Macerator

The Macerator is the last machine used in the optimal ore-processing line. It can also make dust from many items within the game. It is instrumental to fluid fuel production as well and is used as a core or process improvement step of many operations, like grinding aluminum carbide ingots into dust for a small time advantage and a 22% energy reduction in the production of Aluminum. Time advantages are substantially larger for steel production, especially using the blast furnace.

When used in ore processing, it accepts raw Ores, Impure Ore Gravel, or Ore Gravel and provides "Impure Ore Dust", granting 1.5 smeltable dust per 1 ore item it processes (150% material efficiency). Used in combination with the automatic hammer and the ore washer, 3.375 smeltable dust will result per ore. For the less math-inclined, this whole process converts a stack of 32 ore into 108 dust - each smeltable into their own bar. Not using it is a huge waste. Beyond even this, impure ore dusts can be separated for additional products before smelting.

The Macerator is available in Copper, Steel, and Aluminum. Using steel grants a 50% improvement to speed with respect to the copper variant, Aluminum a 50% advantage over the Steel (or 125% advantage over the copper).