What Is a Refiner Chain?
In Tectonic Industries, a refiner chain is a sequence of refiners connected by conveyor belts that process ore from raw material to high-value product. Rather than running a single refiner, experienced players link multiple machines so ore passes through each one in sequence, with every refiner adding its own value multiplier. The result is a compounding effect where each subsequent refiner multiplies an already-increased value.
This guide covers everything from basic chain construction to advanced conveyor optimization, helping you build the most efficient ore processing system possible.
Chain Basics: How Refiners Connect
Each refiner has at least one conveyor input and one conveyor output. To build a chain, connect the output of one refiner to the input of the next using conveyor belts. Ore travels along the belts automatically, entering each refiner in sequence.
The order matters enormously. Because each refiner applies its multiplier to the current value of the ore, placing high-multiplier refiners later in the chain yields more total profit. A 2x multiplier on ore worth 500 gives you 1,000, but that same 2x on ore worth 2,000 gives you 4,000. Always place your strongest multipliers at the end.
Recommended Chain Configurations by Stage
Your optimal refiner chain depends on your current blueprint level and available refiners. Below are recommended configurations for each progression stage.
Early Game Chain (BP1-BP3)
| Position | Refiner | Tier | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mineral Washer | C | BP1 |
| 2 | Precision Refiner | C | BP2 |
| 3 | Basic Charger | C | BP2 |
| 4 | Coal Smelter | C | BP3 |
This early game Tectonic Industries conveyor setup uses only C-tier refiners, but chaining four together provides a meaningful cumulative multiplier.
Mid Game Chain (BP4-BP6)
| Position | Refiner | Tier | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mineral Washer | C | BP1 |
| 2 | Electrode Zapper | B | BP4 |
| 3 | Plasma Enricher | B | BP4 |
| 4 | Energy Chamber | B | BP5 |
| 5 | Encased Steamer | B | BP6 |
| 6 | Data Factory | B | BP6 |
This chain replaces C-tier refiners with B-tier alternatives. The Data Factory at the end optimizes ore already processed by four B-tier machines.
Late Game Chain (BP7-BP10)
| Position | Refiner | Tier | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mineral Washer | C | BP1 |
| 2 | Electrode Zapper | B | BP4 |
| 3 | Plasma Enricher | B | BP4 |
| 4 | Energy Chamber | B | BP5 |
| 5 | Flamethrower | A | BP7 |
| 6 | Compression Roller | A | BP8 |
| 7 | Ion Capacitor | A | BP9 |
| 8 | Sulfuric Dissolver | A | BP10 |
The Flamethrower at position 5 provides a 2x multiplier to ore already enhanced by four previous refiners. Note the destruction risk — ensure conveyor speed clears ore before the timer expires.
Endgame Chain (BP11-BP13)
| Position | Refiner | Tier | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Precision Refiner | C | BP2 |
| 2 | Plasma Enricher | B | BP4 |
| 3 | Energy Chamber | B | BP5 |
| 4 | Data Factory | B | BP6 |
| 5 | Flamethrower | A | BP7 |
| 6 | Cryo Beam | A | BP9 |
| 7 | Sulfuric Dissolver | A | BP10 |
| 8 | Blast Smelter | S | BP11 |
| 9 | Molten Fabricator | S | BP12 |
| 10 | Mini Microprocessor | S | BP13 |
S-tier refiners at the tail end provide maximum compounding. The Blast Smelter, Molten Fabricator, and Mini Microprocessor apply powerful multipliers to ore processed through seven earlier machines.
Conveyor Setup and Optimization
Your conveyor belts are the circulatory system of your refiner chain. Here are the key principles:
Belt Speed: Always use the fastest belts you can afford. Slow belts create bottlenecks where ore backs up, reducing throughput. This is especially critical before the Flamethrower Refiner, where backed-up ore can be destroyed.
Belt Capacity: Match belt capacity to your ore generation rate. If you mine faster than belts can transport, ore accumulates and you lose potential income.
Straight Lines: Run conveyors in straight lines whenever possible. Each turn slightly reduces belt speed. Plan your layout to minimize turns.
Overflow Paths: Build overflow conveyor paths that route excess ore to storage or an alternate processing line. This prevents chain-wide backups when a single refiner gets overwhelmed.
Power Management
Every refiner consumes power, and your chain is only as strong as your power grid. Key tips:
- Build dedicated power generators for your refiner chain rather than sharing with other base systems.
- Upgrade power infrastructure before adding new refiners to the chain.
