheap.
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00:09:16,206 --> 00:09:19,965
They sell for between $600
And $800 each,
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00:09:19,965 --> 00:09:21,344
Depending on the market value
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00:09:21,344 --> 00:09:23,068
Of the foam's
Main ingredient, oil.
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Still, that's a bargain
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Compared to their more
Realistic-looking,
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But much less flexible,
Fiberglass cousins.
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They cost up to $2,000 each.
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After letting the parts
Dry and set overnight,
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A worker tests
The limbs for flexibility.
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She joins together
The lower leg portions.
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The skeleton protrudes
At the heel
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So that it can be secured
To the floor
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When the dummy goes on display.
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Now, here's a scene
Worthy of a horror movie.
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Using an electric carving knife,
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00:10:08,827 --> 00:10:12,551
A worker slices of 2 1/2 inches
From the front of the head.
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00:10:14,172 --> 00:10:17,275
She glues on a hollow face mask
Made of plastic,
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Using solvent-based glue
For an extra-strong bond.
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Next, they spray the mannequin
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With a flesh-colored
Water-based glue,
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Then sprinkle it
With a fine powder
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Made of tiny cloth particles.
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This is called flocking.
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It takes 12 hours to dry
And gives the mannequin
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A protective
Fire-retardant skin.
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This factory's flocking
Comes in 18 different colors,
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From a variety of skin tones
To several vibrant colors.
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Before lady swing makes
Her debut, a makeup session --
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Powder blush to color her lips
And cheeks,
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And water-based paint
On her eyes, lashes, and brows.
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They add a wig, and voilĂ --
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She's ready for her date
With mr. X.
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Narrator: socks are something
We put on without thinking.
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But consider this --
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The very first socks
Were strips of cloth or hide
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Wrapped around the feet.
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Imagine walking around in those.
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Thankfully,
That's ancient history,
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00:11:22,241 --> 00:11:25,620
And today's socks are
Much better for the sole.
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With so many styles and fibers
For sock these days,
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It's no problem
Putting your best foot forward.
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But you have to step into
This room of knitting machines
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To truly understand what a
Science sock-making has become.
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Here's a machine
With the top open
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00:11:47,931 --> 00:11:50,517
So we can get a view
Of the knitting action.
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An automated whirling cylinder
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00:11:52,689 --> 00:11:56,862
Pulls yarn from spools
Through holes in metal spokes.
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00:11:56,862 --> 00:12:00,689
Little hooks on the needles
Grab the yarn.
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00:12:00,689 --> 00:12:02,344
The hooks have latches.
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The latches open
As the hooks snare the yarn
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00:12:05,103 --> 00:12:08,137
And close as they knit
So you don't lose a stitch.
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00:12:08,137 --> 00:12:09,655
As you can see,
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This machine knits socks
A lot faster than grandma,
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00:12:12,275 --> 00:12:16,724
Sometimes making
Over 360 pairs a day.
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00:12:16,724 --> 00:12:18,931
As the layers are added,
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00:12:18,931 --> 00:12:22,379
A sock emerges from a tube
At the bottom.
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00:12:22,379 --> 00:12:24,896
The knitting machine
Is fully computerized.
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00:12:24,896 --> 00:12:27,931
It automatically switches
To a different color of yarn
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00:12:27,931 --> 00:12:30,000
To make a stripe
Or a company logo.
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00:12:33,551 --> 00:12:36,379
Now the machine changes gears
To make a heel.
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00:12:36,379 --> 00:12:39,275
It does a half rotation
Instead of a whole one
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00:12:39,275 --> 00:12:41,275
To knit the heel shape.
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00:12:42,551 --> 00:12:45,551
The needles go up and down
As the latches open,
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00:12:45,551 --> 00:12:48,793
And the needles pick up
The yarn, pulling it in.
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00:12:48,793 --> 00:12:50,517
Knit one, purl two.
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00:12:55,655 --> 00:12:57,862
Here it is in slow motion.
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00:12:57,862 --> 00:13:00,931
This is about the speed
At which a human could knit at,
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00:13:00,931 --> 00:13:02,862
But this machine normally runs
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00:13:02,862 --> 00:13:05,758
At a speed of over 200
Revolutions a minute.
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00:13:05,758 --> 00:13:08,655
A tension mechanism
Moves back and forth,
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00:13:08,655 --> 00:13:12,724
Keeping the yarn from going
Slack and getting tangled.
