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Kovarex enrichment process

2025-11-24T21:24:56Z

Taekwonjoe2001: /* Trivia */ nick -> nickname

{{Languages}}
{{:Infobox:Kovarex enrichment process}}

'''Kovarex enrichment process''' is a crafting recipe to reprocess [[uranium-238]] and [[uranium-235]] in a [[centrifuge]]. It converts U-238 to U-235 at a 3:1 ratio.

== Purpose ==
The kovarex enrichment process is useful because [[Uranium processing|uranium (ore) processing]] is probability-based and players cannot directly alter the probabilities. 10 uranium ore is processed into either 1 U-235 with a probability of 0.007 (0.7% chance) or 1 U-238 with a probability of 0.993 (99.3% chance), leading to an [[:Wikipedia:Binomial_distribution|expected]] output of 1 U-235 per ~143 crafting cycles, or about a 1:142 ratio of U-235 to U-238.

U-235 is used to produce [[uranium fuel cell]]s, [[Nuclear fuel|nuclear fuel]], and [[atomic bomb]]s, but the probability distribution of uranium processing can lead to slow production of U-235 and a large surplus of U-238. Kovarex enrichment process enables faster, deterministic production of U-235 from surplus U-238.

Note that converting ''all'' U-238 into U-235 is inadvisable, since U-238 is an ingredient of uranium fuel cells, [[uranium rounds magazine]]s, [[uranium cannon shell]]s, and [[explosive uranium cannon shell]]s.

== Catalyst ==
Kovarex enrichment process is a [[Productivity#Catalysts|catalytic recipe]], producing and consuming the same items. The net effect of each crafting cycle consumes 3 U-238 and produces 1 U-235. The remaining 40 U-235 and 2 U-238 are treated as catalysts for the net production.

[[Productivity]] bonuses only apply to the net production, not the catalysts. When productivity generates extra output, it generates 1 U-235 and 0 U-238 — not 41 and 2.

== Trivia ==
* The Kovarex enrichment process is named after [https://www.factorio.com/game/about Michal Kovařík], lead designer of Factorio and co-owner of Wube, whose online nickname is ''kovarex'' (which he usually spells lowercase). [https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/67bj3p/015_kovarex_uranium_enrichment_is_too_good_with/dgq2ij3/?context=1]
* With a 60 second crafting time, kovarex enrichment process is one of the slowest recipes in the game. {{SA}} Even when fully beaconed with all legendary entities and modules, the centrifuge's [[Inserters#Insertion_limits|automatic insertion limit]] will stay at 2 crafts: 80 U-235 and 10 U-238
* In the real world, [[:Wikipedia:Uranium-235|uranium-235]] is the most common fissile isotope of uranium and makes up approximately 0.72% of naturally-occurring uranium, with the other 99.28% being [[:Wikipedia:Uranium-238|uranium-238]]. The in-game representation is thus highly accurate in this regard. Uranium is commonly [[:Wikipedia:Enriched_uranium|enriched]] in centrifuges by merely separating isotopes to increase the percentage of 235U for use in fission reactions. As the Kovarex enrichment process produces more fissile material than its input, the process is more akin to [[:Wikipedia:breeder reactor|plutonium breeding]]. [https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/187kupm/kovarex_enrichment_is_plutonium_breeding_right/ Reddit discussion: Kovarex enrichment is plutonium breeding… right? ]
* Uranium munitions are made from [[:Wikipedia:depleted uranium|depleted uranium]], a byproduct of uranium enrichment, which is mostly 238U whose natural admixture of the 235U isotope has been lowered even further through the enrichment process. Depleted uranium is minimally radioactive and the reason for its use in munitions is its very high density and other mechanical properties, not radioactivity/toxicity.

== History ==
{{History|0.17.0|
* Can be used with productivity modules once again.
* Use with productivity modules now gives correct amount of bonus items.}}

{{History|0.15.2|
* No longer usable with productivity modules.}}

{{History|0.15.0|
* Introduced}}

== See also ==
* [[Uranium processing]]

{{IntermediateNav}}
{{C|Components}}

Foundry

2025-11-24T19:27:18Z

Taekwonjoe2001: Undo revision 216490 by Taekwonjoe2001 (talk) Been seeing some confusion on the wiki about the holmium and belt recipes

{{Languages}}
{{:Infobox:Foundry}}
{{About/Space age}}
The '''Foundry''' is a version of the [[assembling machine]] from [[Vulcanus]]{{SA}} that specializes in metallurgy. It has a built-in 50% [[productivity]] bonus.

The foundry can only be crafted on Vulcanus due to its higher atmospheric pressure, but it can be used on other planets once transported via [[space platform]].

