Satisfactory Production Balancer

Manifold systems use a sequential feeding approach where resources flow through a line of machines, with each machine taking what it needs and passing the remainder to the next machine. This system requires a ramp-up period to reach full efficiency but is space-efficient and easy to expand. Load balancer systems use splitter networks to precisely divide resources equally among all machines from the start, providing immediate full efficiency but requiring more complex construction and being harder to expand. Manifolds are generally preferred for large, expandable factories, while load balancers work well for compact setups with perfect ratios or when immediate full production is required. Most advanced factories use a combination of both approaches, with manifolds for main production lines and load balancers for critical components where precise ratios are essential.

The formula for calculating machine counts is: Machines = (Desired Output Rate) / (Recipe Output × Clock Speed). First, determine your target output rate (items per minute). Then, check the recipe output rate at 100% clock speed (for example, a Constructor making Iron Plates produces 20 per minute). Divide your desired output by this base rate to get the number of machines needed at 100% clock speed. If this results in a fractional number, you have two options: round up to the nearest whole number and run some machines at less than 100% clock speed, or use the exact fractional number by adjusting clock speeds across multiple machines. For example, if you need 50 Iron Plates per minute and each Constructor makes 20, you would need 2.5 Constructors. You could build 3 Constructors and run them at 83.3% clock speed, or build 2 Constructors (one at 100% and one at 150% if overclocking is available). Always consider power efficiency when making these decisions.

The most common bottlenecks in Satisfactory factories are: (1) Resource extraction limits – not enough miners on nodes or insufficient node purity; (2) Belt throughput – using lower-tier belts than required for the volume of items; (3) Splitter/merger throughput – these have maximum item limits per minute; (4) Machine input limits – machines can only accept a certain number of items per minute; (5) Power capacity – insufficient power generation causing production slowdowns or shutdowns; (6) Production ratio imbalances – mismatched input/output rates between production stages; (7) Transportation delays – long distances between production stages without adequate throughput; (8) Storage buffer limitations – insufficient buffering between production stages causing intermittent stoppages. To identify bottlenecks, monitor production statistics, check belt saturation visually, and ensure all machines are operating consistently rather than stopping and starting. The most effective approach is to work backward from your final product to identify which stage is limiting overall production.

Overclocking increases a machine’s production rate but with diminishing returns on power efficiency. The formula for overclocking is: New Production Rate = Base Rate × (Clock Speed / 100) and Power Consumption = Base Power × (Clock Speed / 100)^1.6. This means that while production increases linearly with clock speed, power consumption increases exponentially. At 250% clock speed, a machine produces 2.5× its base output but consumes approximately 4.8× its base power. Overclocking is most useful for: (1) Extracting more resources from limited pure nodes; (2) Achieving perfect production ratios without building fractional machines; (3) Saving space in compact factory designs; (4) Reducing the number of machines needed for the same output (which can reduce lag in large factories). However, overclocking is generally less power-efficient than building additional machines, so it should be used strategically rather than universally. The power shard cost also means overclocking is a limited resource, especially in the early game.

Handling byproducts requires careful planning to prevent production stoppages. The most effective strategies are: (1) Prioritization systems – use smart splitters to ensure byproducts are consumed before bringing in new resources; (2) Sinking overflow – when byproduct production exceeds consumption, send the excess to an Awesome Sink to prevent backups; (3) Buffer storage – use industrial storage containers to smooth out temporary imbalances between byproduct production and consumption; (4) Adaptive production – design systems that can adjust production rates based on byproduct availability; (5) Recycling loops – create closed systems where byproducts are continuously reprocessed and reused. For example, in aluminum production, the silica byproduct can be fed back into the aluminum scrap production process. The key principle is to ensure that byproducts never completely block production lines. Always have an overflow path to an Awesome Sink as a safety valve, and use programmable splitters and variable production rates to maintain balance in complex systems like nuclear power where byproduct management is critical.

Planning for factory expansion requires a strategic approach from the initial design: (1) Use manifold systems rather than load balancers – manifolds are much easier to extend; (2) Leave extra space between production lines – at least enough for one additional machine in each row; (3) Design with a main bus architecture – central conveyors that can be extended with additional resources; (4) Overprovision power infrastructure – build more power capacity than currently needed; (5) Plan transportation corridors – leave space for additional belts, pipes, and potentially trains; (6) Use vertical space – design factories with multiple floors to allow upward expansion; (7) Standardize building dimensions – use consistent spacing between machines for predictable expansion; (8) Create modular designs – build self-contained production units that can be replicated; (9) Plan for future alternate recipes – leave flexibility to incorporate more efficient recipes later; (10) Document your designs – keep notes on production rates and resource flows to make expansion planning easier. The most expandable factories use a grid-based layout with consistent spacing and clear transportation pathways between modules.

The most impactful alternate recipes for optimization are: (1) Heavy Oil Residue – transforms crude oil directly into heavy oil residue, dramatically improving fuel production efficiency; (2) Diluted Fuel – combines heavy oil residue with water to double fuel output; (3) Pure Iron/Copper Ingot – uses refineries instead of smelters for much higher yield per ore; (4) Steel Screw – produces massive numbers of screws directly from steel beams, eliminating iron rod production; (5) Caterium Computer – uses caterium instead of copper for much faster computer production; (6) Fused Wire – produces wire from copper and caterium with higher output; (7) Solid Steel Ingot – produces steel using iron ore and coal directly, skipping iron ingot production; (8) Recycled Plastic/Rubber – creates closed loops for plastic and rubber production with higher efficiency; (9) Heavy Encased Frame – more efficient heavy modular frame production using steel pipes and concrete; (10) Nuclear Fuel Unit – optimizes nuclear fuel rod production. Prioritize finding these recipes through hard drive research as they can dramatically improve factory efficiency and reduce complexity.

Calculating power requirements involves summing the consumption of all machines at their planned clock speeds. The formula for a single machine is: Power Consumption = Base Power × (Clock Speed / 100)^1.6. To calculate total factory power: (1) List all machines and their base power consumption; (2) Apply the overclocking formula for any machines not at 100% clock speed; (3) Sum all individual machine power requirements; (4) Add infrastructure power (miners, pumps, etc.); (5) Include a safety margin of 10-20% for future expansion and power grid fluctuations. For example, a Constructor has a base consumption of 4 MW, at 150% clock speed it would consume 4 × (150/100)^1.6 = 4 × 1.5^1.6 = 4 × 1.71 = 6.84 MW. A factory with 10 such Constructors would need 68.4 MW just for those machines. Remember that extractors (miners, oil extractors) have significant power requirements that scale with extraction rate, and water extractors consume 20 MW each. Always plan power capacity before production capacity to avoid shutdowns.