Otis Singleton
In the game Factorio, the number of electric furnaces required to fill a blue belt is a topic of discussion among players. Some players suggest that 72 electric furnaces are needed to fill a blue belt, while others claim that 61 electric furnaces are sufficient. The discrepancy may lie in the presence of beacons and modules, which can significantly reduce the number of furnaces required. For example, without modules, 72 furnaces are needed, but with modules, this number can decrease to as few as 9. Steel and electric furnaces have the same smelting speed, so the ratios are identical. The speed of an electric furnace is double that of a stone furnace, so the number of stone furnaces required is double that of electric furnaces.
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What You'll Learn
Electric furnace crafting speed
The number of electric furnaces required to fill a blue belt depends on various factors, including the type of furnace, the item being crafted, and the level of compression.
Firstly, it's important to note that electric furnaces have a crafting speed of 2, which is twice as fast as stone furnaces. This means that you need half the number of electric furnaces compared to stone furnaces to achieve the same output.
For iron, copper, and stone, it takes 48 stone furnaces to completely saturate a yellow belt, 96 for a red belt, and 140 for a blue belt. Therefore, for electric furnaces, you would need half of these amounts: 24 for a yellow belt, 48 for a red belt, and 70 for a blue belt.
However, some sources suggest that the number of electric furnaces required for a blue belt is slightly higher, at around 61 to 72. This discrepancy may be due to the level of compression. One user noted that they built 72 electric furnaces but found that technically, 71 should be enough to saturate a blue belt. The level of compression can depend on various factors, such as the type of inserter used, which can affect how the items are spaced on the belt.
Additionally, the type of item being crafted can also impact the number of furnaces required. For steel smelting, for example, one source mentions that 350 electric furnaces are needed for a blue belt.
It's worth noting that using modules can significantly reduce the number of furnaces required. For example, one user mentioned that without modules, 72 furnaces are needed for a blue belt, but with productivity and speed modules, this number can decrease to as few as 9 furnaces.
Lastly, the arrangement of furnaces and belt compression ratios also play a role in optimizing the system. Some designs use dedicated input and output lines, providing more room for error and better balancing. Understanding compression ratios can help determine the most efficient strategy for transporting items.
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Blue belt speed
The number of electric furnaces required to fill a blue belt depends on several factors, including the type of furnace, the item being crafted, and the level of compression.
For electric or steel furnaces, the number needed to fill a blue belt is generally accepted to be around 61 or 72. One source suggests that 71 electric furnaces should be mathematically sufficient, but building 72 ensures the belt is completely saturated. This number can be reduced to 9 if productivity and speed modules are added.
The number of furnaces required is halved when using steel or electric furnaces instead of stone furnaces, as the former have a crafting speed of 2, twice that of stone furnaces. For example, it takes 140 stone furnaces to completely saturate a blue belt when smelting copper, iron, or stone, but only 70 steel or electric furnaces.
It's important to note that inserting items directly from furnaces onto a belt will usually not fully compress it. To achieve full compression, you may need to use dedicated input and output lines, ensuring that each material has its own full line.
Additionally, the compression ratio of the items being crafted should be considered when designing transport systems. The belt compression ratio describes how efficiently a crafted item can be transported compared to its inputs, without taking stack size into account. By contrast, the stack compression ratio considers how many stacks of input are required to create one stack of output.
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Stone furnace ratios
Stone furnaces are used for smelting copper, iron, and stone. The number of stone furnaces required depends on the type of belt being used, with different requirements for yellow, red, and blue belts. For a yellow belt, 48 stone furnaces (24 per side) are needed, while for a red belt, the requirement doubles to 96 (48 per side). To completely saturate a blue belt, 140 stone furnaces (70 per side) are necessary.
The compression ratio is an important consideration in determining the efficiency of item transport systems. It describes how efficiently a crafted item can be transported compared to its inputs. There are two types of compression ratios: stack compression ratio and belt compression ratio. The stack compression ratio considers the number of stacks of input required to create one stack of output. For instance, the stack ratio for iron plate is 2:1, as it takes 200 iron ore to create 200 iron plates. On the other hand, the belt compression ratio is similar but does not take stack size into account, as belts, inserters, and robots transport items individually rather than in stacks.
The ratio of stone furnaces to electric drills is another factor to consider. The commonly accepted rule of thumb is a 2:1 ratio, which can be adjusted slightly in favour of furnaces. This means that for every two stone furnaces, one electric drill is required. However, some sources suggest a ratio of 7:4 or even 35:23 for optimal efficiency.