== Recipes ==

The Foundry has twenty available unique recipes (not including the recipe for itself), one of which one must be set before it can begin processing.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Recipe !! Ingredients !! Products !! Technology required
|-
! colspan=4 | Only usable on [[Vulcanus]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten iron from lava}}
| {{icon|Time|16}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}{{icon|Lava|500}}
| {{icon|Stone|10}}{{icon|Molten iron|250}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten copper from lava}}
| {{icon|Time|16}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}{{icon|Lava|500}}
| {{icon|Stone|15}}{{icon|Molten copper|250}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Metallurgic science pack}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Tungsten carbide|3}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|2}}{{icon|Molten copper|200}}
| {{icon|Metallurgic science pack|1}}
| {{icontech|Metallurgic science pack (research)}}[[Metallurgic science pack (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Big mining drill}}
| {{icon|Time|30}}{{icon|Advanced circuit|10}}{{icon|Electric engine unit|10}}{{icon|Tungsten carbide|20}}{{icon|Electric mining drill|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|200}}
| {{icon|Big mining drill|1}}
| {{icontech|Big mining drill (research)}}[[Big mining drill (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Foundry}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Electronic circuit|30}}{{icon|Lubricant|20}}{{icon|Refined concrete|20}}{{icon|Steel plate|50}}{{icon|Tungsten carbide|50}}
| {{icon|Foundry|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Turbo transport belt}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|5}}{{icon|Express transport belt|1}}{{icon|Lubricant|20}}
| {{icon|Turbo transport belt|1}}
| {{icontech|Turbo transport belt (research)}}[[Turbo transport belt (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Turbo underground belt}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|40}}{{icon|Express underground belt|2}}{{icon|Lubricant|40}}
| {{icon|Turbo underground belt|2}}
| {{icontech|Turbo transport belt (research)}}[[Turbo transport belt (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Turbo splitter}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Processing unit|2}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|15}}{{icon|Express splitter|2}}{{icon|Lubricant|80}}
| {{icon|Turbo splitter|1}}
| {{icontech|Turbo transport belt (research)}}[[Turbo transport belt (research)]]
|-
! colspan=4 | Usable anywhere
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten iron}}
| {{icon|Time|32}}{{icon|Iron ore|50}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|500}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten copper}}
| {{icon|Time|32}}{{icon|Copper ore|50}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}
| {{icon|Molten copper|500}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting iron}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}{{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| {{icon|Iron plate|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting copper}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}{{icon|Molten copper|20}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting steel}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}{{icon|Molten iron|30}}
| {{icon|Steel plate|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting iron gear wheel}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting iron stick}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| {{icon|Iron stick|4}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting low density structure}}
| {{icon|Time|15}}{{icon|Plastic bar|5}}{{icon|Molten iron|80}}{{icon|Molten copper|250}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Concrete from molten iron}}†
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Stone brick|5}}{{icon|Molten iron|20}}{{icon|Water|100}}
| {{icon|Concrete|10}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting copper cable}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten copper|5}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting pipe}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| {{icon|Pipe|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting pipe to ground}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Pipe|10}}{{icon|Molten iron|50}}
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Tungsten plate}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Tungsten ore|4}}{{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| {{icon|Tungsten plate|1}}
| {{icontech|Tungsten steel (research)}}[[Tungsten steel (research)]]
|-
! colspan=4 | Usable anywhere (Non-unique)
|-
| {{imagelink|Holmium plate}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Holmium solution|20}}
| {{icon|Holmium plate|1}}
| {{icontech|Holmium processing (research)}}[[Holmium processing (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Express transport belt}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|10}}{{icon|Fast transport belt|1}}{{icon|Lubricant|20}}
| {{icon|Express transport belt|1}}
| {{icontech|Logistics 3 (research)}}[[Logistics 3 (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Express underground belt}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|80}}{{icon|Fast underground belt|2}}{{icon|Lubricant|40}}
| {{icon|Express underground belt|2}}
| {{icontech|Logistics 3 (research)}}[[Logistics 3 (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Express splitter}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|10}}{{icon|Fast splitter|1}}{{icon|Advanced circuit|10}}{{icon|Lubricant|80}}
| {{icon|Express splitter|1}}
| {{icontech|Logistics 3 (research)}}[[Logistics 3 (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Fast transport belt}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|5}}{{icon|Transport belt|1}}
| {{icon|Fast transport belt|1}}
| {{icontech|Logistics 2 (research)}}[[Logistics 2 (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Fast underground belt}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|40}}{{icon|Underground belt|2}}
| {{icon|Fast underground belt|2}}
| {{icontech|Logistics 2 (research)}}[[Logistics 2 (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Fast splitter}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|10}}{{icon|Splitter|1}}{{icon|Electronic circuit|10}}
| {{icon|Fast splitter|1}}
| {{icontech|Logistics 2 (research)}}[[Logistics 2 (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Transport belt}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}{{icon|Iron gear wheel|5}}{{icon|Iron plate|1}}
| {{icon|Transport belt|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Underground belt}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Iron plate|10}}{{icon|Transport belt|5}}
| {{icon|Underground belt|2}}
| {{icontech|Logistics (research)}}[[Logistics (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Splitter}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Iron plate|5}}{{icon|Transport belt|4}}{{icon|Electronic circuit|5}}
| {{icon|Splitter|1}}
| {{icontech|Logistics (research)}}[[Logistics (research)]]
|-
|}

