In Factorio, steel is an essential part of many innovative technologies and constructions. To produce steel, players must first obtain the Steel Processing technology, which allows them to smelt iron plates into steel bars.
This post will discuss optimization approaches and walk through the steps involved in manufacturing steel in Factorio.
But first, you must learn how to make Factorio server to run the game. Anyway, continue reading when you’ve already done that!
Unlocking Steel Processing Technology
The first step in making steel is to unlock the Steel Processing technology in Factorio. The player can use this technology after studying Automation 2, and it requires 75 red and green scientific packs to unlock.If players acquire the Steel Processing technology, they can begin smelting iron plates into steel bars.
Building a Smelting Setup
To make steel plates, players must feed iron plates into furnaces for smelting, which transforms them into steel plates. In a conventional smelting system, which consists of two rows of furnaces on either side of a central output belt, input belts supply iron plates to each row of furnaces. The number of furnaces required will vary depending on the desired output rate and the type of conveyor belt being employed.On a red belt, for instance, 48 furnaces can generate a whole belt of steel, whereas a blue belt needs 70 furnaces. Players should be aware that as steel takes longer to create (17.5 seconds) than other resources, it needs more furnaces to generate it at a decent rate.
Using Productivity Modules
The use of productivity modules in furnaces can significantly reduce the amount of iron ore required to produce steel plates. When used in two layers, Productivity Module 3 can reduce the required iron ore by 31%.Productivity modules function by increasing a machine's output at the cost of an increase in energy usage. By placing productivity modules in furnaces, players may produce more steel plates with less iron ore, ultimately saving time and resources.
Tips for Optimizing Steel Production
Players should take into account the following advice to maximize steel production in Factorio:- As soon as you can, conduct research to unlock steel processing technology.
- To make steel plates at an acceptable rate, use a smelting arrangement with numerous furnaces.
- If you want to use less iron ore, think about using productivity modules in furnaces.
- To move steel and iron plates around the factory, use quick transport belts.
- Monitor energy consumption and ensure sufficient power to operate all furnaces.
Can I use other resources besides iron plates to make steel in Factorio?
No, in Factorio, the only way to make steel is to process iron plates into steel plates using a furnace. There is no provision by the game to produce steel using any other means or extra materials.
How many iron plates are needed to make one steel plate in Factorio?
In Factorio, the game will inform a player that he needs to heat five iron plates in a furnace to make one steel plate. So it means that the production of steel plates is slower than, for instance, copper or iron plates, which can be compared to the resources created with less input.
How many steel plates can be produced per second with a full belt of steel on a red belt?
In the entire row with a red belt, the amount of steel plates that would be produced every second would have been about 2.9 per second, given that the production time of the steel plates will be 17.5 seconds. The estimation presumes that all furnaces in the setup of smelting work without any form of a bottleneck or constraint, which allows all of them to work at their maximum output.
Can I use productivity modules in other machines besides furnaces to reduce resource consumption?
Yes, productivity modules can be used in machines other than furnaces so that the output increases while resources used are reduced. For instance, productivity modules could be used in machine assembly so that the amount of raw material is reduced to produce the goods.
A point to note is that these productivity modules may be applied to machinery other than furnjsons, and hence they may also consume more power, requiring a re-design of the grid.
Takeaway
- Steel is a crucial component of many cutting-edge technologies and structures.
- The players must therefore investigate technologies to process steel, construct a smelting setup with the furnaces, and feed iron plates into the furnaces so they can be smelted down into steel plates.
- So, the amount of iron ore required should be reduced with the use of productivity modules, and it is totally dependent on the target output rate and the type of transport belt that is to be used for deciding the number of furnaces.
- Players may make sure that their factories are operating smoothly and successfully by following these instructions and maximizing their steel output, which will boost productivity and help them succeed in the game.