Arc Furnace Immersive Engineering Guide and Setup Strategies

The Arc Furnace from the Immersive Engineering mod is a high-powered multiblock smelter designed for advanced ore processing and alloy production in technical Minecraft gameplay. This guide explains how to build, power, and optimize the Arc Furnace, details recipes and upgrades, and provides practical troubleshooting and automation tips for efficient operation.

Aspect	Summary
Primary Use	High-yield ore processing, alloy creation, slag recovery
Power	Requires high voltage (LV/MV/HV via Capacitor Banks or Immersive Power inputs)
Key Inputs	Ore + Coal/Charcoal/Coke/Redstone/Glowstone (as fuel), Flux (optional)
Outputs	Multiple ingots, slag, byproducts, rare secondary outputs

What Is The Arc Furnace In Immersive Engineering

The Arc Furnace is a multi-block structure added by Immersive Engineering that smelts large batches of items simultaneously using electrical energy. It processes ores into multiple ingots, produces slag as a byproduct, and can create alloys when combining inputs.

This block is distinct from traditional furnaces due to its batch processing, use of internal heating cycles, and dependency on electrical power rather than burn-time fuel.

Building The Arc Furnace

Constructing the Arc Furnace requires a defined multiblock layout of Steel Scaffolding, Arc Furnace Casing, and a controller block. The correct placement and facing of the controller determine operational orientation.

Materials Required

• Steel/Blast Furnace Materials (Steel Scaffoldings and Casings)
• Arc Furnace Controller block
• Doors/Conveyors or Hoppers for automation
• Power connection points (Capacitor Banks, Connectors)

Step-By-Step Assembly

1. Lay out a 3×3 or mod-specified footprint for the furnace base depending on version.
2. Place Arc Furnace Casings to form the walls and ceiling per blueprint.
3. Install the Arc Furnace Controller on the front center where items will be inserted.
4. Attach power connectors to valid connection points and ensure internal space is clear for item input and output.

Powering And Energy Requirements

The Arc Furnace requires substantial electrical energy and accepts power from the Immersive Engineering power network. Typical setups use Capacitor Banks fed by diesel generators, waterwheels, windmills, or connection to advanced energy systems.

Important: Power quality and stability affect processing speed. Maintain consistent input to avoid interrupted cycles.

Recommended Power Configurations

• Use an MV or HV Capacitor Bank for sustained throughput.
• Buffer energy with multiple banks to handle peak loads.
• Consider integrating a Redstone control to pause operation when energy is low.

Arc Furnace Recipes And Outputs

The Arc Furnace processes multiple items simultaneously and may output more than one ingot per ore, depending on recipe and flux usage. It also yields slag which can be reprocessed for additional resources.

Common Recipes

• Iron Ore + Coal -> Multiple Iron Ingots + Slag
• Copper Ore + Coal -> Multiple Copper Ingots + Slag
• Alloy Recipes (e.g., Bronze = Copper + Tin) require specific input ratios and may produce alloy ingots.

Using Flux or similar modifiers increases yield and reduces slag. Certain recipes have a chance for byproducts such as steel nuggets or rare gems when processing specific ores.

Slag Handling

Slag is a consistent byproduct. It can be crushed or otherwise processed to recover small amounts of the original metal or turned into concrete-like materials in some modpacks.

Optimizing Throughput And Efficiency

Throughput depends on the number of batches processed per minute, energy availability, and automation speed. Optimization targets include reducing idle time, increasing input consistency, and maximizing output yield per ore.

Automation Tips

• Use conveyors or item pipes to feed grouped ore stacks to the controller in full batches rather than single items.
• Implement routed chutes or sorting for alloy components to ensure correct ratio input each cycle.
• Automate slag extraction and reprocessing lines to recover extra metals and minimize waste.

Energy Efficiency Strategies

• Run the Arc Furnace during periods of abundant power production (e.g., solar peak or generator bursts).
• Buffer energy in multiple capacitor banks and use a redstone comparator to prevent starting a cycle without enough stored energy.
• Upgrade power transmission to higher tiers (MV/HV) to reduce energy loss and support higher throughput.

Alloying And Complex Processes

The Arc Furnace excels at alloy creation by combining different metals in one batch under the right recipe. Precision in input amounts is critical to produce the desired alloy consistently.

Designing Alloy Lines

• Pre-measure inputs using autonomous crafters or exporters to guarantee ratios.
• Use item filters or dedicated chests per component to avoid contamination between batches.
• Log outputs into separate chests and label processing lines to reduce operator confusion.

Automation Examples

Integrated automation streamlines operations and raises output predictability. Common solutions combine conveyors, hoppers, and redstone automation to feed, start, and extract product stacks.

Example Setup

1. Ore Storage Chest Feeds To A Router That Groups Items Into Batches.
2. Batch Loader Moves Items Into Arc Furnace Controller Input Slots.
3. Capacitor Banks Buffer Power, With A Redstone Circuit To Enable Processing Only When Charge Is Sufficient.
4. Output Conveyors Separate Ingots From Slag; Slag Redirected To A Crusher For Recovery.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Users often encounter power shortages, incorrect recipe inputs, and clogging from partial stacks. Diagnosing requires examining energy graphs, verifying input ratios, and testing item routing behavior.

Power Issues

• If cycles start and immediately stop, check capacitor charge and input voltage compatibility.
• Confirm that connectors and cables match the furnace’s accepted voltage tier.

Recipe And Input Problems

• Ensure correct counts in each input slot; partial stacks can lead to failed or suboptimal runs.
• Use item filters or counters to prevent cross-contamination of materials used for different alloys.

Integration With Other Mods And Systems

The Arc Furnace integrates well with tech and logistics mods, enabling advanced automation and energy management. Common pairings include item transport systems, digital storage networks, and external power generators.

Best Practices For Integration

• Match data from storage networks to monitor furnace progress remotely.
• Use mod-provided pipes/conveyors with priority rules to maintain batch integrity.
• Leverage programmable controllers (if available) to manage production targets and dynamic input routing.

Advanced Tips And Pro Player Techniques

Seasoned players squeeze maximum value through careful recipe planning, slag recycling, and timed energy bursts to process large ore surges rapidly.

Yield Maximization

• Always consider using flux or yield-enhancing modifiers when available.
• Recycle slag through a dedicated recovery chain to reclaim a portion of metals and reduce net ore consumption.

Batch Scheduling

• Schedule heavy processing when the energy grid is least loaded or when on-demand generators can be engaged.
• Group ores by type and desired output to avoid mixing that complicates downstream sorting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Power Does The Arc Furnace Use?

Power usage varies by version and recipe complexity. It demands sustained high-tier energy; plan for MV to HV connections and capacitor bank buffers for reliable operation.

Can The Arc Furnace Produce Multiple Ingots From One Ore?

Yes. The Arc Furnace often yields multiple ingots per ore and additional byproducts depending on recipe and flux usage, making it more efficient than single-block furnaces for mass processing.

Is It Worth Automating Early Game?

Automation provides long-term efficiency gains. For smaller worlds, a manual setup may suffice early, but automation unlocks better resource returns and scales with advanced projects.

Resources And Further Reading

Consult mod documentation, community wikis, and updated changelogs for version-specific behaviors, as Immersive Engineering may change recipes or energy mechanics across releases.

Suggested Sources: Official Immersive Engineering Wiki, popular modpack guides, and community automation tutorials offer recipe lists, blueprint diagrams, and example automation builds.