A steel component over thirty meters high and fifty meters long cannot be made; this is quite inconceivable for Flame Country.

Before the disaster, even larger and more demanding metal components were produced, and the people of Flame Country were never limited by precedent in their imagination.

However, now that the national industrial production capacity has been greatly affected, manufacturing such a steel component truly becomes difficult, and without a sufficient industrial foundation, it is indeed unattainable.

There are of course solutions; Flame Country, as a major infrastructure nation, naturally has alternative plans.

The simplest method is to alter the design, replacing the current support column plan with more processable materials or simply cast concrete columns and support beams, which can equally complete the construction of the dome, but correspondingly requires more support columns within the dome.

This approach is more practical, but additional support columns within the dome will impact the interior space. Although reasonably planned, the impact is minor, yet ultimately not as good as having a transparent integral structure.

Method two is employing welding technology, fabricating the components of the support columns in segments and then assembling them through welding.

This method certainly meets the requirements, as Flame Country’s welding techniques are sufficient for such demands. However, on the whole, segmented welding still affects the support strength, less sturdy compared to a monolithic construction.

Both solutions can serve as substitutes, but solution one affects space utilization, and solution two affects structural strength. The design team couldn’t decide for a moment and had to send both solutions to Chen Xin for the client’s choice.

It’s not that the design team is shirking responsibility; they are hoping Chen Xin might suggest other solutions.

Does Chen Xin have a solution here?

The answer is affirmative.

"Regarding this issue, there are two solutions: one is to create a machine to manufacture such size steel components, and the other is using 3D printing technology to print the required components." Chen Xin didn’t consider the problem too difficult to solve and thus proposed two solutions.

"What are the characteristics of these two solutions? Can 3D printing provide adequate structural strength?" The engineering technician who submitted the plan to Chen Xin inquired. Although 3D printing technology has rapidly developed in recent years, no company dares to claim their technology can print such large metal structures.

Furthermore, even if such large structures can be printed, how can 3D printing assure the components meet strength requirements?

As for Chen Xin’s creation of a machine capable of processing such size components, the engineering technician doesn’t doubt Chen Xin at all.

"Creating a machine to manufacture components may not be remarkable beyond updating processing precision and technology. It’s mainly similar to a standard fabrication of such components, except my machine might consume less energy and produce better quality components." Chen Xin briefly explained and did not elaborate on his first proposed solution.

However, regarding 3D printing, he spoke enthusiastically: "As for 3D printing, this is essentially no different from the existing technology on the market, using a nozzle to spray material, then laser sintering to melt and solidify the material, forming a stable structure."

Chen Xin paused here, waiting for the engineering technicians to digest his words, then continued: "However, the laser sintering technology I use is superior to the current market, with sintered materials exhibiting stronger and more durable structural strength.

Additionally, my technology doesn’t require a sealed environment to strictly control air flow and humidity, suitable for the print manufacturing of large structures or buildings, and in terms of raw materials, ordinary metal powders can be proportionally fed, enabling the printing of alloy."

"Printing alloys?" The engineering technician showed a surprised expression.

Printing large metal components alone isn’t enough to astonish the engineering technician, but the ability to mix single metal powders and print alloys directly is incredibly remarkable.

Alloy manufacturing not only involves mixing metals but requires various treatments to achieve different performances.

For example, your stainless steel utensils and shipbuilding steel for creating battleships are both nickel-chromium alloys, but their performance differs greatly.

However, this isn’t challenging for Chen Xin. If willing, he could even create a molecular metallurgical furnace, directly decomposing materials at the molecular level and rearranging molecules as needed to obtain desired materials.

Of course, such metallurgical technology on a molecular level is too extravagant, and Chen Xin isn’t planning to implement it for now.

For the time being, this 3D printer capable of printing alloys is already sufficient.

"Regarding the specific principles and technology, it’s hard for me to explain clearly, but you only need to know I can indeed accomplish this." Chen Xin maintained his attitude of "I just make things, you research the principles yourself," yet he clarified: "I can first make a small one for you to test and observe the effects before further discussions on subsequent construction plans."

"That’s the best!" The engineering technician was already too excited to say much more, eagerly anticipating Chen Xin’s promised 3D printer capable of printing alloys.

If Chen Xin could truly achieve this, even printing some basic alloys would have extraordinary significance in practical applications.

Chen Xin naturally noticed the engineering technician’s excitement. He was accustomed to such reactions from individuals because of his statements, and since he didn’t think much of it, he merely nodded and said, "Then I’ll first make a small prototype for you to experiment with; once the results are confirmed, we can discuss the follow-up construction plan."

"Okay, Academician Chen!" The engineering technician agreed, finally suppressing his excitement.

As for the change in construction plans, it’s naturally necessary. Traditional construction methods require scaffolding with workers gradually installing and welding.

But if utilizing 3D printing, a skyscraper can be erected from the ground up, requiring fewer construction workers and allowing the 3D printer to print the main structure on its own, with workers handling subsequent tasks.

The difference is stark in terms of scale and difficulty between the two approaches.