Week 1 Tutorial: Automate the Basics

Research Automation using only hand mining, a manual smelting line and starter power — no belts or assemblers beyond what it unlocks.

27 July 2026

Before the tutorial#

Read this week’s lecture. Bring a fresh save — this practical is only meaningful if it starts from nothing.

In the tutorial#

Mine the starting patches by hand, set up a manual smelting line sized to what your mining rate can actually feed, and get enough power running to research Automation. Nothing here should involve a belt or an assembler you didn’t already have before Automation unlocked it.

Afterwards#

Bring your save to the next tutorial — Week 2 builds directly on the base you leave this one with.