Lab

Lab

Edit

Recipe
2 + 10 + 10 + 4 → 1
Total raw
21.5 + 15 + 36
Map color
Health	150 195 240 285 375
Stack size	10
Dimensions	3×3
Energy consumption	60 kW (electric)
Mining time	0.2
Speed	1 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.5
Module slots	2 slots
Prototype type	lab
Internal name	lab
Required technologies
Boosting technologies
Produced by

Science packs put into the front lab will be passed to labs behind it.

Labs are buildings that perform research for technologies by consuming science packs. Use of a lab is required to progress in Factorio.

The player can only research one technology at a time, but can use multiple labs for faster results. The speed bonus of labs when Lab research speed is researched and modules are present can be calculated using this formula: research_bonus * module_bonus = speed_bonus; the percentage bonuses have to be converted to decimals (e.g. +140% = 2.4) before the formula is used.

When productivity modules are used in labs, the productivity bonus is directly calculated and applied each tick so the productivity bar is simply cosmetic. This means that it does not matter that the productivity bar resets when the research is changed, no productivity bonus is lost. [1]

Production requirements

Calculating the number of science packs needed per second is straightforward:

• Effective Lab Research Speed = 1 + <in-game Lab Research Speed bonus %>/100
• Adjusted Cycle Time = <in-game Cycle Time> /<Effective Lab Research Speed>
• Packs per Second = 1 / (Adjusted Cycle Time / <# of labs>)

Thus, for a 10 lab setup, researching Nuclear Power (30 second cycle time) with Lab Research Speed 4 (140% bonus), the math would be:

• ELRS = 1 + 140/100
  • = 2.4
• ACT = 30 / 2.4
  • = 12.5 seconds, adjusted cycle time
• PPS = 1 / (12.5 / 10)
  • = 0.8 Science per second

This means 0.8 science packs per second, of each type, would need to be produced to continuously supply the labs.

Equation simplification

The above calculations can be combined into one equation provided all labs have the same <in-game Lab Research Speed Bonus>.

• Packs per Second = <# of labs> * ((<in-game Lab Research Speed Bonus %> / 100) + 1) / <in-game Cycle Time>
• PPS = 10 * (1 + (140/100)) / 30
  • = 10/30 * (1 + 1.4)
  • = 1/3 * 2.4
  • = 0.8 packs per second

History

• 0.12.6:
  • The research speed of a lab is now not dependent on its electricity consumption, and can be scripted.

• 0.12.0:
  • Lab research is now continuous; Science packs now have progress bars.

• 0.9.2:
  • Labs are now named after early access backers when built from blueprints.

• 0.7.2:
  • Changed the recipe of Lab to require 4 transport belts, down from 5.

• 0.6.0:
  • New graphics.

• 0.2.7:
  • Contents of the Lab is now shown in the entity info.

• 0.1.0:
  • Introduced

See also

• Electric system
• Crafting