Dwarf Fortress Wiki - User contributions [en]

v0.31:Metal industry

2010-09-02T08:52:07Z

Andromeda:

{{av}}
{{Quality|Fine}}

The [[metal]] industry is a catch all phrase for both the smelting of raw [[ore]] into metal bar (as well as [[Metal#Alloys|alloys]]) and turning those bars into crafts, furniture, weapons and armor. It can be very profitable to produce statues and [[furniture]] for hallways or trade goods as many metals have high value. It also alloys the production of high-quality weapons and armour for your military.

[[Image:Ores_and_alloys_flowchart.png|thumb|Flowchart of ore refining and common alloy formulas.]]

==Ore==
''Requires: A [[Miner]]''

[[Ore]] is the generic term for a mineral that contains metal. Available ore can vary largely in different areas, [[Iron]] occurs almost exclusively in [[Sedimentary layer]]s while [[Gold]] only occurs in [[Stone|Igenous]] layers. Stone layers should be carefully considered when embarking as ores and bars can only be imported in small quantities.

By default all ore is reserved for smelting, thus unavailable for use via [[Mason]]s and [[Stonecrafter]]s.

You can adjust which ores are available for use by masons or crafters in the [[Status#Stone status screen|Status menu]]. This may be preferable if you have a mason or crafters with a higher skill level than any metalsmiths or wish to quickly produce valuable furniture or crafts. [[Noble]]s may occasionally [[mandate]] the construction of ore-based goods.

==Smelting==
''Requires: A [[Furnace Operator]], a [[Smelter]] and ore(s).''

Once an ore is mined it can be turned into a metal bar. Bars do not have the quality and the only advantage of a higher skilled Furnace Op is that tasks will be completed faster. Small ore stockpiles should be established near smelters so Furnace Ops don't have to walk long distances to fetch ore. Smelters are prone to [[Clutter|cluttering]], so free space on your bar stockpiles and plenty of [[bin]]s is vital for efficiency.

===Powering Furnaces===
Furnaces requires heats; this comes in two forms: [[Fuel]] and [[Magma]]

====Fuel====
[[Fuel|Coke/coal/refined coal]] can be made from [[wood]] at a [[Wood Furnace]], as well as [[Lignite]] and [[Bituminous Coal]] at a Smelter. All fuels are identical. Fuel can also be purchased during embark preparations.

====Magma====
Once magma has been encountered [[Magma smelter]]s will become available in the Furnace build menu. Magma smelters are only powered when built 1 z-level above at least one tile of open magma, the magma must be at least 4/7 in depth, if the depth falls below 4/7 all jobs will be canceled.

===Alloys===
Pure metals can be combined at smelters to produce [[Metal#alloys|alloys]]. Some alloys such as [[Brass]] can be smelted for a net gain in value, others such as [[Rose gold]] for unique colours.

===Spoils of war===
The equipment of [[invaders]] can be [[Melt|melted]] down into bars (note: Elves do not use metal equipment). Equipment of slain enemies must first be [[reclaim]]ed and then marked for melting (d-b-m ?). The equipment of [[Cage|caged enemies]] can also be taken by mass dumping [d]-[b]-[d] (an accessible [[Zone#Garbage_Dump|garbage zone]] is required) a caged creature (manually reclaim the caged creature via the [k] inspect menu to prevent it from being dumped too) and then reclaiming and marking for melting as explained above.

Once an object has been marked for melting it will be melted down in a smelter that has an active "Melt Object" job.

When an object is melted a full bar will never be produced, the amount of metal recovered from an item is consistent and varies from 10%-60%. The incomplete bar is stored in the Smelter and a bar will be produced once the recovered meter reaches 100%.

==Smithing==
''Requires: A [[forge]], a [[metalsmith]], metal bar(s).''

Metal bars can be turned into a variety of products for use by your fortress, for the purpose of [[trade|exporting]] [[weight|low-weight]] items such as [[Finished Goods#Craft|craft]]s are suggested.

