Hey there, fellow Oxygen Not Included (ONI) players! Ever wondered about industrial machinery in the game? Well, you're in the right place. Let's dive deep into what industrial machinery is all about in ONI, why it's crucial for your colony's survival, and how you can make the most of it. Buckle up; it's gonna be an informative ride!

Understanding Industrial Machinery in Oxygen Not Included

Okay, so what exactly is industrial machinery in Oxygen Not Included? Simply put, it's the backbone of your colony's advanced operations. These aren't your basic hand-cranked generators or simple research stations. We're talking about the heavy-duty stuff that takes your base from a struggling settlement to a thriving industrial powerhouse. Industrial machinery includes buildings and equipment that automate complex tasks, refine resources, generate significant power, and enable advanced research. They're essential for long-term sustainability and tackling the increasingly challenging demands of your growing colony.

To give you a clearer picture, think about machines like the Electrolyzer, which splits water into oxygen and hydrogen; the Metal Refinery, where you can create alloys and refine metals; or the Oil Refinery, essential for producing plastic. Each of these machines requires power, often quite a bit, and usually generates heat and sometimes pollution. Therefore, managing these factors becomes a critical part of using industrial machinery effectively. You need to plan your base layout carefully, implement cooling solutions, and manage waste products to keep your Duplicants happy and productive.

Moreover, industrial machinery often unlocks new research paths and allows you to create more advanced materials and technologies. For example, refining metals allows you to build better structures, equipment, and machinery, further enhancing your colony's capabilities. Similarly, producing plastic opens the door to creating high-pressure vents, advanced insulation, and other crucial components. Mastering the use of industrial machinery is, therefore, a cornerstone of progressing through the game and achieving self-sufficiency.

In short, industrial machinery in ONI represents the advanced tools and buildings necessary to automate and optimize your colony's operations. It requires careful planning, resource management, and a good understanding of the game's mechanics. But with the right approach, it can transform your base into a self-sustaining and thriving environment.

Why Industrial Machinery is Crucial for Your Colony

So, why should you even bother with industrial machinery in Oxygen Not Included? Let's break down the key reasons why it's absolutely essential for your colony's success.

1. Automation and Efficiency

First and foremost, industrial machinery automates many of the tedious tasks that your Duplicants would otherwise have to perform manually. Imagine having to manually pump oxygen into your base or refine every single unit of metal by hand. Sounds exhausting, right? Machines like the Gas Pump, Liquid Pump, and Metal Refinery can handle these tasks automatically, freeing up your Duplicants to focus on more critical tasks such as research, construction, and exploration. This leads to increased efficiency and productivity across your entire colony. By automating repetitive processes, you reduce downtime and ensure a steady supply of essential resources, allowing your colony to grow and thrive.

2. Resource Production and Refinement

Many essential resources in Oxygen Not Included cannot be obtained in their usable form without industrial machinery. Take crude oil, for example. You can find it deep underground, but you can't directly use it to power your base or create advanced materials. You need the Oil Refinery to convert it into petroleum, which can then be burned in a Petroleum Generator to produce electricity or used as a component in plastic production. Similarly, refining metals like iron, copper, and gold requires the Metal Refinery, which processes raw ore into usable metal. Industrial machinery allows you to transform raw materials into valuable resources, ensuring a steady supply of the essential components needed to sustain and expand your colony.

3. Power Generation

As your colony grows, your power needs will increase exponentially. Early-game power sources like the Manual Generator and Coal Generator are simply not sufficient to meet the demands of a large, industrialized base. Industrial machinery such as the Natural Gas Generator, Petroleum Generator, and Steam Turbine provide much more significant and reliable power sources. These machines can generate substantial amounts of electricity, allowing you to power all your advanced equipment and keep your colony running smoothly. Investing in industrial machinery for power generation is crucial for ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply as your colony grows.