†Note that the foundry recipe for making [[concrete]] can benefit from [[productivity module|productivity modules]], despite the regular concrete recipe not being able to use them.

== Efficiency ==

Most of the foundry's recipes are more efficient than creating the same items in a [[furnace]] or [[assembling machine]]. However, because of the built-in +50% productivity bonus (which applies even to items like belts that don't benefit from [[productivity module]]s), and because the same bonus also applies to the recipes for [[molten iron]] and [[molten copper]], the actual efficiency gains from using a foundry are much higher than the value listed in the recipe.

The table below compares the values of the base recipes (with 1 ore = 10 molten metal), and then shows the actual output of the recipe with the default foundry bonuses of 4 crafting speed and 150% productivity (1 ore = 15 molten metal). For example, inserting 200 [[iron ore]] into a foundry with no [[module]]s installed would result in 3,000 [[molten iron]] which could be turned into 450 [[iron plate]]s.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan = 3 | Name !! colspan = 10 | Base recipe values !! colspan = 4 | With foundry bonuses
|-
! colspan = 4 | Furnace/Assembler !! colspan = 4 | Foundry !! colspan = 2 | Efficiency !! colspan = 2 | Foundry !! colspan = 2 | Efficiency
|-
! Time !! {{icon|Iron ore}} !! {{icon|Copper ore}} !! Output !! Time !! {{icon|Molten iron}} !! {{icon|Molten copper}} !! Output !! {{icon|Iron ore}} !! {{icon|Copper ore}} !! Time !! Output !! {{icon|Iron ore}} !! {{icon|Copper ore}}
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Iron plate}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron plate|1}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron plate|2}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.8}}
| {{icon|Iron plate|3}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Steel plate}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|5}}
| -
| {{icon|Steel plate|1}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|30}}
| -
| {{icon|Steel plate|1}}
| 167%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.8}}
| {{icon|Steel plate|1.5}}
| 375%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Iron gear wheel}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|2}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1}}
| 200%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1.5}}
| 450%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Iron stick}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron stick|2}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron stick|4}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Iron stick|6}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Concrete}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Concrete|10}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| -
| {{icon|Concrete|10}}
| 50%
| -
| {{icon|Time|2.5}}
| {{icon|Concrete|15}}
| 113%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Pipe}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe|1}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe|1}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Pipe|1.5}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Pipe to ground}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|5}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|2}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|50}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|2}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|3}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Low density structure}}
| {{icon|Time|15}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|10}}
| {{icon|Copper ore|20}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
| {{icon|Time|15}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|80}}
| {{icon|Molten copper|250}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
| 125%
| 80%
| {{icon|Time|3.75}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1.5}}
| 281%
| 180%
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Copper plate}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| -
| {{icon|Copper ore|1}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|1}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| -
| {{icon|Molten copper|20}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|2}}
| -
| 100%
| {{icon|Time|0.8}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|3}}
| -
| 225%
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Copper cable}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| -
| {{icon|Copper ore|1}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|2}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Molten copper|5}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|2}}
| -
| 200%
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|3}}
| -
| 450%
|-
|}

=== Alternate recipe chains ===
Because the foundry can cast iron, steel, and copper plates but can also directly cast various items normally made ''from'' those plates, there exist alternate production chains, where the foundry is used to cast the plates and then another production building is used to create the final product:
* Steel can be produced by casting iron plates and refining them in an [[electric furnace]]
* Gears, iron sticks, pipes, and pipes-to-ground can be crafted by casting iron plates and feeding them to an assembler
* Copper wire can be produced by casting copper plates and feeding them to an assembler or an [[electromagnetic plant]]
* Low density structures can be produced by casting copper plates and steel plates (or, as mentioned above, casting iron plates and converting them to steel in a furnace) and feeding them to an assembler

These alternate production chains can potentially be more resource-efficient than just casting the result directly, albeit at the cost of considerably more machines (and in some cases more high-level, high-[[quality]] modules) for a given rate of output. In this case, the inherent +50% productivity bonus of the foundry does not matter, nor do any productivity modules the foundry has, because those bonuses also apply when casting the metal plates. Instead, the decision is between any productivity bonus the second production machine can provide verses the fact that most of the 'Casting' recipes cost less to begin with. (This inherent advantage is the value listed in the 'Efficiency' column under 'Base recipe values' in the above table.)

