Laser Mining (Elite Dangerous)

This is only about laser mining in space with a space ship.

I am a beginner, so this guide is only - and even then only *perhaps* - useful for other beginners.

These are not my careful considerations after trying everything out, these things I googled or got as answers in forums. Mostly.

What is "laser mining"?

Laser mining is:

• fly with your space ship to an asteroid
  
• shoot it with mining(!) lasers until fragments fly away
  
• gather these fragments

Component Slots

First, keep in mind that some needs depend on your use of the ship.
Perhaps you "need" a Docking Computer or a Cruise Assistant or you feel absolutely not safe if you don't bring a way to repair yourself. Depending on that you naturally have to use more component slots.

Component Slots?
Yes. To be more exact "Internal Component Slots".
These are slots which you fill with components and which define what you can do with your ship.
You could use all slots for cargo racks (things that can hold cargo), then you'd be able to transport cargo. Without a cargo rack, no cargo.

Internal Component Slots can be "restricted", meaning they can not be used for what you want but only from a list of components.
Ships with war ship names have sometimes these restrictions, for example the "Imperial Cutter" has currently (2024-03-06) two restricted slots which can only be used for defense like armor or shield enhancing thingies I don't understand. THAT means that the Imperial Cutter has only 12-2=10 internal component slots from the view of a miner.
If he uses these slots or not does not change the functionality of the mining process.

Components needed for laser mining

Currently this is theoretical knowledge, so use it as an information source but not as a bible.


First, let's talk about what you don't need:

• Pulse Wave Analyzer, this is NOT for laser mining
  
• Mining Laser Turret (these are for other humans to do the job: MultiCrew it is called)
  
• Mining Lance (these are only useful if you want to keep distance from the asteroid)
  
• if you use a big ship: no chaff

How will you go about mining:

• Fly to an interesting area
  
• Use the Detailed Surface Scanner to find a really good location
  
• Go to the good area
  
• Use Prospector Limpets to find a good asteroid
  
• Go as near that asteroid as possible
  
• Think about the positions of your cargo hatch and your mining laser(s)
  
• Open the cargo hatch
  
• Send out Collector Limpets (you can bind the mining laser and collector limpets to the same fire button)
  
• Fire your mining lasers
  
• Watch your refinery and manage it if needed

Things to remember:

• Detailed Surface Scanner will get your better results
  
• Prospector Limpet will get you better results
  
• Do not target a collectable object when starting a Collector Limpet or it will collect that ONE object and then vanish
  
• Collector Limpets have a time duration after which they will vanish
  
• The distance between the lasers hitting area and the cargo hatch should be minimal for faster delivery. This is the reason you normally don't want Mining Lances if you go mining. Your taste might differ, test it. Keep in mind that you will need collector limpets which support that distance.
  
• If you fill your cargo space 75% with limpets you will probably be good. Keep in mind that these limpets cost peanuts compared to the price of ores, so consider going 90% or more. Just trash the ones which are in your way.

So, after all that talk, what do you really need for mining:

• Prospector Limpets
  
• Mining Lasers, needs hardpoint (not Lances, not Turrets) with Class 2 (Medium), if possible.
  
• Detailed Surface Scanner for hotspot. 20-40% instead of 5% True?
  
• Collector Limpets
  
• Refinery.
  
• Cargo space

These would be 5 internal component slots.
Normally you will want a shield too: +1
Personally, I need a Cruise Assistent: +1
Do you need a Docking Computer? +1

Some knowledge I got but did not confirm, but I'll follow blindly for now:

• Each Medium Mining Laser (size 2) needs 3 collector limpets if you want to keep firing forever

About Collector Limpets:

• Size 7: 4 limpets
  
• Size 5: 3 limpets
  
• Size 3: 2 limpets
  
• Size 1: 1 limpet
  
• Quality changes time of existence and range
  
• Quality "A" have the longest time and the largest range but cost the most
  
• Quality "D" have a long time and small range (what we want) and cost less
  
• Mining Multi Limpet Controller are size 3
  
• Mining Multi Limpet Controller can send "Collector Limpets" and "Prospector Limpets".
  
• Mining Multi Limpet Controller controls a maximum of 4 limpets
  
• You can only have one "Mining Multi Limpet Controller"
  
• One "Mining Multi Limpet Controller" can give you the needed 3+1 limpets for one Medium Mining Laser
  
• A Size 5 Collector Limpet Controller or a Size 3 + Size 1 can give you the needed +3 limpets for the 2nd or third Medium Mining Laser but you do not "NEED" it. It is just a nice to have.

Conclusion

Now we create a new list of what we need for mining:

• Mining Laser(s) with Class 2 (Medium), if possible. (Hardpoint)

• Mining Multi Limpet Controller: Prospector Limpets + Collector Limpets
  
• Detailed Surface Scanner for hotspot. 20-40% instead of 5% True?
  
• Refinery.
  
• Cargo space
  
• Shield (yes, I think it is a must have)

So we need a minimum of 5 slots.
Me, I need 6 slots minimum because I don't leave port without a cruise assistant.

Info to keep in mind:

• Use any empty slots with cargo racks to be able to mine longer
  
• For each added Medium Mining Laser add three collector limpets
  
• Refinery 4A is the "best" you can get, but depending on your style it might not be useful
  
• The shield's "Optimal Hull Mass" should be >= "Mass/Hull" (NOT mass un-/laden)

[HappyRogger]

Hello! You can't use prospector from the multicontroller because it has a low rating. Lower rating prospector - lower number of chunks fly off the asteroid during laser mining.
The multicontroller is very good for its number of drones, but it also needs an additional A-rated prospector.

[Protein]

Thanks dude, il check it out appreciate the help

[ZanyScum]

@Protein
Not sure if it is still up to date, but I used to use:
1. https://coriolis.io/
2. Create a build and save it
3. Select "Stations that sell this build"
4. Play around to have it sorted by distance to YOUR location

[Protein]

this is a a great guide for beginners helped me a lot So i can only find the lower end collectors? how can you find better components

[mastercesspit]

always use a grade prospector limpets, they improve the yield from each asteroid.