4. Advanced Research and Technology

Many of the advanced technologies in Oxygen Not Included require specific resources or conditions that can only be achieved through industrial machinery. For example, researching advanced materials like super coolant or thermium requires access to refined metals and precise temperature control, both of which are facilitated by industrial machinery. Unlocking these technologies allows you to build more efficient life support systems, advanced sensors, and powerful defensive structures, enhancing your colony's capabilities and resilience. Industrial machinery is, therefore, essential for progressing through the research tree and unlocking the full potential of your colony.

5. Environmental Control

Managing the environment within your base becomes increasingly challenging as your colony grows. Heat, polluted water, and excess carbon dioxide can all pose significant threats to your Duplicants' health and productivity. Industrial machinery such as the Aquatuner, Steam Turbine, and Carbon Skimmer can help you manage these environmental factors, keeping your base clean, cool, and habitable. These machines allow you to remove heat, purify water, and scrub carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, creating a more comfortable and sustainable environment for your Duplicants. Investing in industrial machinery for environmental control is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive colony.

In conclusion, industrial machinery is not just a nice-to-have in Oxygen Not Included; it's an absolute necessity. It provides automation, resource production, power generation, advanced research, and environmental control, all of which are essential for your colony's survival and success. So, embrace industrial machinery, master its intricacies, and watch your colony thrive!

Examples of Key Industrial Machinery in ONI

Alright, let's get down to brass tacks and look at some specific examples of key industrial machinery you'll encounter in Oxygen Not Included. Understanding what each machine does and how to use it effectively is crucial for building a successful colony.

1. Electrolyzer

The Electrolyzer is a fundamental piece of industrial machinery that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. This is often your primary source of oxygen, especially in the early to mid-game. The Electrolyzer requires a steady supply of water and produces oxygen and hydrogen in a 2:1 ratio. While the oxygen is essential for your Duplicants to breathe, the hydrogen can be burned in a Hydrogen Generator to produce electricity. However, the Electrolyzer is not perfectly efficient and generates heat, so it's important to manage its temperature to prevent overheating. Smart base design, including placing the Electrolyzer in a cool area or using cooling loops, is essential for maximizing its effectiveness. Using multiple Electrolyzers can help ensure a stable oxygen supply as your colony grows.

2. Metal Refinery

The Metal Refinery is used to refine raw metal ores into usable metals like iron, copper, gold, and steel. This machine is crucial for producing the materials needed to build advanced structures, equipment, and machinery. The Metal Refinery requires power, coolant, and raw metal ore to operate. It also generates significant amounts of heat and polluted water as byproducts. Effective cooling solutions, such as using an Aquatuner and cooling loop, are essential for preventing the Metal Refinery from overheating. The polluted water can be purified using a Water Sieve, but this also requires power and generates heat. Careful planning and resource management are crucial for maximizing the efficiency of the Metal Refinery and minimizing its negative impacts on your colony.

3. Oil Refinery

The Oil Refinery converts crude oil into petroleum, a valuable resource used for power generation and plastic production. This machine is essential for long-term energy independence and accessing advanced technologies. The Oil Refinery requires power, crude oil, and cooling to operate. It generates significant amounts of heat and carbon dioxide as byproducts. Effective cooling solutions and carbon dioxide scrubbing are crucial for preventing overheating and maintaining a breathable atmosphere in your base. The petroleum produced by the Oil Refinery can be burned in a Petroleum Generator to produce electricity or used as a feedstock for the Polymerizer, which produces plastic. Mastering the operation of the Oil Refinery is a key milestone in progressing through the game.

4. Aquatuner

The Aquatuner is a powerful machine that can cool liquids, making it an essential component of cooling loops. This machine is used to remove heat from various systems, such as the Metal Refinery, Oil Refinery, and Electrolyzer. The Aquatuner requires power and a liquid coolant, such as water, polluted water, or super coolant. It cools the liquid as it passes through the machine, but also generates a significant amount of heat. Therefore, the Aquatuner must be placed in a location where its heat can be effectively managed, such as in a steam room connected to a Steam Turbine. Careful design and placement of cooling loops are crucial for maintaining stable temperatures throughout your base.