==== Steel plates ====

Initially, it seems like the electric furnace, with just 2 module slots, cannot make up for the 67% inherent efficiency boost from the cast-steel recipe. However, steel production also has an [[Steel_plate_productivity_(research)|infinite research]] which adds a productivity bonus; while this bonus applies to both casting steel and smelting steel (and ''doesn't'' apply to casting iron plates in order to smelt them into steel), the 50% inherent productivity and more module slots of the foundry give it a higher bonus to start with, meaning that the same ''absolute'' bonus makes for a larger ''relative increase'' in the electric furnace. For example, with no productivity modules, researching 5 levels of the technology will take the foundry from 50% productivity to 100% productivity, boosting its output by a third. By contrast, the furnace will go from 0% productivity to 50% productivity, boosting its output by a half. With the right combination of high-quality [[productivity module 3]]s and steel plate productivity research, it is possible to make the electric furnace production chain more efficient.

For example, a foundry with 4 legendary productivity module 3s (+25% productivity each) casting iron plates feeding an electric furnace with 2 legendary productivity module 3s and a +50% steel plate productivity has exactly the same overall efficiency as a foundry with 4 legendary productivity module 3s and the same +50% steel plate productivity casting steel plates directly, with both producing exactly 1 steel plate per 10 units of molten iron. Any additional research past that point will make the electric furnace production chain strictly better. If using mere rare productivity module 3s (+16% productivity each) instead, the changeover happens somewhere between +150% and +160% research.

Additionally, with enough levels of steel plate productivity research, it is possible to reach the hard cap of 300% productivity. Thus the absolute maximum efficiency possible for casting steel is 4/3 steel plates per 10 units of molten iron, while the electric furnace production chain can reach 2 steel plates per 10 units of molten iron.

==== Iron gear wheels ====

It is never possible for gears made in an assembler to be more efficient than those made by casting them directly. The cast gears recipe is ''twice'' as efficient as the normal one and no productivity research applies; the highest efficiency possible from an assembler, 200% from an assembler 3 with 4 legendary productivity module 3s, is only just enough to break even.

==== Iron sticks ====

Conversely, the cast iron stick recipe has no inherent resource efficiency at all, thus casting iron plates and then converting them to sticks using an assembler with ''any productivity modules at all'' is more efficient than using that same foundry to cast them directly.

==== Pipes & Pipes to ground ====

Unlike all the other items with alternate production chains here, [[pipe|pipes]] and [[pipe to ground|pipes to ground]] are not intermediate products. Thus it is not possible to use productivity modules on foundries or assemblers which are producing them. Since it ''is'' possible to use productivity modules on a foundry casting iron plates which are then converted to pipes in an assembler, doing so is more efficient than casting them directly.

==== Copper cables ====

Much like iron gears, copper cables have a 200% efficient casting recipe and no researchable productivity bonus, thus it is not possible to produce them more efficiently using an assembler. However, copper cables can also be produced in the [[electromagnetic plant]], which has ''5'' module slots and an inherent +50% productivity boost of its own. So long as the electromagnetic plant's total productivity is greater than 100%, this production chain is more efficient than casting directly. 5 productivity 3s of common quality (+10% productivity each) will give a total productivity of exactly 100%; any better quality modules, or productivity 2s of epic quality or better, will make them more efficient.

==== Low density structure ====

Low density structures are notable because the crafting recipe has an efficiency of ''less'' than 100% with respect to copper, and while its efficiency with respect to iron is greater than 100%, it is less than the inherent efficiency of casting steel plates. Thus, even with no productivity modules or productivity research at all, casting the plates and then creating the low density structures in an assembler is more efficient. However, low density structures also require plastic, and since plastic bars cannot be cast, you are losing out on the inherent +50% productivity bonus the foundry offers:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Process
! Raw resources to make {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
|-
| Furnaces + Assemblers
| {{icon|Iron ore|10}} {{icon|Copper ore|20}} {{icon|Plastic bar|5}}
|-
| Foundry Direct
| {{icon|Iron ore|3.5}} {{icon|Copper ore|11.1}} {{icon|Plastic bar|3.33}}
|-
| Foundries + Assemblers
| {{icon|Iron ore|2.67}} {{icon|Copper ore|8.88}} {{icon|Plastic bar|5}}
|}

Note that making low density structures is subject to its own [[Low_density_structure_productivity_(research)|productivity research]], and both that, and the use of productivity modules of any kind, will make the use of the alternate production chain more attractive: the efficiency gain for iron and copper will increase, while the efficiency loss in plastic, while not entirely negated, will shrink. For example, with no efficiency boosts, the alternative production chain is 33% more efficient in iron, 25% more efficient in copper, and 33% less efficient in plastic, but with +100% productivity from research, the alternative production chain is 60% more efficient in iron, 50% more efficient in copper, and only 20% less efficient in plastic.

