Mekanism version and modules
Mekanism builds industrial production lines around powered machines and chemical processing. Start with a Metallurgic Infuser for components, then decide how much infrastructure your ore supply needs. Storage and equipment such as QIO and the MekaSuit give you later goals.
This guide covers Minecraft 1.21.1 on NeoForge, checked against Mekanism 10.7.19. Older tutorials can have different recipes. Use your pack's JEI recipe viewer to check ingredients and outputs before crafting.
The base mod supplies processing machines. Mekanism Generators is a separate module, required for the Heat Generator and reactors. If your pack omits it, supply power from another compatible mod. Mekanism uses Joules internally and supports Forge Energy connections; Universal Cables carry that power between machines.
Quick start: power, steel and circuits
- Collect Osmium and the ingredients shown in your recipe viewer. Smelt enough Osmium for the first machines.
- With Generators installed, craft a Heat Generator. Fuel it or use nearby lava for passive power, then connect a Metallurgic Infuser. Early output is limited; watch the machine's energy bar.
- Add coal or charcoal to the infusion-material slot to supply carbon. Process an Iron Ingot into Enriched Iron, process that with carbon again into Steel Dust, then smelt it.
- Use redstone infusion with Osmium to make Basic Control Circuits. Finish the carbon batch first: the infuser holds one infusion type at a time. Dumping its buffer discards the stored material.
- Craft Universal Cables and an Enrichment Chamber. Feed its dust output into a furnace or Energized Smelter.
The official startup tutorial explains the steel sequence. For other components, check current recipes: the verified 10.7.19 Infused Alloy recipe uses copper with redstone, while older tutorials show iron.
Ore processing: raw items versus ore blocks
The familiar 2x–5x labels describe supported ore blocks, usually collected with Silk Touch. Raw Iron and similar raw items have different yields. These default iron recipes illustrate the difference; modpacks can override them.
| First processing stage | Ingot yield per ore block | Raw Iron input → eventual ingots |
|---|---|---|
| Enrichment Chamber | 2 | 3 → 4 |
| Purification Chamber | 3 | 1 → 2 |
| Chemical Injection Chamber | 4 | 3 → 8 |
| Chemical Dissolution Chamber | 5 | 3 → 10 |
Default raw-iron enrichment example; supply power and configure item transfer at each machine.
Purification needs oxygen and sends clumps through a Crusher, then enrichment and smelting. Injection adds hydrogen chloride before purification. Dissolution uses sulfuric acid, followed by a Chemical Washer with water and a Chemical Crystallizer; crystals then enter the injection chain. Budget power and chemical supply for the whole line. The official processing reference shows the stages.
Fix stalled machines and expand carefully
Open Side Configuration and select the resource you are configuring. Item input/output, energy and chemicals have separate settings. Set the connected face correctly and enable item auto-eject when the next machine should receive output. The configuration reference explains how faces map to slots.
Use Logistical Transporters for items, Mechanical Pipes for fluids and Pressurized Tubes for chemicals. A connected pipe alone does not guarantee that the machine accepts its contents. Check recipe inputs, output space and redstone control if it stays idle.
Factories process several recipes in parallel: Basic has 3 slots, Advanced 5, Elite 7 and Ultimate 9. Expand power supply before increasing throughput. An Energy Cube buffers supply but cannot fix a sustained generation deficit.
For storage integration, see AE2 networks. Fission is a later project with cooling and radioactive-waste requirements; follow the official reactor guide before building one.
Mekanism FAQ
Why does my Enrichment Chamber need three Raw Iron?
The default 1.21.1 raw-iron recipe processes three Raw Iron into four Iron Dust. A supported ore block produces two dust. Check the recipe viewer for the exact input form and any pack overrides.
Why is the Heat Generator missing?
It belongs to the separate Mekanism Generators module. If that module is absent, use a compatible power source from another mod to run the base Mekanism machines.
Why will my Metallurgic Infuser not accept redstone?
Check whether its infusion buffer still contains carbon or another type. Finish that batch or deliberately dump the remaining infusion material, then load redstone into the infusion slot.