Factorio: Powering Electric Drills, How Many Belts?

how many furchanes to electric drills factorio

In the game Factorio, players can use burner mining drills or electric mining drills to automate the extraction of resources from the world. The number of furnaces that an electric mining drill can supply depends on the type of furnace and the desired production rate. For example, a yellow belt can move 15 items/s, so if 24 furnaces produce 15 items/s, the electric drill can supply these furnaces without congestion. Electric drills supply about 1:1 to steel and electric furnaces and 1:2 for stone furnaces. Burner mining drills, on the other hand, require coal as fuel and produce about 7 items per unit of coal, but they create a lot of pollution per item. They are typically used until the player has built an electrical network, at which point the larger and faster electric mining drill becomes more advantageous.

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Electric drills supply a 1:1 ratio to steel furnaces

In the game Factorio, players often use a ratio of 1:1 for electric drills to steel furnaces. This means that one electric drill will supply one steel furnace.

This is a general rule of thumb and the exact ratio can vary depending on various factors. For example, if you have no mining productivity technologies researched and your drills are not boosted, the ratio for iron and copper is 5 drills to 4 steel furnaces. For stone, it's 5 drills to 2 steel furnaces.

Another factor that can affect the ratio is the type of belt you are using. Most players measure things in terms of the number of belts that something fills or uses. For example, a yellow belt can move 15 items per second, and 24 furnaces can produce this amount exactly. So, in this case, you would need 30 drills to saturate the yellow belt and 24 steel furnaces to smelt all the iron ore.

Additionally, individual miners will eventually run out of ore, which can throw off specific ratios of miners to smelters. As a result, players often overbuild miners and smelters to avoid constantly adjusting and adding more.

Some players also suggest starting with a ratio of one electric drill supplying two stone furnaces or approximately one steel furnace. As your game progresses, you can adjust this ratio to eleven drills to ten furnaces, and eventually, you may want to add as many drills as possible.

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Electric drills and steel furnaces have a 1:2 ratio with stone furnaces

In the game Factorio, players are tasked with automating manufacture by extracting resources from the world and then smelting them in a furnace for further usage. The game offers a lot of flexibility in terms of furnace and drill ratios, and there are several strategies that players can employ.

The optimal ratio of drills to furnaces depends on the player's specific needs and goals. Some players prefer to focus on maximizing efficiency, while others prioritize convenience and simplicity. It is worth noting that the game measures in ticks, so the ratio of 160:147 drills to furnaces is nearly correct, but it rounds up to 21 furnaces per 23 drills, or 0.913 furnaces per drill.

Additionally, it is important to consider belt capacity and speed. Players should ensure that they have enough drills to fill the belt and enough furnaces to consume the output. This approach ensures that resources are efficiently utilized, and no bottlenecks occur in the production process.

Some players opt for a more straightforward approach by setting up their furnaces to saturate the belt and then overproducing drills. This strategy ensures that they always have enough resources and can focus on other aspects of the game without constantly adjusting the ratio.

Furthermore, the use of speed beacons and productivity modules can complicate ratio calculations. Players who want to incorporate these elements into their setup may find it helpful to use a mod like Helmod or Factorio Planner to design their production chains more effectively.

In conclusion, the ratio of electric drills to steel and stone furnaces in Factorio is flexible and can be adjusted to meet the player's needs. While a 1:2 ratio with stone furnaces is a good starting point, players may find that adjusting this ratio or focusing on belt saturation and overproducing drills is a more effective strategy as the game progresses.

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Burner drills are useful until the player builds an electrical network

Burner drills are a low-tech option that is only viable when hand-loaded. They are cheap and fast, but their mining footprint is the same as the miner, making it impossible to mine a patch in one go. Additionally, the hassle of running a coal line back means that players will want to switch to electric drills as soon as possible.