Additionally, the hard cap of 300% productivity applies here, too, and this ''can'' entirely negate the penalty to plastic, though the level of research required to do so is considerable.

The low density structure casting recipe does have one advantage: [[Quality]]. Because the only solid input is plastic, all it takes to make low density structures of a particular quality is to have plastic of that quality.

Furthermore, since low density structures can be [[Recycler|recycled]] back to copper and steel plates, one can use this recipe to generate high quality copper and steel plates from plastic, consuming less molten metal than many other means of producing quality plates. Additionally, if the foundry can get to the 300% low density structures productivity cap (via modules and research), then the plastic will (on average) be completely regenerated, allowing a small amount of quality plastic to produce arbitrary amounts of quality copper and steel plates, given sufficient molten metal.

== History ==
{{history|2.0.7|
* Introduced in [[Space Age]]{{SA}} expansion.
}}

== See also ==
* [[Vulcanus]]{{SA}}
* [[Crafting]]

{{ProductionNav}}
{{C|Producers}}

Foundry

2025-11-24T19:25:11Z

Taekwonjoe2001: Undo revision 216489 by Taekwonjoe2001 (talk) Forgot to leave a summary

{{Languages}}
{{:Infobox:Foundry}}
{{About/Space age}}
The '''Foundry''' is a version of the [[assembling machine]] from [[Vulcanus]]{{SA}} that specializes in metallurgy. It has a built-in 50% [[productivity]] bonus.

The foundry can only be crafted on Vulcanus due to its higher atmospheric pressure, but it can be used on other planets once transported via [[space platform]].

== Recipes ==

The Foundry has twenty available unique recipes, of which one must be set before it can begin processing.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Recipe !! Ingredients !! Products !! Technology required
|-
! colspan=4 | Only usable on [[Vulcanus]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten iron from lava}}
| {{icon|Time|16}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}{{icon|Lava|500}}
| {{icon|Stone|10}}{{icon|Molten iron|250}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten copper from lava}}
| {{icon|Time|16}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}{{icon|Lava|500}}
| {{icon|Stone|15}}{{icon|Molten copper|250}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Metallurgic science pack}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Tungsten carbide|3}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|2}}{{icon|Molten copper|200}}
| {{icon|Metallurgic science pack|1}}
| {{icontech|Metallurgic science pack (research)}}[[Metallurgic science pack (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Big mining drill}}
| {{icon|Time|30}}{{icon|Advanced circuit|10}}{{icon|Electric engine unit|10}}{{icon|Tungsten carbide|20}}{{icon|Electric mining drill|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|200}}
| {{icon|Big mining drill|1}}
| {{icontech|Big mining drill (research)}}[[Big mining drill (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Turbo transport belt}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|5}}{{icon|Express transport belt|1}}{{icon|Lubricant|20}}
| {{icon|Turbo transport belt|1}}
| {{icontech|Turbo transport belt (research)}}[[Turbo transport belt (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Turbo underground belt}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|40}}{{icon|Express underground belt|2}}{{icon|Lubricant|40}}
| {{icon|Turbo underground belt|2}}
| {{icontech|Turbo transport belt (research)}}[[Turbo transport belt (research)]]
|-
| {{imagelink|Turbo splitter}}
| {{icon|Time|2}}{{icon|Processing unit|2}}{{icon|Tungsten plate|15}}{{icon|Express splitter|2}}{{icon|Lubricant|80}}
| {{icon|Turbo splitter|1}}
| {{icontech|Turbo transport belt (research)}}[[Turbo transport belt (research)]]
|-
! colspan=4 | Usable anywhere
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten iron}}
| {{icon|Time|32}}{{icon|Iron ore|50}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|500}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Molten copper}}
| {{icon|Time|32}}{{icon|Copper ore|50}}{{icon|Calcite|1}}
| {{icon|Molten copper|500}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting iron}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}{{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| {{icon|Iron plate|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting copper}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}{{icon|Molten copper|20}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting steel}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}{{icon|Molten iron|30}}
| {{icon|Steel plate|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting iron gear wheel}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting iron stick}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| {{icon|Iron stick|4}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting low density structure}}
| {{icon|Time|15}}{{icon|Plastic bar|5}}{{icon|Molten iron|80}}{{icon|Molten copper|250}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Concrete from molten iron}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Stone brick|5}}{{icon|Molten iron|20}}{{icon|Water|100}}
| {{icon|Concrete|10}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting copper cable}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten copper|5}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting pipe}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| {{icon|Pipe|1}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Casting pipe to ground}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}{{icon|Pipe|10}}{{icon|Molten iron|50}}
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|2}}
| -
|-
| {{imagelink|Tungsten plate}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}{{icon|Tungsten ore|4}}{{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| {{icon|Tungsten plate|1}}
| {{icontech|Tungsten steel (research)}}[[Tungsten steel (research)]]
|}

