For one, "7nm" and "10nm" are just marketing names at this point, and don't really correspond to the physical dimensions of anything on the chips produced. Int

For one, "7nm" and "10nm" are just marketing names at this point, and don't really correspond to the physical dimensions of anything on the chips produced. Intel 10nm and TSMC 7nm are considered to have very comparable density. TSMC 5nm and is quite ahead though. As to why it's not just a matter of buying a bunch of ASML lithography machines and plugging them in: In addition to what the other replies have noted, there is so much complexity and precision required in a fab. Consider all of the challenges that would be involved with starting with a bunch of industrial robots, and trying to build a fully automated assembly line that manufactures cars. Then scale precision requirements up by many orders of magnitude.