===Powering Forges===
See: [[Metal industry#Smelting#Powering furnaces|Powering Furnaces]].

==Summary==
====Required worker/labor====
[[Miner]]/[[Mining]]<br>
[[Furnace Operator]]/[[Smelter|Smelting]]<br>
[[Metalsmith]]/Smithing

====Required buildings====
[[Smelter]]<br>
[[Forge]]

v0.31:Metal industry

2010-09-01T23:07:49Z

Andromeda:

{{av}}
{{Quality|Fine}}

The [[metal]] industry is a catch all phrase for both the smelting of raw [[ore]] into metal bar (as well as [[Metal#Alloys|alloys]]) and turning those bars into crafts, furniture, weapons and armor. It can be very profitable to produce statues and [[furniture]] for hallways or trade goods as many metals have high value. It also alloys the production of high-quality weapons and armour for your military.

[[Image:Ores_and_alloys_flowchart.png|thumb|Flowchart of ore refining and common alloy formulas.]]

==Ore==
''Requires: A [[Miner]]''

[[Ore]] is the generic term for a mineral that contains metal. Avaliable ore can vary largely in different areas, [[Iron]] (and thus [[Steel]]) occurs almost exclusively in [[Sedimentary layer]]s while [[Gold]] only occurs in [[Stone|Igenous]] layers. Stone layers should be carefully considered when embarking as ores and bars can only be imported in small quantities.

By default all ore is reserved for smelting, thus unavaliable for use via [[Mason]]s and [[Stonecrafter]]s.

You can adjust which ores are avaliable for use by masons or crafters in the [[Status#Stone status screen|Status menu]]. This may be preferable if you have a mason or craftsdwarf with a higher skill level than any metalsmiths ore wish to quickly produce valuable furniture or crafts.

==Smelting==
''Requires: A [[Furnace Operator]], a [[Smelter]] and ore(s).''

Once an ore is mined it can be turned into a metal bar. Bars do not have the quality and the only advantage of a higher skilled Furnace Op is that tasks will be completed faster. Small ore stockpiles should be established near smelters so Furnace Ops don't have to walk long distances to fetch ore. Smelters are prone to [[Clutter|cluttering]], so free space on your bar stockpiles and plenty of [[bin]]s is vital for efficiency.

===Powering Furnaces===
Furnaces requires heats; this comes in two forms: [[Fuel]] and [[Magma]]

====Fuel====
[[Fuel|Coke/coal/refined coal]] can be made from [[wood]] at a [[Wood Furnace]], as well as [[Lignite]] and [[Bituminous Coal]] at a Smelter. All fuels are identical. Fuel can also be purchased during embark preparations.

====Magma====
Once magma has been encountered [[Magma smelter]]s will become available in the Furnace build menu. Magma smelters are only powered when built 1 z-level above at least one tile of open magma, the magma must be at least 4/7 in depth, if the depth falls below 4/7 all jobs will be canceled.

===Alloys===
Pure metals can be combined at smelters to produce [[Metal#alloys|alloys]]. Some alloys such as [[Brass]] can be smelters for a net gain in value, others such as [[Rose gold]] for unique colours.

===Spoils of war===
The equipment of invaders can be melted down into bars (note: Elves only use wooden equipment). Equipment of fallen enemies must first be [[reclaim]]ed and then marked for melting (d-b-m ?). The equipment of caged enemies can also be taken by mass dumping [d]-[b]-[d] (an accessible [[garbage zone]] is required) a caged creature (manually reclaim the caged creature via the [k] inspect menu to prevent it from being dumped too) and then reclaiming and marking for melting as explained above.

Once an object has been marked for melting it will be melted down in a smelter that has an active "Melt Object" job.

v0.31:Metal industry

2010-09-01T16:05:32Z

Andromeda:

File:Ores and alloys flowchart.png

2010-09-01T15:25:40Z

Andromeda: A flowchart detailing the creation of alloys and metals, intended for newer players.

A flowchart detailing the creation of alloys and metals, intended for newer players.