Note that the foundry recipe for making [[concrete]] can benefit from [[productivity module|productivity modules]], despite the regular concrete recipe not being able to use them.

Additionally, the foundry can also make other foundries (but only on Vulcanus), all [[Transport belts|belt]] types, and [[holmium plate|holmium plates]]; the recipes are the same as used in assembling machines.

== Efficiency ==

Most of the foundry's recipes are more efficient than creating the same items in a [[furnace]] or [[assembling machine]]. However, because of the built-in +50% productivity bonus (which applies even to items like belts that don't benefit from [[productivity module]]s), and because the same bonus also applies to the recipes for [[molten iron]] and [[molten copper]], the actual efficiency gains from using a foundry are much higher than the value listed in the recipe.

The table below compares the values of the base recipes (with 1 ore = 10 molten metal), and then shows the actual output of the recipe with the default foundry bonuses of 4 crafting speed and 150% productivity (1 ore = 15 molten metal). For example, inserting 200 [[iron ore]] into a foundry with no [[module]]s installed would result in 3,000 [[molten iron]] which could be turned into 450 [[iron plate]]s.

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan = 3 | Name !! colspan = 10 | Base recipe values !! colspan = 4 | With foundry bonuses
|-
! colspan = 4 | Furnace/Assembler !! colspan = 4 | Foundry !! colspan = 2 | Efficiency !! colspan = 2 | Foundry !! colspan = 2 | Efficiency
|-
! Time !! {{icon|Iron ore}} !! {{icon|Copper ore}} !! Output !! Time !! {{icon|Molten iron}} !! {{icon|Molten copper}} !! Output !! {{icon|Iron ore}} !! {{icon|Copper ore}} !! Time !! Output !! {{icon|Iron ore}} !! {{icon|Copper ore}}
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Iron plate}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron plate|1}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron plate|2}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.8}}
| {{icon|Iron plate|3}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Steel plate}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|5}}
| -
| {{icon|Steel plate|1}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|30}}
| -
| {{icon|Steel plate|1}}
| 167%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.8}}
| {{icon|Steel plate|1.5}}
| 375%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Iron gear wheel}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|2}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1}}
| 200%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Iron gear wheel|1.5}}
| 450%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Iron stick}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron stick|2}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| -
| {{icon|Iron stick|4}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Iron stick|6}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Concrete}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Concrete|10}}
| {{icon|Time|10}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|20}}
| -
| {{icon|Concrete|10}}
| 50%
| -
| {{icon|Time|2.5}}
| {{icon|Concrete|15}}
| 113%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Pipe}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe|1}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|10}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe|1}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Pipe|1.5}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Pipe to ground}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|5}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|2}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|50}}
| -
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|2}}
| 100%
| -
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Pipe to ground|3}}
| 225%
| -
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Low density structure}}
| {{icon|Time|15}}
| {{icon|Iron ore|10}}
| {{icon|Copper ore|20}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
| {{icon|Time|15}}
| {{icon|Molten iron|80}}
| {{icon|Molten copper|250}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
| 125%
| 80%
| {{icon|Time|3.75}}
| {{icon|Low density structure|1.5}}
| 281%
| 180%
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Copper plate}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| -
| {{icon|Copper ore|1}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|1}}
| {{icon|Time|3.2}}
| -
| {{icon|Molten copper|20}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|2}}
| -
| 100%
| {{icon|Time|0.8}}
| {{icon|Copper plate|3}}
| -
| 225%
|-
| style="text-align: left;" | {{imagelink|Copper cable}}
| {{icon|Time|0.5}}
| -
| {{icon|Copper ore|1}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|2}}
| {{icon|Time|1}}
| -
| {{icon|Molten copper|5}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|2}}
| -
| 200%
| {{icon|Time|0.25}}
| {{icon|Copper cable|3}}
| -
| 450%
|-
|}

