View source for Making the most of smelting

You can make a lot of alloys in the furnace if you just work smart. I've found I can make Constantan, Invar, Electrum ''and'' Solder in one batch with a bit of preparation.

== First, a bit of theory ==
The trick is to start with a high temperature and pressure, use each batch of ores to lower the temperature for the next batch etc. However, this requires a furnace setup that is set up for this. This can of course be automated with logic, but this is a guide to help you get these alloys in early-game. The limitation with this method is that you can't smelt massive loads of ores. Smelting ores takes heat, so as soon as you're done with Constantan, you're "on the clock". Smelting 200g of Invar and Electrum should be easy, but the larger the batches you smelt, the narrower the margins get.

== The alloys ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Alloy !! Smelting temperature range !! Pressure range !! Ingredient #1 !! Ingredient #2
|-
| Constantan ||  1000-100,000K ||  20-100MPa || Copper || Nickel 
|-
| Invar      ||  1200-1500K ||  18-20MPa || Iron || Nickel 
|-
| Electrum   ||  600-100,000K ||  800-2400kPa || Silver || Gold 
|-
| Solder     ||  350-550K ||  1-100MPa || Iron || Lead 
|}

== The setup ==
Hook up a Furnace with a Volume Pump, insulated gas pipes in between. What's after the pump is up to you, as long as the gas has a place to go. A chute-system that makes adding ores easier is also recommended. Set the Volume Pump to max (10l).

* Add 10+10 of Oxite and Volatiles and activate.
** Wait for combustion to end, check pressure. If it's under or near 20MPa, add more Volatiles.
*Add 100 Copper and 100 Nickel, wait for it to smelt.
**Keep an eye on the temperature. If it gets close to 1800K, stop adding ores.
**Eject your Constantan.
*Add 100 Nickel and 100 Iron, wait for it to smelt.
**Once temperature dips below 1500K, activate the Volume Pump and bring the pressure under 20MPa.
**Eject your Invar.
*Add 100 Silver and 100 Gold, wait for it to smelt.
**Activate the Volume Pump and bring the pressure under 2.4MPa, ensure temperature stays above 600K.
**Eject your Electrum.
*Add 100 Iron and 100 Lead, wait for it to smelt.
**Ensure pressure stays above 1MPa, wait for temperature to drop under 550K.
**Eject your Solder.

'''And we're done!'''