1 Capsule Catcher → 2 Pressure Chambers → 5 Stone Presses
As J.O.O.N.A.S. automated rovers clean lunar sectors, they rocket 100 kg capsules across the sky directly to your Capsule Catcher. By connecting the Catcher output to 2 Pressure Chambers (dust → sand) and routing the output into 5 Stone Presses (sand → lunar stone blocks), every unit of raw dust is multiplied in sale value before reaching the intake hopper.
RATIO BREAKDOWN Why 1:2:5 Works
In Moon Sweepers, raw dust is worth the baseline credit rate. Converting dust to Sand in a Pressure Chamber increases profit margin by ~2.2×. Compressing Sand into finished Lunar Stone blocks in a Stone Press increases profit margin by nearly ~4.8× over raw dust.
- Capsule Catcher: Receives J.O.O.N.A.S. rocket capsules and unpacks them at up to 100 kg capacity.
- 2 Pressure Chambers: Perfectly balance the discharge rate of a single Catcher without causing belt choke points.
- 5 Stone Presses: Absorb the sand throughput from both Pressure Chambers. Daisy chaining splitters across the 5 inputs distributes material evenly.
PIPELINE FLOW Material Transformation
| Stage | Input Material | Machine Used | Output Product | Value Multiplier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 0 | Lunar Surface Regolith | J.O.O.N.A.S. Rover | 100 kg Dust Capsule | 1.0× (Raw) |
| Stage 1 | Dust Capsule | Capsule Catcher | Loose Dust on Belt | 1.0× |
| Stage 2 | Loose Dust | Pressure Chamber (2×) | Refined Sand | 2.2× |
| Stage 3 | Refined Sand | Stone Press (5×) | Lunar Stone Blocks | 4.8× |
| Stage 4 | Lunar Stone Blocks | Depot Intake Hopper | Direct Bank Deposit ($) | Instant $ Payout |
HARDWARE CATALOG Building Specifications
Deposit Intake / Depot
Input: Dust / Stone / Capsules via belt or manual drop
Output: Direct credits ($)
Pays instantly as materials enter. In 1.0.3+, dust and stone arriving by belt are paid as they come in.
Capsule Catcher
Input: Capsules launched by J.O.O.N.A.S.
Output: Dust via conveyor port (100 kg capacity in v1.0.4)
In v1.0.4, glass shows collected dust. 1 Catcher feeds 2 Pressure Chambers seamlessly.
Pressure Chamber
Input: Raw Lunar Dust
Output: Compressed Sand
Requires continuous solar/battery power. 1 Catcher -> 2 Pressure Chambers.
Stone Press
Input: Compressed Sand (Right port: Dust, Left port: Stone/Sand)
Output: Pressed Lunar Stone (highest value per kg)
Gold ratio: 1 Catcher : 2 Pressure Chambers : 5 Stone Presses. Daisy chain splitters & mergers.
Conveyor Belts & Splitters / Mergers
Input: Capsules, raw dust, sand, stone
Output: Automated pipeline transport
Port-to-port snapping added in 1.0.3. Mergers alternate inputs evenly in 1.0.4.
Solar Tracker & Battery Bank
Input: Sunlight
Output: Base power (Day & Night)
Build 16–18 solar trackers per mini-factory module to guarantee uninterrupted night shifts.
LOGISTICS Conveyor & Splitter Layouts
Building clean conveyor logistics requires adhering to a few mechanical rules introduced in recent updates:
- Foundation Snapping
Always lay down 3-meter flat foundations first. In Patch v1.0.3, machines are allowed to sit across foundation borders, so Pressure Chambers and Stone Presses snap squarely without misalignment.
- Port-to-Port Direct Snapping
Splitters and Mergers can snap directly against machine input/output ports. Place a 1-to-2 Splitter directly at the Capsule Catcher output, feeding the two Pressure Chambers.
- Daisy-Chain Distribution
You don't need complex load balancers. Simply daisy-chain mergers and splitters in a straight line across your 5 Stone Presses. In v1.0.4, mergers alternate inputs automatically.
ENERGY Solar & Battery Sizing
The Moon experiences regular day and night cycles. Solar panels generate 0 kW during the night:
- Each industrial module (1 Catcher, 2 Pressure, 5 Stone Presses) draws approximately 12–14 kW of peak power.
- To run continuously overnight, install 16 to 18 Solar Trackers connected to a central battery buffer.
- Surplus daylight power charges the battery bank, allowing uninterrupted pressing while you explore or sleep.
REPAIR MANUAL Troubleshooting Factory Stalls
FAQ Automation Inquiries
What is the golden ratio for J.O.O.N.A.S. Capsule Catchers?
The community-proven golden ratio is 1 Capsule Catcher to 2 Pressure Chambers to 5 Stone Presses (1:2:5). This setup perfectly matches the delivery speed of incoming dust capsules from J.O.O.N.A.S. units without causing conveyor backups.
Which port on the Stone Press takes dust vs stone?
When facing the intake ports of the Stone Press: the Left port is for Stone/Sand, and the Right port is for Dust. Feeding materials into the wrong port will cause items to jam at the entrance.
How do you fix jammed capsules or stuck machines?
In Patch v1.0.4, the bug where machines paused with "Could not pack a capsule" has been resolved. If a belt jams, dismantle the belt segment (capsules will drop to the ground where you can re-absorb them with your broom or manually place them back onto belts).
How many solar panels are required for continuous night operation?
A standard mini-factory module (1 Catcher, 2 Pressure Chambers, 5 Stone Presses) requires roughly 16 to 18 Solar Trackers paired with battery banks to run seamlessly through the full lunar night cycle.