How To Build An Arc Furnace (Immersive Engineering Tutorial)

The Arc Furnace is one of the most powerful smelting machines in Immersive Engineering, capable of processing multiple ores simultaneously to create alloys and ingots. This comprehensive guide walks you through the complete construction process, material requirements, and operational mechanics so you can start using this advanced machine in your modded survival world.

Arc Furnace Recipe & Materials

The Arc Furnace requires a specific multi-block structure. Here’s what you’ll need to gather, broken down by construction layer:

Bottom Layer

Start with the foundation. You’ll need steel sheet metal slabs arranged in a row, with heavy engineering blocks and sheet metal blocks interspersed between them. Include blocks of steel, steel scaffolding, a cauldron, engineer’s blocks, and reinforced blast bricks. The slabs on the bottom create intentional gaps in the structure.

Middle Layers

Add two more heavy engineering blocks, followed by light engineering blocks, then two more heavy blocks. Place another block of steel to complete this section. The third row should be lined with reinforced bricks extending outward.

Top Layer

Add a third block of steel on top, and arrange reinforced bricks along the entire top row. Then add sheet metal to the sides. Complete the structure by adding light engineering blocks and steel scaffolding to the exterior, building it out until it reaches the desired aesthetic.

For a detailed breakdown of each component piece-by-piece, consult the Engineer’s Manual within the mod for visual references.

Forming the Arc Furnace

Once you’ve placed all the blocks according to the recipe, right-click the cauldron at the front of the structure to form the multi-block machine.

Power & Electrode Requirements

Power Input

The Arc Furnace requires Immersive Engineering power input. There are three power sockets located on the second row at the back of the machine. Connect your power cables here to supply the furnace with the energy it needs to operate.

Graphite Electrodes

Before you can use your Arc Furnace, you must maintain it with graphite electrodes. These electrodes wear down over time and will need periodic replacement.

Electrode Crafting Chain:

Crush coke in the crusher to create coke dust

Put coke dust in the squeezer to produce HOP graphite dust

Smelt HOP graphite dust into HOP graphite ingots

Use the engineer’s workbench with the engineer’s blueprint for arc furnace electrodes to craft graphite electrodes from the ingots

You can monitor electrode integrity in the furnace interface—it will slowly decrease with use, so keep replacement electrodes on hand.

Operating the Arc Furnace

Input Slots

The left slot accepts your primary input materials (ores, ingots, or other smelting ingredients). As materials are processed, you’ll see a heat bar gradually increase, indicating the smelting progress.

Creating Alloys

To create alloys like bronze, which requires copper and tin, place your primary ore (copper) in the left input slot and your secondary ore (tin) in the right input slot. The furnace will combine them, and the finished ingots will appear in the output slot at the front.

Accelerated Processing Button

Press the distribution button to evenly distribute all materials for faster smelting. Note that this mode consumes significantly more power and causes your electrodes to wear down much faster, so use it strategically.

Output & Waste Management

The Arc Furnace produces slag as a waste byproduct. Configure your outputs as follows:

Slag output: Back of the furnace

Ingot output: Front of the furnace

Power input: Back of the furnace (three sockets on the second row)

Fluid Inputs

You can input oils and other fluids into the two blue slots on the side of the furnace. Processed fluids will output at the front alongside your ingots.

On/Off Control

Use Redstone Control with a lever or other redstone signal to toggle the Arc Furnace on or off. This gives you full automation flexibility when integrating the machine into larger production chains.

Conclusion

The Arc Furnace is a game-changing machine for anyone working with Immersive Engineering. While the construction requires many materials and the electrode maintenance system adds complexity, the ability to quickly process multiple ores and create alloys makes it well worth the investment. Start by gathering your materials, build the multi-block structure carefully, and you’ll have one of the most efficient smelting operations in your modpack.

For guides on related machines like the squeezer and other Immersive Engineering equipment, check out our complete playlist—we’ve covered everything you need to know in bite-sized, easy-to-follow videos.

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