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00:13:12,724 --> 00:13:15,137
Now a sock shoots out
Of a vacuum tube,
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00:13:15,137 --> 00:13:18,000
And a worker
Turns it inside out.
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00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:21,862
She sews the toe closed
And cuts off the extra fabric.
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00:13:21,862 --> 00:13:25,103
Then she turns the sock
Right side out again,
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00:13:25,103 --> 00:13:27,689
And it's sucked up
By the vacuum.
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00:13:27,689 --> 00:13:31,517
Next, the vacuum tube deposits
The sock into a bin.
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00:13:31,517 --> 00:13:33,758
The trapdoor on the end
Of the tube
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00:13:33,758 --> 00:13:36,137
Ensures that vacuum pressure
Isn't lost.
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00:13:39,413 --> 00:13:43,103
But there's more than one way
To close a sock toe --
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00:13:43,103 --> 00:13:44,793
A more automated way.
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00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,517
A worker slides the sock
Between two metal plates.
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00:13:49,517 --> 00:13:51,551
Pressure holds them in place.
235
00:13:51,551 --> 00:13:53,344
Then a motorized conveyer system
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00:13:53,344 --> 00:13:55,793
Transports the sock
To a sewing head.
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00:13:55,793 --> 00:13:58,724
A blade cuts off excess fabric,
238
00:13:58,724 --> 00:14:01,586
And a needle goes up and down
Like an oil rig,
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00:14:01,586 --> 00:14:05,448
Stitching one row and then
Another as reinforcement.
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00:14:10,379 --> 00:14:13,310
This automated system
Produces a finer seam
241
00:14:13,310 --> 00:14:16,172
Than a sewing machine
That's run manually.
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00:14:17,758 --> 00:14:21,000
Now that the toe is closed,
A robotic arm moves in
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00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,862
And feeds the sock
To a set of rollers.
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00:14:23,862 --> 00:14:25,862
A blade pushes the sock down
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00:14:25,862 --> 00:14:29,034
While the rollers turn the sock
Right side out.
246
00:14:29,034 --> 00:14:31,689
A vacuum chute
Fires the sock into a bin.
247
00:14:37,068 --> 00:14:39,551
Then it's on
To the rotary dying machine.
248
00:14:39,551 --> 00:14:41,689
He loads 1,800 pairs or more,
249
00:14:41,689 --> 00:14:45,344
Depending on the size
Of the dying machine.
250
00:14:45,344 --> 00:14:47,103
The socks toss around
251
00:14:47,103 --> 00:14:49,793
In a bath of dyes, chemicals,
And softeners.
252
00:14:49,793 --> 00:14:51,482
For athletic socks,
253
00:14:51,482 --> 00:14:54,448
They add antimicrobial treatment
To the mix.
254
00:14:54,448 --> 00:14:59,103
It will help prevent fungus or
Bacteria that cause foot odor.
255
00:14:59,103 --> 00:15:01,689
Now they slide the sock
Onto a foot form
256
00:15:01,689 --> 00:15:04,620
Made of polished aluminum
That won't cause snags.
257
00:15:08,931 --> 00:15:11,379
The aluminum leg forms
Stretch the socks
258
00:15:11,379 --> 00:15:12,862
To the prescribed size
259
00:15:12,862 --> 00:15:16,241
As they travel down a conveyer
Belt into a boarding machine.
260
00:15:16,241 --> 00:15:18,896
The boarding machine is like
A gigantic iron,
261
00:15:18,896 --> 00:15:21,379
And the heat seals the stretch
In the nylon
262
00:15:21,379 --> 00:15:23,724
So the sock stays that size.
263
00:15:27,517 --> 00:15:29,517
Once out,
A robotic arm grips the sock
264
00:15:29,517 --> 00:15:32,034
And pulls it
Off the aluminum form.
265
00:15:32,034 --> 00:15:34,068
It's called a stripper.
266
00:15:36,241 --> 00:15:39,827
Then an automated rack
With protruding pins
267
00:15:39,827 --> 00:15:42,000
Collects the socks.
268
00:15:48,448 --> 00:15:51,137
The worker removes them
A bunch at a time,
269
00:15:51,137 --> 00:15:53,448
And the socks
Are ready for packaging.
270
00:15:55,448 --> 00:15:58,758
And then, all you have to do
Is pull up your socks.
