Factory & Automation
Production chains, recipes, machines, conveyors, and layouts.
5 focused guides · Updated for current playThe best first steps for this topic.
5 answers
Use conveyor belts as directional material lanes. Begin with short straight runs, confirm direction at every junction, and leave visible points where you can inspect flow. Belts solve transport, not separation or processing, so connect filters and machines deliberately.
Verified guideA durable layout separates extraction, transport, processing, storage, and waste handling into readable zones. Use small modules connected by clear lanes rather than one dense block. This makes Early Access changes easier to absorb without rebuilding the entire factory.
Verified guideSelect a machine only after defining the material state that must change. Then check how material enters, how outputs leave, what environmental conditions apply, and how the machine behaves when blocked. Exact machine statistics remain version-sensitive during Early Access.
Verified guideTreat every chain as a sequence of observable states. Record what enters each stage, what leaves it, and what can block it. Without verified recipe rates, balance by watching queues: growing input means the next stage is slow, while an empty input means the previous stage cannot supply it.
Verified guide
Check recipes in the current in-game interface before committing a large layout. Record ingredients, outputs, machine requirements, and unlock state from your build. KoalaFun does not publish unverified numeric ratios; use the chain method here to validate live values safely.
Verified guideBeginner priorities and the shortest route from manual work to dependable automation.
2 guidesMaterial handling, gold processing, water behavior, and resource bottlenecks.
3 guidesFilters, drones, pumps, pipes, and logistics troubleshooting.
3 guidesArtifacts, map reading, biomes, and exploration planning.
2 guides