- Processing Plant: Central hub for converting wet sand into gold and managing slag.
- Logistics: Essential milestone unlocking conveyors and launchers for automation.
- Water Management: Critical finite resource required to turn sand into wet sand.
- Slag Handling: Byproduct of refining; use launchers or piles to keep lines clear.
- Advanced Tech: Unlock filters and kinetic presses to maximize gold output.
Understanding the Processing Plant
The processing plant is the heart of your operation in Sandustry. It is where raw materials are transformed into currency. The core loop involves mining sand, submerging it in water to create wet sand, and then refining that wet sand using Shakers to extract gold.
Video Highlights:
- Basic Loop: Shovel sand into water, grab wet sand, place on Shaker to get gold.
- Slag Management: Shakers produce slag as a byproduct that must be cleared.
- Logistics Unlock: Conveyors and launchers are game-changers for moving resources vertically and diagonally.
- Water Conservation: Water is a finite resource in the immediate vicinity; plan your expansion carefully.
Core Components
To build a successful plant, you must understand the buildings available in the Logistics research tree.
| Building | Function | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Shaker | Refines wet sand into gold and slag. | Primary income generator. |
| Conveyor | Moves items horizontally. | Transporting gold to collectors or slag to piles. |
| Launcher | Moves items vertically or diagonally. | Extracting resources from deep caves or crossing gaps. |
| Gold Collector | Stores gold for banking. | Centralizing wealth for upgrades. |
If wet sand backs up into your Shakers, production stops. Ensure your slag removal system (launchers or conveyors) can handle the output speed of your Shakers.
Strategic Layout Design
Designing your layout requires balancing the flow of wet sand in and the flow of slag out. A common mistake is creating a system that produces gold but gets clogged by slag.
Layout Comparison
| Layout Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Feed | Cheap, quick to set up. | Labor-intensive, low throughput. |
| Vertical Stack | Saves surface space, uses launchers effectively. | Can be complex to debug if launchers misfire. |
| Horizontal Loop | Easy to visualize, separates slag/gold well. | Requires more flat ground space. |
Expansion Strategy
As you deplete the initial water source, you must expand to new caverns. Use the following logic when setting up a new processing plant in a deep cave:
- Establish a Collection Point: Place Gold Collectors near the surface.
- Vertical Transport: Use Launchers to shoot wet sand from the deep cave up to your surface Shakers.
- Slag Routing: Use separate conveyors or launchers to move slag away from the processing area into a designated "Slag Pile."
Launchers can shoot through walls if there is an opening, but they cannot be built underwater. Use them to bridge the gap between underwater mining operations and surface refineries.
Advanced Automation Setup
Once you have unlocked Filters and Kinetic Slag Press, your processing plant can become highly sophisticated. This allows you to recycle resources and maximize profit.
The Slag Recycling Loop
This setup processes slag back into gold, effectively doubling the utility of your raw sand.
Burn the Slag
Use a Flamethrower (unlocked via Tools research) to burn standard slag. This reduces its volume and turns it into "Burnt Slag."
Filter the Output
Place a Filter on the conveyor line leading to the Kinetic Slag Press. Set it to allow only Burnt Slag to pass. Unburnt slag gets filtered back into the system.
Process in Press
The Burnt Slag falls into the Kinetic Slag Press (requires a drop), which crushes it into Gold and Spores.
Separate Products
Use a second Filter to allow only Gold to reach your collectors. Spores can be moved to a separate stockpile for future use.
Advanced Tech Tree
Unlocking these technologies transforms your factory from a manual operation into an automated empire.
| Technology | Unlocks | Necessity |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics | Conveyors, Launchers | Mandatory for any automation. |
| Refining | Shakers, Kinetic Slag Press | Required for gold production. |
| Filters | Filter Conveyors | Essential for separating mixed resources. |
| Tools | Flamethrower, Vacuum | Needed for advanced slag processing. |
Connect your Slag Press output directly to your Gold Collectors using a Filter. This prevents gold from mixing with residual slag and keeps your finances flowing smoothly.
Factory Optimization Checklist
To ensure your processing plant is running at peak efficiency, regularly review these checkpoints.
Operational Excellence:
- Verify water levels in the processing basin.
- Ensure slag piles are not blocking Shaker inputs.
- Check that Launchers are not firing into walls.
- Confirm Filters are set to the correct material type.
- Collect gold from Collectors to free up storage.
Resource Management Table
Keep track of your material flows to diagnose bottlenecks.
| Resource | Source | Destination | Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sand | Mined via Shovel/Gun | Water Basin | Drying out if not submerged. |
| Wet Sand | Water Basin | Shakers | Clogging if input > processing speed. |
| Gold | Shakers / Press | Collectors | Storage full if not collected. |
| Slag | Shakers | Pile / Press | Accumulation causes jams. |
| Spores | Slag Press | Storage | Unknown use (store for now). |
If you run out of local water, you must use Pipes and Pumps to transport it from distant caverns, or use the "Steam-to-Rain" mechanic by vaporizing water with the Flamethrower and catching the rainfall.
Troubleshooting FAQ
Q: Why is my processing plant stopping?
This usually happens because slag is backing up. If a Shaker is full of slag, it cannot accept new wet sand. Ensure your slag removal system (conveyors/launchers) is moving waste away faster than you are producing it.
Q: How do I move resources from a deep cave?
Use Launchers. You can chain multiple launchers to create a vertical elevator system. Aim them so the wet sand lands directly into your surface processing plant's water basin or directly onto Shakers.
Q: What do I do with Spores?
Spores are a byproduct of the Kinetic Slag Press. Currently, they are primarily a storage item, but they may be used for Planter Boxes (researchable later). Store them in a designated pile away from gold lines.
Q: Can I automate water collection?
Yes, once you unlock Pipes and Pumps. You can pump water from a distant source directly to your factory. Alternatively, you can vaporize water to create steam, which turns into rain that you can catch in your basin.