Understanding Automation in Satisfactory

The heart of Satisfactory is automation. While early hours are spent crafting items by hand, the real game begins only when you start building production lines that run themselves. In this article we will explain how automation works, what to prioritize, and how to scale your factory from one constructor to a massive production chain.

Why Automation Matters

Satisfactory is about efficiency at scale. Handcrafting is fine in the first hour, but very quickly, you’ll realize:

• Manual crafting takes too long
• You need hundreds (soon thousands) of parts
• Your time is better spent exploring and optimizing

By automating your factory, you free up time and dramatically increase your output.

Basic Automation Chain

Your first real production line will look something like this:

Miner → Smelter → Constructor → Storage

Let’s say you’re producing Iron Plates. Here’s how that works:

• The Miner extracts Iron Ore
• The Smelter turns it into Iron Ingots
• The Constructor turns Ingots into Plates
• A Storage Container collects the finished product

This line runs 24/7 as long as it has power and materials.

Cement Production Example

Cement (Concrete) is a special case as it skips the smelter:

Miner → Constructor → Storage

Limestone goes straight into a Constructor to become Concrete.

Complex Production Lines

As you unlock more parts, some items require multiple steps or inputs.

For example, Screws require Iron Rods, which require Ingots:

Miner → Smelter → Constructor (Rods) → Constructor (Screws) → Storage

If your node is pure or you’re using better miners, you can split the output to feed multiple lines.

Use Splitters and Mergers to create branching systems like:

• One Miner feeds two Smelters
• Two Smelters feed multiple Constructors
• Multiple Constructors merge into one storage

Use Splitters, Mergers, and Lifts Wisely

• Splitters divide items evenly (used for branching lines)
• Mergers combine multiple lines into one
• Conveyor Lifts allow vertical builds without wasting floor space

Smart placement and belt management make or break your factory’s efficiency.

The Power Problem

Automation is only as good as your power grid.

• Biomass Burners are fine early on, but require manual refueling
• Make Solid Biofuel with Constructors and automate that too
• Unlock Coal Power in Tier 3 to finally go hands-free

TIP: Always watch your power usage. If you overdraw, your whole grid shuts down.

Avoiding Early Bottlenecks

New players often run into problems like:

• Machines running out of input materials
• Storage containers overflowing
• Conveyor belts getting jammed

Here’s how to prevent that:

• Use Smart layouts (e.g. manifold setups that are easy to scale)
• Check node purity and match it with the right number of machines
• Use Zoop mode and global grid snapping to keep your factory clean

Think in Ratios

Every machine has a rate of input and output. For example:

• MK1 Miner on Normal Iron Node = 60 ore/min
• Smelter = 30 ore/min input
• So one Miner can feed two Smelters

The deeper you go, the more important ratios become. Use a calculator like Satisfactory-calculator.com to plan in advance.

Final Thoughts

Don’t be afraid to rebuild.

Your first few automation lines won’t be perfect. You’ll run out of space, unlock better belts, and discover cleaner layouts. That’s part of the game. The key is to keep expanding, keep refining, and never craft by hand again.

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