What is the first machine to buy in Ore Factory Squad?
The Stone Crusher — it is free and unlocked from Level 0, so there is no reason to delay buying it.
Ore Factory Squad Machines
Ore Factory Squad machines guide: Stone Crusher, Sorting Output, and Forming Station prices, plus locked Smelting Furnace, Refinery, and Fabrication Station.
Stone Crusher, Sorting Output, and Forming Station in action.
Ore Factory Squad machines hub
Ore Factory Squad machines turn dug ore into sellable or contract-ready goods. Every machine you place comes from the in-game Factory Market, and this hub tracks exactly what is available there, what it costs, and what is still locked in the current version.
Automation lives on conveyors and Sorting Outputs linking these stations together — pair this page with the automation guide for belt placement and the ores hub for what feeds into the first crusher.
What the Factory Market actually sells
Open the Factory Market from the equipment or employee menu and you get four tabs: All, Processors, Fabricators, and Logistics. Each machine card shows an in-game render, its unlock level, and a price — or a red "Not available in this version" badge if it is not live yet.
| Machine | Level | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stone Crusher | Level 0 | Free | Available now |
| Sorting Output | Level 0 | 300 | Available now |
| Forming Station | Level 0 | 800 | Available now |
| Smelting Furnace | — | 2,200 | Not available in this version |
| Fabrication Station | — | 3,200 | Not available in this version |
| Refinery | — | 4,800 | Not available in this version |
| Precision Workshop | — | 6,200 | Not available in this version |
- Do01Stone Crusher is free and unlocked from Level 0 — buy it first
- Do02Sorting Output (300) is the machine that actually feeds your conveyor belts
- Do03Forming Station (800) is worth saving for once your crusher line is stable
- Do04The four higher-tier processors are locked in the current build — do not budget around them yet
How Stone Crusher and Sorting Output actually connect
The Stone Crusher is your first real machine: it is free, unlocks at Level 0, and breaks raw stone, coal, and ore chunks into pieces the rest of the line can use. Feed it manually at first — automating the crusher's input only pays off once you have belts to spare.
The Sorting Output is the machine that turns a single crusher into an actual production line. It does more than just feed conveyors — it also gives instant access to storage, letting you pull any packaged material you need in any amount straight from that point instead of walking to a warehouse.
Manual handling before you automate
The game's own tutorial calls this out directly: manual material handling comes before automation. Carry crushed output by hand for your first few contracts, confirm the crusher-to-sorting-output flow works, and only then invest in belt mode to remove yourself from the loop.
Forming Station: the third early machine
Forming Station (800) shapes crushed or sorted materials for downstream recipes — think of it as the step between a raw crushed chunk and something a contract will actually accept. It is priced well above the Sorting Output on purpose: buy it once your crusher-to-sorting-output line is already profitable, not before.
Smelting Furnace, Fabrication Station, Refinery, and Precision Workshop
Four higher-tier processors show up in the Factory Market with real prices attached — Smelting Furnace (2,200), Fabrication Station (3,200), Refinery (4,800), and Precision Workshop (6,200) — but each is flagged "Not available in this version" as of July 19, 2026. They are visible, priced, and clearly planned, just not purchasable yet.
| Machine | Price shown | Likely role |
|---|---|---|
| Smelting Furnace | 2,200 | Refining raw ore into metal ingots or bars |
| Fabrication Station | 3,200 | Combining refined inputs into finished goods |
| Refinery | 4,800 | Deeper processing for higher-value contracts |
| Precision Workshop | 6,200 | End-tier crafting for top-tier deliveries |
Starter machine order for new factories
New factories should follow Stone Crusher → Sorting Output → belt out before touching a Forming Station. Hand-carry crushed material only until you can afford both the sorting output and at least one conveyor segment — trying to automate before that just wastes belt purchases on a line with nothing feeding it.
Pair this order with the beginner guide and automation guide for layout tips once belts enter the picture.
- Track01Buy the free Stone Crusher immediately — there is no reason to delay it
- Track02Save for the Sorting Output (300) before any cosmetic or logistics purchase
- Track03Add Forming Station (800) once the crusher-to-sorting-output flow is stable
- Track04Ignore the four locked processors until they go live in a future update
Conveyors, splitters, and warehouse bots
Conveyors and splitters are placed with the belt mode tool rather than bought from the Factory Market list above — see the automation guide for how belt mode actually works and when a splitter is worth adding over a second parallel line.
Warehouse bots move packaged goods once your line has more throughput than any one player can hand-carry. Placement matters: bots that have to path around stairs or elevation changes stall more often than ones running on flat, direct routes between the sorting output and your loading area — see vehicles for the forklift and truck side of that same delivery chain.
Machines FAQ
What does the Sorting Output actually do?
It feeds conveyor belts and also gives instant access to storage, letting you pull any packaged material straight from that point instead of walking to a warehouse.
Are the Smelting Furnace, Fabrication Station, Refinery, and Precision Workshop in the game yet?
They appear in the Factory Market with prices already set, but each is marked "Not available in this version" as of the latest check — they are planned, not yet purchasable.
Do I need a Forming Station right away?
No. It costs 800 and is best bought once your Stone Crusher-to-Sorting Output line is already stable and profitable.
Where do conveyors and splitters come from if they are not in the Factory Market list?
They are placed using the belt mode tool rather than bought as standalone machines — see the automation guide for controls.
Related pages
Matched by build plan, shared topics, and guide progression — not random related links.