A few days later, DAVID and the 12 dwarven excavators arrived at the abandoned housing area of the mine. During the journey, DAVID had learned that they were from a large mercenary group called the 'Firebird Group,' whose name derived from a Phoenix-like bird that the group's leader owned.
After quickly fixing up the abandoned housing area, turning its attic into a makeshift base for their operations, DAVID gathered the dwarves for an essential briefing. The dim sunlight hit the attic walls as DAVID, surrounded by the attentive faces of the dwarven excavators, began to explain the significance of the gas masks.
"The masks are quite simple in design," DAVID started, holding a mask in his hand to illustrate key points. "When you feel the need to breathe, you can press the button on the mask, and it will release a controlled amount of air. However, the critical component is the pressure valve."
He emphasized the importance of the pressure valve with a stern expression. "If the pressure inside the mask drops below 5 atm, you must return to the surface immediately, no matter what task you're engaged in. Your safety is paramount. Any questions?"
One of the dwarven excavators, a stout figure with a braided beard, raised his hand with a curious expression. "Honored traveler," he began, "forgive my inquiry, but why do we need these masks? What's in the air down here that requires such precautions?"
DAVID, acknowledging the valid question, explained, "The air inside the mine contains poisonous gases. The masks will protect you, but you must be vigilant for the pressure valve." DAVID continued, ensuring that the gravity of the situation was clear to every member of the excavation team.
The dwarves, attentive and disciplined, absorbed the information. The leader of the team, a burly dwarf with intricate armor, stepped forward. "We understand, honored traveler. Safety is our priority, and we appreciate the precautions you've taken. We're ready to commence the excavation."
With the briefing concluded, DAVID nodded in approval. "Very well. Let's proceed cautiously. Remember, communication is key. If any issues arise, inform me immediately. We're here to achieve great things together."
Half of the team, now equipped with gas masks and a heightened awareness of the potential dangers, descended into the mine's depths. The clang of pickaxes echoed through the tunnels as the dwarven excavators, under DAVID's guidance, began the monumental task of constructing the underground laboratory.
As DAVID observed the miners entering the caves for excavation, he swiftly ran a calculation. Each filling of the oxygen tanks could last for about 8 hours, and with each worker putting in 12 hours a day, that meant he had to refill each container three times per day, totaling 18 refills daily. Each refill consumed roughly 500 hours of processing power, translating to a daily energy expenditure exceeding 9 thousand hours of processing power. Meanwhile, his potent solar panels would only be regenerating 480 hours of processing power.
With his current stash of 30 years' worth of processing power inside his batteries, DAVID calculated that his batteries would only last for about a month. Although DAVID lacked precise knowledge of dwarven excavation speed, he was reasonably certain that a month would fall short for the entire project.
This realization prompted DAVID to consider two alternatives: either he needed to enhance the efficiency of his air-pump spell or create an electrical air-pump, which would be significantly more efficient compared to his aura-based counterpart.
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Venturing into the mine, DAVID found himself captivated by the intricate network of tunnels that extended like veins through the depths of the earth. The dim glow from his artificial eyes accentuated the mineral deposits adorning the walls, each glinting with potential. Dwarven miners, wielding robust pickaxes, skillfully extracted ores and carved through stone, their rhythmic strikes composing a symphony of echoes.
Surveying the mine's composition, DAVID discerned a diverse array of metals—iron, copper, and traces of more exotic alloys. The mine appeared to be a treasure trove of resources, presenting opportunities for various applications.
As the dwarves continued their excavation, DAVID seized the chance to gather metals suitable for constructing an electrical air pump. He observed their techniques, occasionally offering insights to optimize their efficiency. The dwarves, grateful for the collaboration, welcomed DAVID into their work, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
Leveraging his advanced sensors, DAVID carefully selected specific metals renowned for their conductivity and durability. He collected samples from the dwarves' mining efforts, ensuring he had the essential materials for crafting a high-efficiency electrical air pump. The dwarves, curious about DAVID's actions, observed with keen interest as he meticulously worked with the metals.
With the metals from the mines in his possession, DAVID retreated to a designated workspace within the makeshift base at the abandoned housing area. Amidst the hum of dwarven chatter and the occasional clinking of metal against stone, he delved into his extensive archives.
Scouring his vast database, DAVID identified a blueprint for an electrical air pump tailored to the mined metals. The design, intricate yet adaptable, promised seamless integration of the dwarven-mined materials into the construction process.
Creating an air pump, in its essence, is a straightforward task—requiring nothing more than a fan and a tube.
For DAVID, the challenge lay in crafting a robust motor and fan capable of pressurizing the air tanks to 120 atmospheric pressure. To achieve this, he embarked on the process of designing and constructing the necessary components.
His initial step involved crafting wooden molds for the parts he intended to create. Despite wood's unsuitability for repeated molding due to its combustible nature, the one-time use was inconsequential for DAVID, who didn't require mass production.
The core of his motor would rely on large wire coils, serving as magnets essential for its function. This marked the beginning of an intricate process, involving the assembly of various parts that constituted an electric motor.
The electric motor, a fundamental device, operated on the principle of electromagnetic induction. DAVID meticulously created the molds of the components—an armature (rotating coil or wire), a stator (stationary coil or wire), a commutator (segmented ring), and brushes (conducting contacts).
The armature, comprising multiple wire loops, would rotate between the stator's magnetic fields. The commutator, a segmented ring, facilitated the reversal of current direction in the armature, ensuring continuous rotation. Brushes maintained electrical contact with the commutator, completing the circuit.
As DAVID finished crafting the molds, he proceeded to fill them with the selected metals, preparing for the crucial stage of melting and casting. To achieve this, he modified his flamethrower spell, amplifying its heat generation while eliminating the flames. The spell transformed into a superheater, capable of raising the temperature of anything it touched.
In this refined state, the spell became a precise tool for melting metals within the molds. DAVID, with focused precision, initiated the melting process, ensuring the metals took the desired forms within the molds for the construction of the electric motor.