Symmetry-aware Welding and Grinding Quality of Life Improvement

Feature request

Please consider extending the existing Symmetry / Mirror Mode to welding and grinding operations.

When one or more symmetry planes are active, welding or grinding a block should optionally perform the same operation on the corresponding mirrored block(s) simultaneously.

ExampleFor a ship that is symmetrical across its longitudinal center plane:

If the player welds a block on the left side, the corresponding block on the right side would be welded at the same time.

The same principle should apply to grinding.

No increase in overall tool throughputThis feature is not intended to double the effective welding or grinding speed, and should not provide a hidden balance advantage.

If two valid mirrored blocks are being processed, the total operation should take approximately twice as long as processing one block alone.

In other words:

• Welding one block normally: T
• Welding two mirrored blocks separately: T + T = 2T
• Welding the two mirrored blocks simultaneously through Symmetry Mode: approximately 2T

The difference is that the player does not need to perform two separate passes.

This preserves the existing amount of work required while eliminating the additional time spent on:

• moving between the two sides of the ship;
• repositioning the player;
• finding and targeting the corresponding block;
• walking/flying around the structure;
• repeating the same operation manually.

The same principle should apply to grinding.

Why this is usefulThe main benefit would therefore be quality of life rather than increased production speed.

Building a symmetrical ship would still require the same approximate amount of welding/grinding work, but the player could perform the work from one side instead of repeatedly moving back and forth between symmetrical sections.

This would be especially useful for:

• large symmetrical ships;
• ships built from projections;
• repetitive internal structures;
• dismantling symmetrical sections;
• repairs where corresponding blocks need the same treatment.

Interaction with Area Welder / Area GrinderThis feature would complement, rather than replace, Area Welding and Area Grinding.

• Area tools operate on multiple nearby blocks.
• Symmetry determines corresponding mirrored positions.
• The total work performed should still determine the operation time.

For example, if an Area Welder processes ten blocks on one side and ten corresponding blocks on the other side, the operation should take approximately the same total time as welding all twenty blocks normally.

The benefit is that the player only needs to make one pass.

Valid mirrored blocks onlyThe mirrored operation should only occur when a valid corresponding block exists.

If the mirrored position is empty, contains a different block, or cannot legally receive the operation, the original operation should continue normally.

This should not force symmetry where none exists.

Optional activationIdeally, this could use the existing Symmetry / Mirror Mode state rather than requiring a completely new tool.

When Symmetry Mode is enabled:

Place → mirrored placement

Weld → mirrored welding

Grind → mirrored grinding

When Symmetry Mode is disabled, the tools would behave exactly as they do currently.

SummaryThe goal is not to make welders or grinders fundamentally more powerful.

It is to extend an existing geometric relationship already used by the building system so that the player can perform the same amount of work on symmetrical structures without having to physically repeat the same action on both sides.

Same amount of work.

Same approximate total processing time.

Less repetitive movement and repositioning.

This would primarily be a quality-of-life improvement for constructing, repairing and dismantling symmetrical ships.