Calculator Inputs
Formula Used
Rc = M × S × (1 + Bs) × U ÷ T
M is machine count. S is crafting speed. Bs is speed bonus. U is uptime. T is recipe time.
Ro = Rc × Qo × (1 + Bp)
Qo is product amount per craft. Bp is productivity bonus.
Ri = Rc × Qi
Qi is ingredient amount required per craft.
Mreq = Rtarget × T ÷ [S × (1 + Bs) × U × Qo × (1 + Bp)]
Round this value upward for a practical build.
Belts = item rate ÷ belt capacity
Buffer items = output rate × buffer seconds
How To Use This Calculator
- Select a recipe preset or enter your own recipe values.
- Set the machine count, crafting speed, speed bonus, and productivity bonus.
- Enter the target output rate if you want required machine estimates.
- Choose a belt capacity or enter a custom belt flow.
- Add optional supply limits for ingredients to find bottlenecks.
- Press calculate and review the result table above the form.
- Use the graph to compare output and ingredient demand.
- Download CSV or PDF files for planning notes.
Example Data Table
| Recipe | Machines | Craft speed | Recipe time | Output/sec | Main input/sec | Express belts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic circuit | 20 | 1.25 | 0.5 sec | 50 | 150 copper cable | 1.11 output belts |
| Iron gear wheel | 12 | 1.25 | 0.5 sec | 30 | 60 iron plate | 0.67 output belts |
| Advanced circuit | 60 | 1.25 | 6 sec | 12.5 | 50 copper cable | 0.28 output belts |
| Steel plate | 48 | 2 | 16 sec | 6 | 30 iron plate | 0.13 output belts |
Why Max Rate Planning Matters
Factory growth feels simple. One assembler feeds one belt. Later, many recipes share plates, circuits, fluids, modules, and science packs. A max rate calculator turns that growing network into numbers. It shows how many items leave each recipe every second. It also shows how much material must enter the machines. This helps you expand without guessing.
A strong plan starts with the recipe time. Then it adds machine speed, speed modules, productivity bonuses, machine count, and uptime. The calculator combines these values into a craft rate. It multiplies that craft rate by product output. It also multiplies it by each ingredient amount. The result is a clear production profile for your build.
Using The Numbers In Game
Rates are most useful when they connect to belts. A full transport belt has a fixed item flow. Faster belts move more items. If your output needs more than one belt, split production early. If your input demand exceeds a belt, add parallel lanes or direct insertion. The belt estimate helps you avoid thin supply lines.
Machine estimates are also important. A target rate may need a fraction of a machine. In real builds, round up. Then check input belts again. Extra machines may increase output beyond the target. This is usually good when buffers can absorb the surplus. It is risky when downstream machines jam.
Modules change every calculation. Speed modules raise craft rate. Productivity modules add bonus products, but they may reduce speed in actual builds. Enter the final combined modifiers. Beacon effects should be included in the speed bonus. Uptime should reflect pauses, train waits, inserter delays, or low power.
Better Scaling Decisions
The best factories use balanced stages. They do not only chase high output. They also match supply, belts, machines, and buffers. This calculator supports that style. Use it before placing blocks. Compare several recipes. Change module values. Test a target science rate. Then build with fewer surprises.
The graph highlights the largest material flows. The table gives exact rates. The exports help you save plans, share builds, or document a megabase upgrade. Good math makes expansion smoother, cleaner, and easier to debug.
FAQs
What does max rate mean?
Max rate is the highest steady output a recipe can produce with the entered machines, speed, productivity, and uptime values.
Does productivity affect ingredient demand?
For a fixed machine count, ingredient demand stays tied to crafts. Productivity adds extra products, so target builds may need fewer machines.
Why should I enter uptime?
Uptime accounts for pauses caused by power loss, empty belts, blocked outputs, train delays, inserter limits, or other practical issues.
How are belts calculated?
The calculator divides item rate by belt capacity. A value above one means the flow needs more than one full belt.
Should required machines be rounded?
Yes. Real builds use whole machines. Round up when you need to meet or exceed a target production rate.
Can I use custom recipes?
Yes. Change product name, recipe time, output amount, and ingredient rows. The formulas work for any similar production recipe.
What does bottleneck mean here?
A bottleneck is the ingredient with the lowest supply-limited output. Enter supply rates to activate this comparison.
Why is the graph useful?
The graph compares output flow with ingredient demand. It quickly shows which materials dominate the recipe load.