271
00:16:15,068 --> 00:16:17,034
Narrator: a hypodermic needle
Is the proper term
272
00:16:17,034 --> 00:16:18,896
For a syringe and needle.
273
00:16:18,896 --> 00:16:21,551
It's used to draw blood
Or inject medication.
274
00:16:21,551 --> 00:16:25,655
This indispensable tool
Was invented back in 1853,
275
00:16:25,655 --> 00:16:27,310
But it wasn't until 1954
276
00:16:27,310 --> 00:16:30,034
That mass-produced disposable
Syringes came on the market,
277
00:16:30,034 --> 00:16:32,620
Developed for the vast
Immunization campaign
278
00:16:32,620 --> 00:16:34,413
Against polio.
279
00:16:40,689 --> 00:16:42,827
A syringe may make you cringe,
280
00:16:42,827 --> 00:16:46,137
But the treatment it delivers
Could be a lifesaver.
281
00:16:46,137 --> 00:16:47,827
To make a hypodermic needle,
282
00:16:47,827 --> 00:16:50,896
They start with a flat strip
Of stainless steel.
283
00:16:50,896 --> 00:16:53,344
The milling machine
Rolls it into a tube shape.
284
00:16:53,344 --> 00:16:55,793
A laser welds the seam together.
285
00:16:55,793 --> 00:16:58,241
But what makes the steel
Stiff enough to use
286
00:16:58,241 --> 00:16:59,896
Is something called cold-work,
287
00:16:59,896 --> 00:17:03,965
In which they press the tubing
Through a die several times.
288
00:17:03,965 --> 00:17:06,655
This also slims the tube
Dramatically,
289
00:17:06,655 --> 00:17:09,310
So now you have a thinner,
Tougher tube.
290
00:17:11,689 --> 00:17:13,137
It takes about a couple of days
291
00:17:13,137 --> 00:17:14,931
To turn this
Stainless-steel strip
292
00:17:14,931 --> 00:17:17,379
Into a tube
With needle potential.
293
00:17:17,379 --> 00:17:19,620
But it will have to be sharp
To perform,
294
00:17:19,620 --> 00:17:22,517
And the next steps will focus
On getting the steel tube
295
00:17:22,517 --> 00:17:25,517
To a point where it's more
Than just a blunt object.
296
00:17:28,517 --> 00:17:31,724
An electrically powered blade
Scores the walls of the tubes
297
00:17:31,724 --> 00:17:34,655
As rubber pads
Bear down and roll.
298
00:17:34,655 --> 00:17:37,931
This rolling causes the tubes to
Finally break at the score line.
299
00:17:37,931 --> 00:17:40,551
The tubes are being cut
Down to size --
300
00:17:40,551 --> 00:17:42,172
About two inches long.
301
00:17:46,620 --> 00:17:50,413
The tubes fall into a bin,
A tangled mess.
302
00:17:50,413 --> 00:17:53,034
The bin, driven by air pressure,
Agitates,
303
00:17:53,034 --> 00:17:56,344
And this shaking motion
Straightens them out.
304
00:17:56,344 --> 00:17:59,758
An operator bundles them
Together with a plastic band,
305
00:17:59,758 --> 00:18:02,586
But removes a few
To check the specs.
306
00:18:04,965 --> 00:18:08,827
This micrometer uses laser light
To measure the outside diameter.
307
00:18:08,827 --> 00:18:11,586
The tube is supposed to be
8/100 of an inch,
308
00:18:11,586 --> 00:18:13,413
And it's right on.
309
00:18:13,413 --> 00:18:15,689
Next, a mechanically driven drum
310
00:18:15,689 --> 00:18:17,965
Rolls superadhesive tape
Onto the tubes.
311
00:18:17,965 --> 00:18:20,310
The tape will hold the tubes
In place
312
00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:23,448
As more work is done on them.
313
00:18:23,448 --> 00:18:26,689
They razor cut five-inch strips
Of the tape tubes
314
00:18:26,689 --> 00:18:29,758
So that there are about
100 tubes per strip.
315
00:18:32,862 --> 00:18:36,137
Then they spray aluminum oxide
On the ends of the tubes.
316
00:18:36,137 --> 00:18:37,413
This roughs them up
317
00:18:37,413 --> 00:18:40,000
So that the surface
Will be easier to work with.
318
00:18:42,068 --> 00:18:44,931
Now they place the strips of
Tubes into the grinding fixture,
319
00:18:44,931 --> 00:18:47,689
And then they snap it shut.