=== Alternate recipe chains ===
Because the foundry can cast iron, steel, and copper plates but can also directly cast various items normally made ''from'' those plates, there exist alternate production chains, where the foundry is used to cast the plates and then another production building is used to create the final product:
* Steel can be produced by casting iron plates and refining them in an [[electric furnace]]
* Gears, iron sticks, pipes, and pipes-to-ground can be crafted by casting iron plates and feeding them to an assembler
* Copper wire can be produced by casting copper plates and feeding them to an assembler or an [[electromagnetic plant]]
* Low density structures can be produced by casting copper plates and steel plates (or, as mentioned above, casting iron plates and converting them to steel in a furnace) and feeding them to an assembler

These alternate production chains can potentially be more resource-efficient than just casting the result directly, albeit at the cost of considerably more machines (and in some cases more high-level, high-[[quality]] modules) for a given rate of output. In this case, the inherent +50% productivity bonus of the foundry does not matter, nor do any productivity modules the foundry has, because those bonuses also apply when casting the metal plates. Instead, the decision is between any productivity bonus the second production machine can provide verses the fact that most of the 'Casting' recipes cost less to begin with. (This inherent advantage is the value listed in the 'Efficiency' column under 'Base recipe values' in the above table.)

==== Steel plates ====

Initially, it seems like the electric furnace, with just 2 module slots, cannot make up for the 67% inherent efficiency boost from the cast-steel recipe. However, steel production also has an [[Steel_plate_productivity_(research)|infinite research]] which adds a productivity bonus; while this bonus applies to both casting steel and smelting steel (and ''doesn't'' apply to casting iron plates in order to smelt them into steel), the 50% inherent productivity and more module slots of the foundry give it a higher bonus to start with, meaning that the same ''absolute'' bonus makes for a larger ''relative increase'' in the electric furnace. For example, with no productivity modules, researching 5 levels of the technology will take the foundry from 50% productivity to 100% productivity, boosting its output by a third. By contrast, the furnace will go from 0% productivity to 50% productivity, boosting its output by a half. With the right combination of high-quality [[productivity module 3]]s and steel plate productivity research, it is possible to make the electric furnace production chain more efficient.

For example, a foundry with 4 legendary productivity module 3s (+25% productivity each) casting iron plates feeding an electric furnace with 2 legendary productivity module 3s and a +50% steel plate productivity has exactly the same overall efficiency as a foundry with 4 legendary productivity module 3s and the same +50% steel plate productivity casting steel plates directly, with both producing exactly 1 steel plate per 10 units of molten iron. Any additional research past that point will make the electric furnace production chain strictly better. If using mere rare productivity module 3s (+16% productivity each) instead, the changeover happens somewhere between +150% and +160% research.

Additionally, with enough levels of steel plate productivity research, it is possible to reach the hard cap of 300% productivity. Thus the absolute maximum efficiency possible for casting steel is 4/3 steel plates per 10 units of molten iron, while the electric furnace production chain can reach 2 steel plates per 10 units of molten iron.

==== Iron gear wheels ====

It is never possible for gears made in an assembler to be more efficient than those made by casting them directly. The cast gears recipe is ''twice'' as efficient as the normal one and no productivity research applies; the highest efficiency possible from an assembler, 200% from an assembler 3 with 4 legendary productivity module 3s, is only just enough to break even.

==== Iron sticks ====

Conversely, the cast iron stick recipe has no inherent resource efficiency at all, thus casting iron plates and then converting them to sticks using an assembler with ''any productivity modules at all'' is more efficient than using that same foundry to cast them directly.

==== Pipes & Pipes to ground ====

Unlike all the other items with alternate production chains here, [[pipe|pipes]] and [[pipe to ground|pipes to ground]] are not intermediate products. Thus it is not possible to use productivity modules on foundries or assemblers which are producing them. Since it ''is'' possible to use productivity modules on a foundry casting iron plates which are then converted to pipes in an assembler, doing so is more efficient than casting them directly.

==== Copper cables ====

Much like iron gears, copper cables have a 200% efficient casting recipe and no researchable productivity bonus, thus it is not possible to produce them more efficiently using an assembler. However, copper cables can also be produced in the [[electromagnetic plant]], which has ''5'' module slots and an inherent +50% productivity boost of its own. So long as the electromagnetic plant's total productivity is greater than 100%, this production chain is more efficient than casting directly. 5 productivity 3s of common quality (+10% productivity each) will give a total productivity of exactly 100%; any better quality modules, or productivity 2s of epic quality or better, will make them more efficient.