5. Steam Turbine

The Steam Turbine is used to convert steam into electricity. This machine is often used in conjunction with the Aquatuner to create a closed-loop cooling system. The Aquatuner cools a liquid, which is then used to cool other machines. The heat absorbed by the liquid is then transferred to steam, which is fed into the Steam Turbine to generate electricity. The Steam Turbine requires steam at a specific temperature and pressure to operate efficiently. It also requires cooling to prevent overheating. Careful design and control of steam temperature and pressure are crucial for maximizing the efficiency of the Steam Turbine and generating a stable supply of electricity.

These are just a few examples of the many types of industrial machinery available in Oxygen Not Included. Each machine has its own unique properties, requirements, and challenges. Mastering the use of these machines is crucial for building a successful and sustainable colony.

Tips for Optimizing Your Industrial Machinery Setup

Okay, so you know what industrial machinery is and why it's important. Now, let's talk about how to optimize your setup to get the most out of these powerful tools. Here are some tips and tricks to help you maximize efficiency and minimize headaches.

1. Strategic Placement

Location, location, location! Where you place your industrial machinery can have a huge impact on its performance and your colony's overall efficiency. Group machines with similar functions together to streamline resource flows. For example, place your Metal Refinery near your metal storage and your Oil Refinery near your plastic production area. Also, consider the temperature generated by each machine and place heat-producing machines in areas where the heat can be easily managed, such as in a dedicated cooling room. Strategic placement can minimize travel time for your Duplicants, reduce energy waste, and prevent bottlenecks in your production lines.

2. Cooling Solutions

Heat is the enemy of efficiency in Oxygen Not Included. Many industrial machinery generate significant amounts of heat, which can cause your machines to overheat and your Duplicants to suffer. Implement robust cooling solutions to keep your machines running smoothly and your Duplicants comfortable. Cooling loops using Aquatuners and Steam Turbines are a popular choice for managing heat in industrial areas. Also, consider using insulated tiles to prevent heat from spreading to other parts of your base. Effective cooling is essential for maximizing the lifespan and performance of your industrial machinery.

3. Automation is Key

Don't rely on your Duplicants to manually operate your industrial machinery. Use automation systems, such as conveyor belts, liquid pipes, and gas pipes, to automate the flow of resources into and out of your machines. Use automation sensors to monitor machine performance and trigger alerts when problems arise. Automation can significantly reduce the workload on your Duplicants, increase the efficiency of your production lines, and prevent costly mistakes. Learning how to use automation effectively is crucial for building a self-sustaining and efficient colony.

4. Power Management

Industrial machinery can consume a lot of power, so it's important to manage your power grid carefully. Use smart batteries to store excess power and prevent power outages. Use automation sensors to monitor power levels and trigger alerts when power consumption exceeds capacity. Also, consider using multiple power sources to diversify your energy supply and prevent disruptions. Power management is essential for ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply for your industrial machinery.

5. Waste Management

Many industrial machinery generate waste products, such as polluted water, carbon dioxide, and heat. Implement effective waste management systems to prevent these byproducts from causing problems in your colony. Use Water Sieves to purify polluted water, Carbon Skimmers to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and cooling systems to remove heat. Also, consider using waste products as resources whenever possible. For example, polluted water can be used to grow Thistle, and carbon dioxide can be used to feed Slicksters. Effective waste management is essential for maintaining a healthy and sustainable colony.

By following these tips, you can optimize your industrial machinery setup and build a thriving and efficient colony in Oxygen Not Included. So, get out there, experiment with different designs, and have fun conquering the challenges of space colonization!

Happy building, everyone! I hope this guide helps you make the most of industrial machinery in Oxygen Not Included. Now go forth and build the best darn colony you can!