- Monitor power levels regularly. A power shortage causes refiners to slow down or shut off entirely.
- Consider power-efficient refiners like the Data Factory for positions where raw multiplier power is less critical.
Chain Upgrades and Transitions
When upgrading your chain, build the new chain in parallel and switch conveyors once it is complete and tested. Start by replacing the weakest link, typically the earliest C-tier refiner, and work systematically. For detailed upgrade combos, see our best refiner combo guide.
Do not forget to use promo code Demo! from our codes page for free rewards. The Discord community shares chain layouts, and the YouTube channel showcases visual tutorials.
FAQ
Q: How do I connect refiners into a chain? A: Use conveyor belts to connect the output of one refiner to the input of the next. Ore flows automatically from one machine to the next along the belt. Ensure belts are fast enough to handle your ore throughput.
Q: Does the order of refiners in a chain matter? A: Yes, order matters significantly. Place higher-multiplier refiners later in the chain so their multipliers apply to already-increased ore values. This maximizes the compounding effect of chained refiners.
Q: How many refiners should I have in my chain? A: Early game, aim for 3-4 refiners. Mid game, 5-6 is typical. Late game, 8-10 refiners in a chain is common. More refiners mean higher total multipliers but also more power consumption and complexity.
Q: What happens if my conveyor belt is too slow? A: Slow conveyor belts cause ore to back up at refiner inputs, reducing overall throughput. In the case of the Flamethrower Refiner, backed-up ore can be destroyed by the internal timer. Always use the fastest belts available.
Q: Can I have multiple refiner chains running simultaneously? A: Yes, running parallel chains can increase total processing capacity. This is especially useful if your mining output exceeds what a single chain can handle. Just ensure your power grid can support multiple chains.
Common Refiner Chain Mistakes
Players frequently make these errors when building and managing their refiner chains:
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Placing high-multiplier refiners at the start - The order of refiners in your chain matters enormously. A 2x multiplier on ore worth 100 gives you 200, but that same 2x on ore worth 1,000 gives you 2,000. Always place your strongest multipliers at the end.
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Using slow conveyors before the Flamethrower - The Flamethrower Refiner has an internal timer that destroys ore if it stays too long. Slow conveyors cause backups that result in destroyed ore and lost income.
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Not building overflow paths - Without overflow conveyor paths, a single overwhelmed refiner can back up the entire chain. Build alternate routes that redirect excess ore to storage or an alternate processing line.
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Neglecting power supply - Every refiner consumes power, and a shortage causes the entire chain to slow or shut down. Always build dedicated power generators for your chain.
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Upgrading chains in-place instead of in parallel - Taking apart your working chain to build a new one means no processing while you reconstruct. Build the new chain alongside the old one and switch over once it is complete.
Pro Tips for Refiner Chain Efficiency
These advanced strategies will help you build and maintain the most efficient refiner chains:
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Use the Mineral Washer as a universal entry point - The Mineral Washer at BP1 is cheap and provides consistent initial processing. Keep it at the start of your chain even after upgrading later positions, as its cost-to-benefit ratio is excellent.
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Test chain throughput with a small ore batch - Before committing to a new chain layout, send a small batch of ore through and watch for bottlenecks. This helps you identify and fix problems before they affect your full production.
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Build conveyor speed tiers - Use faster belts near high-throughput refiners like the Flamethrower and slower belts near refiners with longer processing times. This prevents bottlenecks and keeps ore flowing smoothly.
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Keep a backup chain configuration - If your primary chain has a problem, having a secondary chain ready means you do not lose processing time. Even a simple C-tier backup chain is better than no processing at all.
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Monitor your chain's value multiplier - Track the total value of ore entering versus leaving your chain. If the multiplier seems low, a refiner may be malfunctioning or positioned incorrectly.
Chain Performance Metrics
Understanding how to measure your chain's performance helps you optimize it over time:
| Metric | How to Measure | Target | Action if Below Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Value Multiplier | Output value divided by input value | 5x+ for B-tier chains, 15x+ for A-tier | Check refiner order and add stronger refiners |
| Throughput (ore/min) | Ore processed per minute | Match drill output | Upgrade conveyors or add parallel chains |
| Downtime | Time chain is non-functional | Under 5% | Check power supply and refiner health |
| Destruction Rate | Ore destroyed by Flamethrower | Under 2% | Speed up conveyors feeding the Flamethrower |
By monitoring these metrics, you can identify exactly where your chain needs improvement and take targeted action rather than guessing at the problem.