==== Low density structure ====

Low density structures are notable because the crafting recipe has an efficiency of ''less'' than 100% with respect to copper, and while its efficiency with respect to iron is greater than 100%, it is less than the inherent efficiency of casting steel plates. Thus, even with no productivity modules or productivity research at all, casting the plates and then creating the low density structures in an assembler is more efficient. However, low density structures also require plastic, and since plastic bars cannot be cast, you are losing out on the inherent +50% productivity bonus the foundry offers:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Process
! Raw resources to make {{icon|Low density structure|1}}
|-
| Furnaces + Assemblers
| {{icon|Iron ore|10}} {{icon|Copper ore|20}} {{icon|Plastic bar|5}}
|-
| Foundry Direct
| {{icon|Iron ore|3.5}} {{icon|Copper ore|11.1}} {{icon|Plastic bar|3.33}}
|-
| Foundries + Assemblers
| {{icon|Iron ore|2.67}} {{icon|Copper ore|8.88}} {{icon|Plastic bar|5}}
|}

Note that making low density structures is subject to its own [[Low_density_structure_productivity_(research)|productivity research]], and both that, and the use of productivity modules of any kind, will make the use of the alternate production chain more attractive: the efficiency gain for iron and copper will increase, while the efficiency loss in plastic, while not entirely negated, will shrink. For example, with no efficiency boosts, the alternative production chain is 33% more efficient in iron, 25% more efficient in copper, and 33% less efficient in plastic, but with +100% productivity from research, the alternative production chain is 60% more efficient in iron, 50% more efficient in copper, and only 20% less efficient in plastic.

Additionally, the hard cap of 300% productivity applies here, too, and this ''can'' entirely negate the penalty to plastic, though the level of research required to do so is considerable.

The low density structure casting recipe does have one advantage: [[Quality]]. Because the only solid input is plastic, all it takes to make low density structures of a particular quality is to have plastic of that quality.

Furthermore, since low density structures can be [[Recycler|recycled]] back to copper and steel plates, one can use this recipe to generate high quality copper and steel plates from plastic, consuming less molten metal than many other means of producing quality plates. Additionally, if the foundry can get to the 300% low density structures productivity cap (via modules and research), then the plastic will (on average) be completely regenerated, allowing a small amount of quality plastic to produce arbitrary amounts of quality copper and steel plates, given sufficient molten metal.

== History ==
{{history|2.0.7|
* Introduced in [[Space Age]]{{SA}} expansion.
}}

== See also ==
* [[Vulcanus]]{{SA}}
* [[Crafting]]

{{ProductionNav}}
{{C|Producers}}

Foundry

2025-11-24T19:01:30Z

Taekwonjoe2001: /* Recipes */

File:Fusion generator entity.png

2024-12-17T05:41:26Z

Taekwonjoe2001: Taekwonjoe2001 uploaded a new version of File:Fusion-generator.png

Land mine

2024-12-05T22:28:15Z

Taekwonjoe2001: /* History */

{{Languages}}
{{:Infobox:Land mine}}
Land mines are small, passive defense systems that explode when enemies come closer than 2.5 tiles of them, dealing 250 damage and stunning enemies for 3 seconds. Land mines can be placed freely on the map. They deal enough damage to kill [[Enemies|small/medium enemies]] or unarmored [[player]]s outright, but will only injure and stun larger enemies. Land mines do not damage allied buildings or players. They can be re-built by [[construction robot]]s after exploding.

After placing, land mines take 2 seconds to arm and bury in the ground. During those 2 seconds, they are visible to enemies and can be destroyed by biters or directly shot by enemy players. After burying, enemy land mines can only be destroyed using weapons with area damage, for example [[grenade]]s or the [[flamethrower]].

Land mines are the only passive defense in Factorio; if an alien is hit by a land mine, they will not start chasing the player.

== History ==
{{History|2.0.24|
* {{SA}} Land mines on space platforms now damage the space platform tiles in a radius when detonated.}}

{{History|0.16.31|
* Enemy mines are not completely invisible anymore in PvP scenarios.
* Land mines now also stun enemy players.}}

{{History|0.15.22|
* Explosive mine now only does damage to enemy units and structures.}}

{{History|0.15.0|
* Increased the damage of the explosion significantly.
* Land mines now also stun nearby enemies when they explode.}}

{{History|0.12.0|
* Optimized the land mine activation code.}}

{{History|0.8.6|
* Land mines can be rebuilt by construction robots.}}

{{History|0.7.0|
* Land mine now has a larger damage and trigger radius.}}

{{History|0.1.0|
* Introduced}}

== See also ==
* [[Enemies]]
* [[Damage]]

{{CombatNav}}
{{C|Weapons}}