Chapter 58: CNC Machine and 3D Printer

After completing the tests, Su Wu immediately assigned the newly upgraded CNC machine its first official task: assisting the engineering robots in completing the unfinished 3D printer.

With the CNC machine in operation, the production speed of the engineering robots skyrocketed, as if someone had pressed a fast-forward button.

What was originally a six-to-seven-hour job was compressed into less than thirty minutes.

Su Wu decided to remain in the manufacturing center, standing near the production area and watching the two engineering robots and the CNC machine at work.

When the job was completed, he stepped forward to inspect the results.

Compared to the massive CNC machine, the 3D printer was much smaller, taking up only half a room.

However, its construction required no less in terms of resources.

Given the current material reserves of Su Wu's shelter, building a second 3D printer was almost impossible.

He placed his hand on the warm metal exterior of the 3D printer, and a new upgrade option appeared in his vision.

"Upgrade to comprehensive 3D printer," Su Wu chose the most expensive option, consuming 50 survival points in an instant.

As the white glow enveloped the printer, a sleek, silver-white metallic device emerged.

The upgraded 3D printer could process both metallic and non-metallic materials like rubber and glass.

Though its production speed was much slower than the CNC machine, it offered unparalleled flexibility in shaping materials and creating more intricate components.

In fact, with sufficient materials, it could even produce low-end micron-level chips, a critical capability for a shelter managed by artificial intelligence and reliant on high-tech equipment.

"Now that I have the production equipment, the next step is to solve the material supply problem. Then, I can scale up production significantly."

Su Wu's gaze swept across the CNC machine and 3D printer, both invaluable industrial assets in the current world.

He couldn't help but dream of a future filled with sprawling underground shelters resembling cities and an endless array of automated machinery.

However, turning that vision into reality would require overcoming several significant challenges.

The foremost challenge was material quality.

Unlike the engineering robots, which could work with a wider range of materials, the CNC machine and 3D printer demanded much higher-quality raw materials.

This rendered most of the scrap metals scavenged from abandoned appliances unsuitable for direct use. They would need to be dismantled further and smelted anew.

"Since the fourth underground level is completed, and there's a pressing need, it's time to build a production line for dismantling and smelting scrap metal."

The fourth level had always been planned as a small industrial zone for dismantling, smelting, and manufacturing.

Now, with the CNC machine's exceptional capabilities, the section originally designated for small-scale production could be repurposed for larger dismantling and smelting operations.

"Still, I need to reserve some space for assembling large vehicles like trucks."

As the manufacturing center became increasingly crowded with the addition of the CNC machine and 3D printer, space for assembling large objects was becoming scarce.

The nearly empty fourth level was the only viable option for assembling sizable items.

"Let's get started."

After finalizing the layout for the fourth level, Su Wu immediately began the construction process.

Large quantities of finished steel and other raw materials were transported to the manufacturing center by construction robots and fed into the CNC machine and 3D printer.

Just as the production line began operating, Su Wu received an alert from the artificial intelligence system.

A suspicious group had been spotted near the surface of the shelter.

Switching the screen on his tablet to the surveillance feed, Su Wu quickly located the target using AI-provided markers.

The group consisted of about ten individuals in heat-resistant suits, armed with firearms.

They were patrolling two to three kilometers around the small surface bunker, using binoculars and drones to observe the shelter's facilities.

Behind them were several construction vehicles, likely intended for forcibly dismantling the shelter's defenses once Su Wu sealed the entrance.

"They came quickly," Su Wu muttered, his expression calm and unsurprised.

After revealing the scale of his hydroponic farm, he had anticipated this situation. He just hadn't expected the would-be intruders to act so hastily, showing up in broad daylight without even waiting for nightfall.

"Deploy reconnaissance drones and start recording the operation."

"Arm the K2-series agricultural drone with rockets and put it on standby."

"Activate the 120mm howitzer and eliminate them."

Without even halting the engineering robots working on the fifth underground level, and without closing the shelter's entrance, Su Wu issued his combat orders to the AI.

Moments later, a reconnaissance drone was launched from the small bunker, scanning and monitoring the surrounding area for kilometers.

The confrontation that followed was less of a battle and more of a one-sided massacre.

Over a kilometer away from the small bunker, a man who appeared to be the group's leader sensed something was off.

He raised his head, trying to locate the source of his unease.

In the next instant, his pupils contracted violently.

He saw a shell descending from the sky, landing near two of his companions hundreds of meters away.

The next moment, an explosion of fire engulfed the area, consuming everything within a hundred-meter radius.

The leader froze in terror, his limbs trembling as his mind raced.

"What is this?"

"Weren't we just here to deal with a private shelter armed

with rifles?"

"How did we end up under such a terrifying attack—"

But in battle, hesitation is fatal.

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