Electric drills are faster than burner drills and can mine ore from underneath supporting logistics buildings. They also reduce coal usage and are easier to use for electric network expansion. The optimal ratio of stone furnaces to electric drills is 2:1, or 7:4 if using the least common multiple. This means that seven stone furnaces can smelt all the ore that four electric drills can mine.

While burner drills can still be useful as extra drills that take up less space, their main drawback is the logistical nightmare of fuelling them on a large scale. They are also less compact and fuel-efficient compared to other drill types. As a result, burner drills are typically used until the player has access to electric drills, at which point the electric drills become the more preferred option.

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Burner drills create a lot of pollution per item mined

In the game Factorio, burner drills are the first type of drill available to the player. They burn coal to fuel the mining process, and while they don't require electricity, they do produce a lot of pollution per item mined. This is due to the burning of coal, which emits waste products such as cinder, fly ash, bottom ash, and boiler slag. The pollution is also a balancing mechanism in the game, influencing the evolution and attack rate of bugs.

The burner mining drill is an effective tool for players to utilise until they can build an electrical network, at which point electric mining drills become more advantageous. Electric drills produce less pollution per item mined, and while they still contribute to pollution, it is not always visually indicated in the game. This lack of visual indication can lead to players being unaware of the pollution their drills are generating.

The optimal ratio of stone furnaces to electric drills is a topic of discussion among players. Some suggest a 2:1 ratio, while others propose a 1:1 ratio, with seven stone furnaces to four electric drills being sufficient to smelt all the ore mined.

To reduce pollution, players can use productivity modules and mining productivity research, which allow for the same amount of ore to be mined with reduced pollution. Additionally, the efficiency module lets players mine more ore while reducing power demand, which in turn lowers pollution levels.

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Electric mining drills are one tile bigger than burner drills

In the game Factorio, the size of the mining drill plays a crucial role in its efficiency and effectiveness. Electric mining drills are one tile bigger than burner drills, measuring 3x3, while the burner mining drill is 2x2 in size. This size difference allows the electric mining drill to cover a larger area, known as its "area of effect," which is 5x5, extending one tile away on each side. This means that the electric mining drill can mine resources from a bigger area, increasing its productivity.

The larger size of the electric mining drill also contributes to its faster mining speed compared to the burner drill. The electric mining drill can mine at a rate of 0.5/s for copper ore, iron ore, coal, or stone, and 0.25/s for uranium ore. On the other hand, the burner mining drill operates at a slower speed, taking 3.5 seconds to produce one ore. This speed difference is further enhanced by the electric drill's ability to connect to an electrical network, making it more efficient and powerful.

The increased size of the electric mining drill also offers advantages in terms of fuel efficiency and resource management. Unlike burner drills, electric mining drills do not require constant refueling, as they are powered by electricity. This not only saves time and resources but also simplifies the refuelling process, making it more convenient for players.

Additionally, the electric mining drill's size and design contribute to its durability and longevity. With its bigger frame, the electric mining drill can accommodate a larger number of modules, such as speed and productivity modules, to enhance its performance. Moreover, the electric mining drill's vertical structure has been reworked to fix tile overlapping issues, ensuring smoother gameplay and preventing potential obstacles in the mining area.

While the electric mining drill's larger size offers numerous benefits, it also has its trade-offs. The increased size means that the electric mining drill occupies more space, which can be a challenge when working in tight or congested areas. In such cases, the smaller burner drills may be preferred due to their compact size and ability to fit into smaller spaces.

Frequently asked questions

Electric drills supply about 1:1 to steel and electric furnaces and 1:2 for stone furnaces.

Burner drills are usually used until the player has built an electrical network. They are smaller and create a lot of pollution per item. Electric drills are larger and faster.

The rate at which resources are produced is given by the formula: Mining speed / Mining time = Production rate (in resource/sec).

Resource drain is the probability that a non-productivity ore is subtracted from the patch when mined. 100% resource drain means the subtraction always happens, while 50% drain means the patch will last twice as long.

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