Melter

The Melter is a Crafting Station that converts Scrap into Slag. It is a compact, high-throughput processor that requires a steady power input and a very high rate of Scrap supply to operate at full capacity. In gameplay it is used wherever Slag is needed as an intermediate fluid for further processing or production chains.

A single Melter consumes 6 Scrap per second and requires 60 power per second. Its internal cycle time corresponds to a rapid production rate that yields 12 Slag per second when continuously supplied and powered. Because the Melter's item intake is large for its footprint, its throughput needs exceed what a single basic Conveyor can deliver; practical setups will often merge multiple conveyor lines or use flow-control gates to reliably feed one or more Melters.

Practical usage and tips:

• Melters consume items at an unusually high rate for their small size. A single Melter can draw more Scrap than a standard Conveyor line supplies; two Melters can exceed the throughput of a Titanium Conveyor. Plan item logistics accordingly rather than relying on a single line.
• To feed Melters efficiently, combine multiple Supply lines and use Overflow/Underflow Gates to balance and route Scrap between lines and Melters. This lets you share many incoming drill outputs across fewer full-speed Melters.
• A consumption rate of 6 Scrap/sec roughly equals the output of about 10 un-boosted Pneumatic Drills with full Scrap coverage, or about 4 boosted drills. Splitting drill outputs into groups (for example groups of five drills per feed line, or groups of two when boosted) allows use of standard Conveyors (3/sec per group) and saves Titanium while still meeting Melter demand.
• Because the Melter both draws many items and uses significant power, place it near reliable power generation and consider belt buffering (small warehouses or conveyor loops) to smooth supply spikes, especially during periods of boosted mining or heavy production elsewhere.
• Use multiple Melters in parallel when large Slag production is required; ensure conveyor bandwidth and power scale with the number of Melters to avoid starvation or underperformance.
• Melters are best placed as part of a dedicated Scrap-to-Slag production stage, with clear routing to downstream liquid-handling infrastructure (pumps and tanks) to move produced Slag to its consumers.

Design considerations: the Melter’s compact footprint and fast cycle make it ideal for dense factory layouts, but its heavy per-block consumption requires deliberate logistic planning. Balance the number of drills, conveyor capacity, and available power before scaling Melter count to avoid bottlenecks.