Optimal Ratios

MATH

When playing Factorio and placing down your very first steam generator setup, do you first google "Factorio Boiler Ratio" to figure out the 1:20:40 ratio? Then this guide is for you; obsessive compulsive perfectionists, that just can't stand having a non-optimal factory setup.

Introduction / Disclaimer

The durations shown in-game for a module are not the actual durations. They are/seem to be the combination of all possible features. For example a completely upgraded Fit Door Panels module will display a duration of 30+ minutes, even though the actual maximum duration is 14:18.
I tried multiple combinations of features and took the worst-case-scenario for all modules except for the door-panels, because a normal door takes 2:55 to finish, but a fancy door (gull wing / scissor / butterfly) takes between 11:09-14:18 to finish, so they are in a separate line "Fit Door Panels (Fancy)".

For this guide, I based it on the throughput of 4 Front Axle modules, which seem to be a good baseline to fill a conveyor belt.
The column "# per Line (raw)" displays the theoretical best-case scenario, while the column "# per Line (realistic)" displays a more realistic number to include waiting for resources and whatnot. The calculation of the realistic numbers is simply Ceiling(Raw + 1). Also keep in mind that the Visual Inspection needs to be over-sized, because many cars will go through it twice.

If you want to make your own spreadsheet (and leave a comment to make this guide better ^_°), here is the link to the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fYJC2oY9l-clGcLQ0fCbSHcfhxwXvGm9plsR7uLzt5I/edit#gid=0

Ratios

Line Duration = 30s (4 Front Axle Modules)

Step #	Process	Time	Seconds	# per Line (raw)	# per Line (actual)
46	Rapid Ship	0:45	45	1.5	3
45	Paperwork	1:06	66	2.2	4
44	Rework	Variant	?	~2 per Front Axle	8-ish
43	Emissions Check	1:30	90	3	4
42	Performance Check	1:39	99	3.3	5
41	Visual Inspection	4:54	294	9.8	20 (due to defects)
40	Fit Computer	1:08	68	2.27	4
39	Fit Electrical Components	2:47	167	5.57	7
38	Fit Controls	1:40	100	3.33	5
37	Fit Cabin	4:15	255	8.5	10
36	Fit Aircon	2:07	127	4.23	6
35	Fit Windscreen	3:30	210	7	8
34	Fit Seats	3:40	220	7.33	9
33	Fit Horn	2:51	171	5.7	7
32	Fit Lights	3:23	203	6.77	8
31	Fit Steering Wheel	4:46	286	9.53	11
30	Fit Steering Column	1:52	112	3.73	5
29	Fit Tires	2:19	139	4.63	6
28	Fit Wheels	2:03	123	4.1	6
27	Fit Brakes	2:35	155	5.17	7
26	Fit Exhaust	2:29	149	4.97	6
25	Fit Radiator	2:36	156	5.2	7
24	Fit Power Train	2:53	173	5.77	7
23	Polish Paintwork	3:30	210	7	8
22	Dry Finish	10:55	655	21.83	23
21	Paint Finish	3:37	217	7.23	9
20	Dry Undercoat	9:13	553	18.43	20
19	Paint Undercoat	3:22	202	6.73	8
18	Fit Wing Mirrors	1:41	101	3.37	5
17	Fit Windows	2:08	128	4.27	6
16	Fit Door Panels	2:55	175	5.83	7
16	Fit Door Panels (Fancy)	14:18	858	28.6	30
15	Fit Roof	4:12	252	8.4	10
14	Fit Vent	1:42	102	3.4	5
13	Fit Rear Arch	1:36	96	3.2	5
12	Fit Front Arch	1:41	101	3.37	5
11	Fit Bottom Trim	1:43	103	3.43	5
10	Fit Rear Bumper	2:20	140	4.67	6
9	Fit Front Bumper	1:46	106	3.53	5
8	Fit Trunk	2:16	136	4.53	6
7	Fit Hood	1:36	96	3.2	5
6	Fit Body Shell	3:17	197	6.57	8
5	Fit Fuel Tank	3:12	192	6.4	8
4	Fit Undercarriage	1:48	108	3.6	5
3	Drive Shaft	1:35	95	3.17	5
2	Fit Rear Axle	1:48	108	3.6	5
1	Fit Front Axle	2:00	120	4	4

[Sunsphere11]

Thanks for working this out. I went ahead and built a factory based on this. It's absolutely huge, you can go bankrupt in the time it takes between actually starting up production and the first cars rolling of the line.

[Gingerbread Fetus]

Is there even a factory in the game that could hold this many stations?

[Abdulcabbar]

can you add some visuals? i'm not native english speaker so i dont understand the chart completely :) thanks

[Xerox Socks]

So... You have 4 per line... which is confusing... because the front axle is what starts a line... so wouldn't that essentially be starting 4 lines?

Sorry I am new, I am tryin to wrap my head around all this. It's not as easy as figuring our ratio's in factorio.

[Didier.be]

first to say thanks ?