Fabrication Research

Research unlocks fabrication recipes and later machines. Progress belongs to the current Fabrication Well; another well needs its own research.

Progression

Research	Prerequisite	First completion unlocks	Default power
Tier 1: AE materials	None	AE processing, Pattern Assembly and later research materials	256 AE/t
Tier 2: Sequence Array	Tier 1 once	Sequence Array, Rewrite Array and Matrix Rewrite Core	512 AE/t
Tier 2: Omni Computation	Tier 1 once	Omni Computation Core, Compute Nexus and their parts	1024 AE/t
Tier 3: Event Horizon	Both tier 2 branches once	Miniature Black Hole, White Hole, Supernova and hub parts	2048 AE/t
Special: Exotic Matter Studies	Tier 1 once	Gravity Crystals and Ghost Matter	256 AE/t

Each default research round takes 30 seconds. Both tier 2 branches can progress together; maximum depth is not needed for tier 3. Exotic Matter Studies is optional, has only one round and does not require tier 3.

Starting research

1. Form the well and connect a powered ME network with storage.
2. Open Research, select a branch and check prerequisites and available ME stock against the round's cost.
3. Store ingredients in that ME network. Your inventory and input ports do not supply research.
4. With all materials available, select Start to pay the round's cost, then supply power until completion.

Each branch runs one round at a time; different branches can run independently. Power loss, disconnection and structure damage retain materials and progress until conditions recover.

Ordering materials

ME autocrafting can prepare missing materials. The network needs the required patterns, ingredients and an available crafting CPU.

Action	Effect
Select Order	Prepare the next round's materials and start automatically when ready
Hold Shift and select Order to maximum	Prepare every remaining round and reach maximum depth in one research run
Select Stop current research during preparation	Cancel unfinished orders and return cached materials to ME

Holding Shift also changes the material list and displayed rewards to the maximum target. Hover counts for exact amounts.

Preparation continues to replenish shortages. Ordered products are reserved for the current research. Refunds wait if ME storage cannot accept them.

Research started through ordering cannot stop or pause once running. A maximum order consumes every remaining round's materials, but uses one research duration and that research's power per tick.

Deep research

The four ordinary research branches each allow nine completions by default. The first unlocks recipes; later completions improve parallelism and speed for that branch's fabrication recipes. Later rounds cost 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 times the base materials.

Completions	Parallel limit	Processing time
1	1	Original
2	256	1/2
3	65.54K	1/4
4	16.78M	1/8
5	4.29G	1/16
6	1.10T	1/32
7	281.47T	1/64
8	72.06P	1/128
9	9.22E	1 tick

Ingredients, power and output capacity limit actual batches. Processing takes at least one tick. Speed bonuses do not shorten research itself or improve processing in other machines.

Tier 3 materials

The first Event Horizon round consumes one complete Sequence Array material set and one complete Omni Computation Core material set, including controllers and structure blocks.

Material set	Count
Sequence Array	2,345 blocks
Omni Computation Core	2,289 blocks
Combined	19 material types; 4,634 blocks

Ingredients come from ME storage. Placed buildings are neither dismantled nor credited toward the cost. See Black and White Holes and Singularity Hub for tier 3 recipes and uses.

Modpacks can adjust prerequisites, depth and rewards. Check the Research page's materials, duration and power before starting.