Guide Background

The Metal Farm is a simple way to generate metal resources without going back out to search for them manually. It can be placed in the starting biome and does not appear to be biome-dependent, so the main requirement is having a reliable power source and a Sonic Resonator ready for collection.

If the device is not close enough to a working power source, it will not run. Placing it near a powered structure is the easiest setup, and a Power Transmitter can be used if the source is slightly too far away.

Operation Steps

Step 1: Place the Metal Farm

Set the Metal Farm down wherever you want to run it. It does not seem tied to a special biome, so you can use it even in the first area where you begin the game.

Step 2: Connect It to Power

The Metal Farm must be powered before it does anything. Put it close to an active power source, such as a hydroelectric setup. If the distance is awkward, use a Power Transmitter to carry power over to the unit.

Step 3: Check What Materials It Accepts

Interact with the Metal Farm and look at the list of materials you can place into it. It will show what it can process and how long the output takes to grow. It does not accept everything, and its use is mostly centered around metals.

Step 4: Wait for the Growth Timer

After loading a valid material, wait for the production timer to finish. The observed cycle is about 10 minutes per metal output.

Step 5: Harvest the Output with the Sonic Resonator

When the timer reaches zero, equip the Sonic Resonator and fire it at the material growth on the Metal Farm. That blast releases the resource.

Step 6: Repeat the Cycle

Once harvested, the Metal Farm starts its timer again. From there, it becomes a simple loop: come back every 10 minutes, use the Sonic Resonator, collect the output, and let it run again.

Important Items

Metal Farm

This is the main structure used to generate metal resources over time. It appears to create the same kind of metal output consistently rather than pulling from biome-specific conditions.

Power Source

The Metal Farm will not operate without power. A nearby hydroelectric power source works, but any stable powered setup should do if it reaches the structure.

Power Transmitter

Use a Power Transmitter when your generator or powered structure is not close enough to the Metal Farm. This is the easiest way to fix placement issues without rebuilding the whole setup.

Sonic Resonator

The Sonic Resonator is required to collect the finished output. When the timer ends, you do not simply pick the resource up from a menu—you need to blast the growth off the machine.

Key Notes and Tips

• The Metal Farm has to be powered at all times to function.
• It appears usable in the first biome, so it does not seem restricted to a specific region.
• It cannot process every item you try to place into it.
• Production time is roughly 10 minutes per metal output.
• Harvesting the result restarts the timer automatically.
• Each Metal Farm uses 20 power, which is a heavy draw if you want to run several at once.

Tips and Tricks

• Build the Metal Farm near established power instead of forcing long connections unless you already have spare transmitters.
• If you plan to rely on it for steady materials, invest in stronger power infrastructure first.
• Running four or five Metal Farms can produce resources quickly, but only if your grid can handle the combined 20-power cost per unit.
• Treat it like a timed collection route: set it up, leave it running, then return every 10 minutes with the Sonic Resonator.
• If you are tired of roaming for metal, this is most useful as a passive supply station rather than a one-off machine.

Summary

The Metal Farm is a reliable passive metal source once it has enough power behind it. Place it in a convenient spot, connect it properly, load a valid metal input, wait out the 10-minute cycle, and harvest the result with the Sonic Resonator. If your power grid is strong enough, stacking multiple farms can speed up resource gathering a lot.