320
00:18:51,275 --> 00:18:53,344
Coolant flushes
Over the tube tips
321
00:18:53,344 --> 00:18:55,689
As the fixture moves
Across a grinding wheel.
322
00:18:55,689 --> 00:18:58,758
The wheel grinds
Through the tops of the tubes,
323
00:18:58,758 --> 00:19:00,862
Shaping them into a rough point.
324
00:19:00,862 --> 00:19:04,620
This is only the first grind,
So it's not yet needle-sharp.
325
00:19:09,448 --> 00:19:12,827
Now the fixture
Rolls and rotates the tubes.
326
00:19:15,931 --> 00:19:17,965
Then it's back to the grind.
327
00:19:17,965 --> 00:19:20,137
The angle of the wheel
Is changed
328
00:19:20,137 --> 00:19:23,275
So that it sands
The sides of the tubes.
329
00:19:23,275 --> 00:19:24,862
These two secondary grinds
330
00:19:24,862 --> 00:19:27,827
Sharpen the tubes
Into a finer point.
331
00:19:29,827 --> 00:19:32,482
This is how they look
Before grinding,
332
00:19:32,482 --> 00:19:35,827
And this is after,
With their sharp needle tips.
333
00:19:39,103 --> 00:19:41,586
Now it's time
For the big inspection.
334
00:19:41,586 --> 00:19:43,206
She pushes
The ends of the needles
335
00:19:43,206 --> 00:19:46,103
With the back of her tweezers
To make sure they're even,
336
00:19:46,103 --> 00:19:49,241
And then pulls out
A needle for sampling.
337
00:19:49,241 --> 00:19:51,827
She measures
The length of the grind.
338
00:19:51,827 --> 00:19:53,896
It should be a few hundredths
Of an inch long.
339
00:19:55,896 --> 00:19:58,137
Next, she sizes up
The needle's outside diameter
340
00:19:58,137 --> 00:19:59,655
With a micrometer.
341
00:19:59,655 --> 00:20:02,034
Holding the needle
Between posts,
342
00:20:02,034 --> 00:20:04,137
It measures the space
Between them.
343
00:20:04,137 --> 00:20:07,000
Then she checks
The inside diameter
344
00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,379
By inserting a plug gage
Into the tube.
345
00:20:11,206 --> 00:20:13,758
Now she inspects
A whole bundle of needles
346
00:20:13,758 --> 00:20:16,344
For irregularities or burrs.
347
00:20:19,275 --> 00:20:21,655
Using tweezers, she removes one
348
00:20:21,655 --> 00:20:23,827
For a closeup look
Under the microscope.
349
00:20:23,827 --> 00:20:27,310
Once they pass inspection,
It's on to the big wheel,
350
00:20:27,310 --> 00:20:29,689
Or the
Automated assembly machine.
351
00:20:29,689 --> 00:20:32,586
Brass- and nickel-plated
Fittings, called hubs,
352
00:20:32,586 --> 00:20:34,689
Drop onto pins on the wheel.
353
00:20:34,689 --> 00:20:37,931
Then needles fall into the hubs.
354
00:20:37,931 --> 00:20:43,000
Metal fingers align them
So they fit together precisely.
355
00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,206
The hub is the piece
356
00:20:44,206 --> 00:20:46,206
That will connect the needle
To the syringe.
357
00:20:48,068 --> 00:20:50,896
Automated crimpers
Press the needle into the hub.
358
00:20:50,896 --> 00:20:53,620
Sheer friction bonds them.
359
00:20:53,620 --> 00:20:56,379
Now two metal pads
On the same wheel
360
00:20:56,379 --> 00:20:58,068
Position the needle.
361
00:20:58,068 --> 00:21:01,000
A plastic sleeve drops down,
Encasing the pointed tip.
362
00:21:02,931 --> 00:21:05,965
Finally, a robotic arm lifts
The needle off the wheel
363
00:21:05,965 --> 00:21:07,931
And drops it into a bin.
364
00:21:07,931 --> 00:21:10,103
The needles
Are now ready for you,
365
00:21:10,103 --> 00:21:12,310
But are you ready for them?
366
00:21:18,310 --> 00:21:20,758
If you have any comments
About the show
367
00:21:20,758 --> 00:21:23,482
Or if you'd like to suggest
Topics for future shows,
368
00:21:23,482 --> 00:21:25,551
Drop us a line at...
29562
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