Copper
1 Copper↓
Smelter↓1 Liquid Copper
Smelter↓1 Liquid CopperDeterministic
Smelter in Sandustry
The Smelter processes supported materials when the correct input, Heat and output space are all available. Copper follows a reliable 1:1 conversion into Liquid Copper, while Gold should not be judged by the same deterministic expectation.
Quick answer
Copper
↓
Smelter + Heat
↓
Liquid Copper
1 Copper → 1 Liquid Copper
Smelter check
Input → Heat → Output
Copper
1:1
Gold
Chance-based
Jump to section
How the Smelter works
Valid input▼▼Liquid output
Heat
Output space
All three sides matter: a valid material must reach the Smelter, sufficient Heat must be available, and the resulting liquid needs somewhere to go.
Copper and Gold behave differently
| Material | Smelter result | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Liquid Copper | 1:1 |
 Gold | Liquid Gold | Chance-based |
Do not use Copper's 1:1 result as the expectation for Gold. A Gold input that does not produce the result you expected does not automatically mean the Smelter is broken.
Gold
Gold↓Smelter↓Chance-basedExpected, not guaranteed
How to supply Heat to the Smelter
A Heat source must be working, Heat must actually reach the Smelter, and input alone is not enough.
HeatSmelter
Heat source
│Clear Heat route▼SmelterGood
Heat─────→Smelter✓
Bad
Heat──✕gapSmelter
Material is inside the Smelter but nothing happens? Check Heat before rebuilding the input line.
Simple Smelter setup
A reliable starter setup keeps input, Heat and liquid output on obvious, separate paths.
Reliable starter setup
Material
Copper↓Smelter←Heat↓Liquid Copper
Smelter←Heat1:1
↓Clear output
1
Keep material input obvious
2
Give Heat its own clear connection
3
Leave liquid output unobstructed
How to make Liquid Copper
Send Copper into a heated Smelter. Each Copper produces one Liquid Copper.
Copper Ore↓
Drill↓Copper↓
Smelter + Heat↓Liquid Copper
Need Copper?
Copper Ore is found in Fluxroom.
What Liquid Copper is for
Copper↓Liquid Copper↓
1 Power Brick↓
16 Liquid Copper
↓ Copper Mold1 Power Brick↓1,000 Energy capacity
Why does Gold output look inconsistent?
Gold does not behave like Copper's fixed 1:1 conversion, so short runs can look inconsistent even when the Smelter is working normally.
Before diagnosing a bug
- Gold reaches the Smelter
- Heat is active
- Output has space
- You are accounting for chance-based output
Smelter not working?
Pick the symptom that matches what you see, then check Input → Heat → Output.
Smelter check
Input → Heat → Output
The Smelter stays idle
- Does material reach the Smelter?
- ↓ Yes
- Is Heat reaching it?
- ↓ Yes
- Is output space available?
Smelter diagnosis
Does material reach the Smelter?
Smelter example: Copper to Power Brick
Liquid Copper from the Smelter is what fills a Copper Mold to make a Power Brick.
Copper Ore↓ DrillCopper↓ SmelterLiquid Copper↓ 16
Copper Mold↓Power Brick↓
Copper Mold↓Power Brick↓1,000 Energy capacity
- Need
- 80 Liquid Copper
- Copper
- 80
- Stores
- 5,000
Common Smelter mistakes
Treating input as enough
Material inside the machine doesn't mean Heat is available.
Blocking the liquid output
Downstream congestion can make a working Smelter appear broken.
Expecting Gold to behave like Copper
Copper is the wrong reference for Gold's chance-based result.
Rebuilding before isolating the problem
Check Input → Heat → Output in that order first.
Smelter production data
- Role
- Material processing
- Needs
- Heat
- Known inputs
- Copper · Gold
- Known outputs
- Liquid Copper · Liquid Gold
- Common blocker
- Missing Heat / blocked output
| Material | Smelter result | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Liquid Copper | 1:1 |
| Gold | Liquid Gold | Chance-based |
Production systems using the Smelter
Copper
Copper → Liquid Copper → Power Brick
Open Copper guide →Energy
Power Brick stores 1,000 Energy.
Open Energy production →Gold
Gold uses a different Smelter output model.
No separate Gold guide yet — use this page for Smelter behavior.
Production Planner
Calculate material requirements for downstream targets.
Open Production Planner →Common Smelter questions
How do you use the Smelter in Sandustry?+−
Send a supported material into a Smelter that has Heat and clear output space. Copper becomes Liquid Copper; Gold uses a chance-based result.
Why is my Smelter not working?+−
Check the Smelter in this order: valid input, Heat, then output space. A machine with material inside can still remain idle if Heat is missing.
How do you make Liquid Copper?+−
Send Copper into a heated Smelter. Each Copper produces one Liquid Copper.
Does Copper convert 1:1 in the Smelter?+−
Copper follows a 1:1 Smelter conversion: one Copper becomes one Liquid Copper.
Why doesn't Gold produce the same result every time?+−
Gold should not be treated like Copper's deterministic 1:1 chain; its output behavior is chance-based.
Smelter
Smelter check
Input → Heat → Output