Stone furnaces are also used for smelting steel, but the ratios differ from those of copper, iron, and stone. To fill a yellow belt with steel, 234 stone furnaces (117 per side) are required, while for a red belt, the number doubles to 468 (234 per side). To completely saturate a blue belt with steel, a substantial 700 stone furnaces (350 per side) are needed.
It is worth noting that steel has a longer craft time of 17.5 seconds compared to the 3.5 seconds of the other resources, which contributes to the higher ratios. Additionally, steel and electric furnaces have double the smelting speed of stone furnaces, so the required number is halved when using them.
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Steel furnace ratios
The number of electric furnaces required to fill a blue belt depends on several factors, including the type of furnace, the compression ratio, and the use of modules or beacons. Let's delve into the steel furnace ratios and the number of electric furnaces per blue belt:
Steel furnaces have a crafting speed that is twice as fast as stone furnaces. Therefore, the number of steel furnaces required is half the number of stone furnaces. For a blue belt, it takes 350 steel furnaces or 700 stone furnaces to achieve complete saturation. This number can be reduced by using modules and beacons, which increase productivity and speed.
Electric Furnace Ratios:
Electric furnaces have a crafting speed of 2, which is twice that of stone furnaces and the same as steel furnaces. Therefore, the ratios for electric furnaces are the same as for steel furnaces. To fill a blue belt, you will need 350 electric furnaces. However, some sources suggest a slightly lower number, ranging from 61 to 72 electric furnaces, to completely smelt all the ore on a fully saturated blue belt. It is important to note that these numbers may vary depending on the efficiency of your setup and the presence of bottlenecks in your system.
Compression Ratios:
The compression ratio is another crucial factor to consider. The belt compression ratio describes how efficiently crafted items can be transported compared to their inputs. For example, Iron Plate has a stack compression ratio of 2:1 because it takes 200 Iron Ore to create 200 Iron Plate. The compression ratio affects the efficiency of your transport system and should be considered when designing it.
Modules and Beacons:
The use of modules and beacons can significantly reduce the number of furnaces required. For example, with productivity and speed modules, the number of electric furnaces needed to fill a blue belt can decrease from 72 to as few as 9. Beacons, when used in conjunction with modules, can further enhance the efficiency of your furnace setup.
In summary, the steel furnace ratios for a blue belt range from 350 to 700, depending on the type of furnace and the presence of modules or beacons. The electric furnace ratios are similar, with a general consensus of around 350 electric furnaces needed for a blue belt. However, some sources suggest a range of 61 to 72 electric furnaces. Compression ratios and the use of modules and beacons play a crucial role in optimizing your furnace setup and should be carefully considered.
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Belt compression
To achieve belt compression, players aim to evenly distribute items across the belt, ensuring a consistent flow without items backing up or the belt becoming oversaturated. This is particularly important when dealing with high-volume production and trying to achieve a fully compressed output.
The number of electric furnaces required to compress a blue belt in Factorio has been a topic of discussion among players. Some players have calculated that it takes around 61 electric furnaces to completely smelt all the ore on a saturated blue belt. However, others have suggested that 72 electric furnaces are needed to fill a blue belt, with 36 furnaces on each side. This discrepancy may be due to differences in game versions, as belt speed numbers and furnace speeds have been subject to change over time.
To enhance belt compression and further optimize the setup, players can employ various strategies. One approach is to use productivity and speed modules in the electric furnaces, which can reduce the number of furnaces required. For example, with speed modules, 32 electric furnaces can almost fill a blue belt to 100%, but this also requires a full blue belt of ore feeding them. Additionally, using beacons in conjunction with modules can further decrease the number of furnaces needed, with estimates ranging from 9 to 24 furnaces for a fully beaconed smelting array.
Another strategy for belt compression is to focus on the output of the furnaces. By utilizing underground belts, side-loading, or splitter-merging techniques, players can achieve higher compression rates. For instance, direct insertion yields around 31 items per second, while splitter-merging can result in approximately 40 items per second, representing a significant improvement in belt compression. These methods allow players to manage the flow of items more effectively, reducing congestion and maximizing the utilization of the belt's capacity.
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Frequently asked questions
61-72 electric furnaces are required to fill a blue belt.
The ratio is 1:2, meaning you need twice as many stone furnaces as electric furnaces.
122-140 stone furnaces are required to fill a blue belt.
Compression ratios refer to how efficiently crafted items can be transported. High compression ratio recipes should be done before transport, while low compression ratio recipes should be done after. Considering these ratios can help optimise the number of furnaces used.
