This "Single-point Diamond Fly Cutting" is a precise tool designed and manufactured by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics. It can transform a rough surface into a nanometer-level mirror surface.

"To achieve higher precision, I have to ask Mr. Han for advice about what experiments to make and which parameters to adjust," said Xia Huan, one of the two experimenters and a postgraduate of the CAEP.

Many of Xia's ideas have turned into reality, after the operation of senior technician Han Changqing.

The development of the Magneto-rheological Finishing Machine Tool, located in the next laboratory, took about 10 years and more than 10 people, including a few professionals with doctoral and master degrees, according to one of the researchers.

The scientists are professionals in design, but they are not experts in the production of machinery.

The CAEP has attracted many high-end research engineers across China and behind these scientists are the numerous technicians, supporting and helping them, turning their designs and blueprints into equipments and products.

Statistics show that there are more than 8,600 researchers in the CAEP, including 12 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and 11 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, while the more than 7,300 technicians act as competent assistants of the scientists.

"The researchers and technicians are always working in tandem," said Xu Yanlin, the director assistant of theInstitute of Mechanical Manufacturing Technology, one of the institutes of the CAEP.

In the Institute of Fluid Physics, another institute of the CAEP, over 50 scientists and 15 technicians make joint efforts to ensure the smooth-running of a 700-million-yuan accelerator.

"During the design, installation and adjustment processes of the equipments and platforms, the operations by the technicians, and the communication between researchers and technicians are necessary," said the laboratory director Shi Jinshui.

According to the Director of the Department of Personnel and Education of the CAEP, Liu Ruigen, among the 7,300 technicians, about 1,400 are working with the scientists in the laboratories, and the rest are processing, producing, designing, experimenting and installing products in the workshops.

Academicians and technicians are both playing important roles in the projects.

"Being the assistants of scientists, directly or indirectly, technicians are irreplaceable for the realization of scientists' ideas," stressed academician Xu Zhilei.

Xu's fellow, Lin Zunqi, pointed out that to respond to the lack of technicians they provide professional training and opportunities to their employees. They also have recruited 86 technical contest winners since 2006.

"The lack of high-end technicians in large scientific projects is the biggest problem we are facing now," said Lin.

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