How it works
Calculate production capacity before duplicating machine blocks. Each stage in the walkthrough below has a distinct practical objective; complete the current supply or control loop before expanding it.
Practical advice
Choose a real item per minute objective, such as circuits needed by current science. Separate output rate from consumption and distinguish sustained from theoretical maximum.
Mistakes to avoid
Never assume an unrelated blueprint or another version of Factorio has identical recipes, technology unlocks or machine ratios. Use the checkpoints in this guide to diagnose your own save.
Factory throughput and machine ratios: complete walkthrough
State the target
Choose a real item per minute objective, such as circuits needed by current science. Separate output rate from consumption and distinguish sustained from theoretical maximum.
Record the recipe
Use output per craft, base crafting time and the individual machine crafting-speed multiplier. Do not assume one recipe unit equals one output item.
Account for productivity
Productivity effects may change yielded output. Treat bonus as an explicit input; effects and eligibility depend on the machine and recipe.
Estimate machine count
Multiply desired items per minute by effective recipe time and divide by output per craft and speed; round the required machine count upward. Check the worked calculator on Volpedia.
Check upstream transport
Recalculate ingredient input and belt throughput. A perfect machine count still fails when materials or electricity are missing.